Supermaxis Skandia and Zana were in a tussle for line honours in the 59th Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Sunday.
The pre-race favourites were within sight of each other in the notorious Bass Strait leg of the event and Skandia sailing master Ian ”Barney” Walker predicted a nail-biting finish approaching the Derwent River, which leads into the Tasmanian capital Hobart.
”There is still a long way to go,” he said. ”No one is down and out, and both boats will be locked together as they come up the Derwent River.”
Australia’s Skandia and Zana of New Zealand are expected to reach the finish line at about 2am (4pm GMT).
”I think both boats are going to beat up along the coast, get around Tasman [Island] and hopefully free up from there and go across Storm Bay,” Walker said.
”We are not very confident the Derwent is going to be that friendly, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Both boats could be locked together in the Derwent River.
”Hopefully we will keep the distance we’ve got and have a tough old race to the finish line.”
Zana sailing master Peter Sutton said the Kiwis were optimistic and relishing the contest.
”It’s all on. Everything’s going good,” said Sutton when the two yachts were a similar distance apart a couple of hours earlier.
The 30m-long giants are the largest to contest the 627 nautical mile bluewater classic.
Underdog Grundig, at 20m, remained within striking distance.
Further behind were John Woodruff’s Seriously TEN and sentimental favourite Brindabella, the 1997 line honours winner.
The fight for overall handicap honours remained wide open as the early leader and last year’s champion, Bob Steel’s Quest, had slipped into 12th place.
The defender was usurped by Yendys, followed by British challenger Bounder, skippered by Royal Ocean Racing Club Commodore Chris Little.
Close behind was Love War, which claimed the overall title in 1974 and 1978, while seasoned entrant Pippin was also chasing handicap honours. — Sapa-AFP