Bird Island 2017 Race Start

All 31 boats that started the Bird Island Race in Sydney Harbour this Saturday are also entrants in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, so a punchy 18-20 knot nor/nor’easter and a steady swell through the Heads was a good start to the shakedown for the great race south. Peter Harburg’s supermaxi Black Jack 100 was one of the few yachts to sport a reefed mainsail, but she was showing a good turn of speed as she left Sydney Harbour ahead of Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban (with its brand-new rig) with Sam Haynes’ TP52 Celestial close behind. Matt Brooks’ beautiful Yawl Dorade was close to the rear of the fleet but as ever, poses a serious threat for an overall handicap win every time she races.