Queensland based Super-Maxi Wild Oats XI has just began a race against a Hurricane in the Transpac Race from LA to Hawaii.

A 2225 nautical mile journey in less than 5 days, 14 hours 36 minutes and 20 seconds is the task, and Bob Oatleys 100ft super Maxi is in with a serious chance to do it thanks to a conveniently placed hurricane to the south of the race course. Hurricane Delores is currently bearing down on the fleet of racers as they make their way to Hawaii, but only the fastest boats will make it in front of the weather to utilize the strong downwind conditions on offer.

"So much depends on where the hurricane decides to go," said Wild Oats XI's skipper Mark Richard. "If it does come north towards our track then I expect you will see Wild Oats XI really clocking up the miles. Right now you would have to say it's looking promising for a fast race. But if the weather pattern changes it might take us eight days to get there, instead of five."

Chartered by Roy P Disney, a Transpac veteran with 20 races under his belt, Wild Oats XI and her crew will have more than just the weather enroute to contend with. In recent years there has been a serious risk of high speed collisions with debris in the water. At boat speeds of over 25 knots, hitting discarded fishing nets, or worse - shipping containers can be devastating to a race team. Not only slowing their race, but putting the crew in grave danger in the middle of the ocean with little in the way of support.

Also competing in the race is the brand new Rio 100, and new Ragamuffin super maxi's, these three will be in a bitter battle to the end, all hoping to break the race record with multi million dollar designs and professional crews…

#News #Sailing #North #Fishing