Veteran Sydney yachtsman Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin this morning is looking well placed on handicap to win the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 90 nautical mile Flinders Islet Race, the last overnight event before the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

George Snow’s 80-footer Brindabella led the fleet home at 05:12:55 this morning after a night of hard sailing in 30 knot southerly winds and rough seas, followed by Matt Allen’s Farr 52,  Ichi Ban,  and the Farr 50, Ragamuffin.  

The hard beat to windward last night in strong winds and heavy seas saw the retirement of Wild Joe, skippered by Iain Murray,  Time Out (Julian Farren-Price) and Barinya (Nicholas Stabback).

The Volvo 60, Seriously Ten (John Woodruff and Eric Robinson) was first to finish but subsequently retired, apparently for not sailing the proper course to round Flinders Islet,  off Wollongong.

At 07:30, six yachts had finished,  with Brindabella, Ichi Ban and Ragamuffin being followed by Merlin (David Forbes and Richard Brooks), AFR Midnight Rambler (Ed Psaltis) and Austmark (Gunther Schmidt-Lindner).

Most of the 30 boats in the fleet have been nominated for the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race which is also part of the CYCA’s prestigious Blue Water Pointscore.