The two TP52, Wot Yot (Graeme Wood) and Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer) early this morning were duelling for line honours in the CYCA’s Bird Island Island, the second event in the 2007-2008 Blue Water Pointscore.

After a night of light winds, the two yachts reported their position at the 07:00 hours sked as abeam of Barrenjoey headland, leaving them about 17 nautical miles to sail to finish the 85 nautical mile race off the NSW Central Coast.

Both boats gave the same latitude, with Wot Yot about one sea mile further to seaward than Ragamuffin, which is having its first race for owner Syd Fischer. This is the start of Fischer’s 45th offshore racing season.

About two miles astern of the two TP52s came the 79-footer ASM Brindabella, now owned and skippered by Andrew Short.

Six yachts are still sailing north to Bird Island, with the classic veteran Stormy Petrel, bringing up the tailend.

“It’s pretty light out there at the moment, so when the leaders finish will depend on when they get the breeze,” CYCA sailing manager Justine Kirkjian said this morning. “However, I expect the first boat to cross the line in Rushcutters Bay by mid-morning.”

The offshore forecast is for NW winds of 13-18 knots this morning, freshening to 20-30 knots this afternoon ahead of a S/SE change at 20-30 knots late this afternoon.

Race two of the CYCA’s Ocean Pointscore is due to starting at 1000 hours with the fleet sailing north on the Lion Island course. – Peter Campbell