One of the pair is Spirit of Downunder which has just tacked further to the west towards the rhumb line while Bandit, which is just a whisker behind Spirit of Downunder, is using the same strategy as Dekadence and is still hugging the coast.  Both Dekadence and Bandit may be getting some protection off the coast in the NW winds but current weather observations further to the west of the fleet suggest stronger W-SW  winds are on their way. Currently Portland has 26 knots and gusting to 32 knots from the west. With stronger winds predicted, Spirit of Downunder might benefit from this early move away from the coast before experiencing the full force of the change.

 

The wind is picking up.  Doug Abott is at the helm of Inception while crew member Greg Cameron takes a break.

The middle order of Dry White, Inception and Alien are very close together and still inside the rhumb line. The longer waterline of Inception, a Beneteau 50, skippered by Jeff Dusting is now coming to the fore as it continues to climb in the middle order rankings. Inceptions is doing 7 knots in increasingly heavy seas and just reported 50 knots and getting nasty!  Inception has three local crew from Port Fairy on-board who will be looking forward to getting to port tonight. They are Chris Morris, Ken Dusting and Doug Abbott.  

Inception experienceing 50 knots and thing are getting nasty!

This weather will really test the smaller boats.  Magazan, a Farr 1104 is at the rear of the fleet and still has got impressive credentials sitting first in AMS, second in IRC, first in PHS and currently in seventh place.

Trybooking.com and The Secretary are back in the fleet with Slinky Malinky out wide.