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Money man Paul Clitheroe has received a good return from his latest Sydney to Hobart investment with his boat Balance in the box seat to take handicap race honours.
After the hype of US supermaxi Comanche’s line honours win, followed by Australian entry Ragamuffin’s narrow second place over new contender Rambler, the focus has shifted to which boat will claim the prestigious Tattersall’s Cup.
The 52-foot Balance from NSW on Tuesday was seventh across the line in a time of three days, three hours and 50 minutes.
Best known for giving financial advice in the media, race veteran Clitheroe was surprised to hear of his overall standing after a voyage which included “really awful conditions” that left his boat and crew battered.
“Our first goal was to be the first TP52 (class), which we were last year,” Clitheroe said of his 2015 race plan.
“That’s all you can do. The rest is in the lap of the gods.”
And indeed, the battle for overall winner is far from complete, with Balance’s grasp on the lead able to be released pending the finish time of other contenders.
Swiss entry Teasing Machine needs to cross the line before 5.30am (AEDT) Wednesday to dislodge Balance and late on Tuesday was on track to do so but could come unstuck if Hobart’s notorious calm morning waters are at play.
The smallest boat in the race fleet, 33-foot Quikpoint Azzurro from NSW, has been consistently high in the fluctuating standings while last year’s winner Wild Rose was also a warm favourite.
Wild Rose’s navigator Jennifer Wells said on Tuesday that after a calm Bass Strait crossing with little wind when the most excitement came from spotting sharks, Wild Rose’s speed had picked up down Tasmania’s east coast.
“Crew all in good spirits, especially since we have started to move after being becalmed for what seemed forever,” Wells wrote on Skype.
She needs to finish by mid-afternoon on Wednesday for a chance at the overall title.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia commodore John Cameron said much prestige was attached to handicap honours.
“The only way we can handicap a yacht is by applying a time correction factor … developed by the measurements of the boat and the measurement and size of the sails and how they perform,” he told AAP.
“It then brings it back to the ability of the people who are sailing the boats to beat the other boats.”
But if vying for the overall win is the most important part of sail racing, someone forgot to tell Kristy Hinze-Clark, co-owner of line honours winner, Comanche.
After reaching Hobart in two days, eight hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds late on Monday night, Hinze-Clark was asked of her boat’s standing on handicap.
“We don’t race for corrected (time),” the Australian model said, as champagne dripped from her hair after celebrating the line honours win.