Volvo Ocean Race champion DJuice Dragons now racing under the more appealing nautical name of Getaway-Sailing held a commanding lead in the Brisbane to Great Keppel Island race earlier tonight.

The Volvo 60 the largest yacht in the 13 boat fleet started the inaugural 348 n/ml coastal passage race with a 15 minute handicap when her skipper Peter Goldsworthy started late.

However it soon became evident that Getaway-Sailing had the sail power and boat speed to be a worthy line honours favourite taking the lead shortly after clearing the Fairway Buoy of Caloundra.

Her crew had worked hard chasing the early leaders Night Nurse (Russell McCart) and Bill Wild’s Wedgetail but the chase was over when Getaway-Sailing produced unmatched speed in the freshening North West winds finally drawing away to an estimated 17 nautical mile lead as she sailed on a compass bearing to weather Double Island Point and the important way point of the Maheno Wreck on Fraser Island.

Getaway-Sailing showed promise to increase her lead overnight and is expected to complete the first half of the race in under 24 hours giving her crew an excellent chance to take line honours before dawn on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile the battle for the minor line honours and the overall race win on corrected handicap remains intensely competitive with the higher handicapped Wedgetail, Night Nurse and Cadi needing to build time and distance on the slower and lower handicap rated This Way Up, Margaret Rintoul II and the ‘ocean racing dinghy’ Battleship Gray.

On the reported positions the honour to become the inaugural Brisbane to Great Keppel Island Race champion was very even with John Gray helming his little sloop Battleship Gray remaining in strong contention to claim a personal place in Australian ocean racing history.

A little over 59 years ago John’s seafaring father Allan created his personal history when John Bourne’s Sea Prince won the inaugural Brisbane to Gladstone race during the 1949 Easter holiday weekend.

The prospect of a wind change to spinnaker sailing conditions tomorrow will further improve the chances for Battleship Gray to steal the prestigious trophy ahead of her more fancied rivals.

Ian Grant

Last Updated ( Friday, 03 August 2007 )