O Canada opens lead to Denarau

The Open 60 O Canada has stretched her lead in the ANZ Auckland – Port Denerau yacht race.

She was being predicted to arrive at Port Denarau 7.38am Thursday, ahead of the most of the rest of the fleet on Friday. If she does she would win the President’s Cup for line honours.

However, there’s plenty of sailing to go yet. Times and positions could change.

Royal Suva Yacht Club entry Bare Eseentials, skippered by Jan Partridge, was racing third with a predicted finish of 5.41am Friday.

After moving sharply to the East the leaders have settled back on a course that is close to the rhumbline. They are now heading directly for the finish at Port Denerau Marina, Sail-World reported last night.

The report from race organisers Royal Akarana Yacht Club yesterday morning reads:

Tuesday 25th 6.40am The guys were a little more chatty this morning, and apart from the usual ‘All’s well’ we also recieved this information, via Taupo Maritime Bare Essentials: ‘All well on board, good winds and there is no rain’. Revs: ‘Speed 9.5 knots, course 350 True – looking forward to a nice warm day’.

Here’s how they looked in the roundup last night in the predicted race for line honours based on current sailing:

Name   Finish

O Canada Thu 27 May 07:38:29

Wired Fri 28 May 04:09:56

Bare Essentials Fri 28 May 05:41:21

Ran Tan II Fri 28 May 05:43:59

General Lee Fri 28 May 09:02:43

Starlight Express Fri 28 May 10:39:05

Bullrush Fri 28 May 12:31:48

Pretty Boy Floyd Fri 28 May 13:49:50

Revs Fri 28 May 17:11:07

Lion New Zealand Fri 28 May 19:27:47

Bird on the Wing Fri 28 May 22:54:06

OSinnerman Sat 29 May 00:37:54

Skiddy Too Sat 29 May 23:53:38

Cheetah II Sat 29 May 09:37:27

Farrago II Mon 31 May 05:14:00