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Karl Stefanovic is fine but the back end of the Sydney to Hobart fleet faces a test of its seasickness preparations with a gale warning for Bass Strait waters on Saturday night.
Frontrunners Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL will beat the forecast 30-40 knot southwesterlies but many of the smaller boats are expecting a punishing crossing.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a gale warning for the east Gippsland coast and seas of up to four metres when the front arrives on Saturday evening.
Crews are expected to face a tough night but no serious danger.
The race has so far been characterised by light winds and by Friday night only three boats had retired.
The fleet’s smallest vessel, the 10-metre Wilparina, was the latest, heading to Jervis Bay for unknown reasons.
It had joined Audi Sunshine Coast and Dodo in quitting the 628 nautical mile race.
LOYAL skipper Anthony Bell was ruing his rebuilt supermaxi missing out on the tougher conditions it was built for.
“They’re in for a hell of a time once they get into the straight,” he said.
“We’ll probably beat a bit of the weather that’s coming across.
“If the truth be known we actually wish the race started a couple of days later so we could actually get into that weather.”
Nine Network personality Stefanovic, who suffered through the 2011 race, is on board LOYAL.
Bell said there was no repeat of his crippling bout of seasickness that year.
“It’s like having a trip in the Mediterranean right now,” Bell said.
“Karl’s been absolutely fine. This is like a pleasure cruise for him on the Fairstar.
“He’s getting a great suntan and hasn’t even come close to being seasick.”