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Seven yachts in the Forrester Properties Sydney – Mooloolaba Race are yet to reach the half way point in the annual 469 nautical mile race to the Sunshine Coast, while three yachts are safely tucked away in Mooloolaba Harbour.

While current ETA’s have the last boats, including Chris Lancaster’s Pussy Cat and Steve Hudson’s Jessie, due in on April 14, the sou’easter that has now blown in over the race track should bring the remainder of the fleet home under spinnaker in good time.

Only the crew from the line honours winner, Grant Wharington’s Melbourne-based Wild Thing were able to enjoy the Mooloolaba Yacht Club hospitality overnight having made a successful dash across the entrance to the seaway just after their 00:11:54 finish this morning.

George Snow’s Brindabella finished second over the line at 1:53:10 but decided to hang offshore until the tide changed, as did Sean Langman’s Xena, which finished at 03:06:46. Both entered the river at daylight.

“It was a very light and confusing race,” said Snow as he prepared to spend another night on board with his crew, this time circling offshore with the sails packed away.

The next yacht due to finish late this afternoon is Syd Fischer’s champion Farr 50 Ragamuffin, which was south of Cape Moreton at this morning’s sked and averaging 6 knots of boat speed.

Provisional results have changed overnight in the IRC division to put Xena ahead of Wild Thing, however with the remainder of the IRC fleet still at sea, a fast finish by the third placed Loki (Stephen Ainsworth) could upset the two maxis currently in first and second position.

George Snow is still the provisional winner of the IMS overall division while James Murchison’s Comvergent Telecommunications will be hard to beat in the PHS division.

Local television stations last night suggested that as Tropical Cyclone Sose moves south away from New Caledonia, the swell will peak along the Queensland south east coast, particularly over Wednesday.

The Bureau of Meterology’s forecast for far north coastal waters is for S/SW winds of 10-15 knots tending SE and reaching 15/20 knots in the afternoon. Seas will be 1-2 metres with a 3 metre swell.

Wednesday should bring SW/SE winds of 5-10 knots tending E/SE 10-15 knots in the afternoon and a swell of 2-3 metres.