Sydney to Hobart: Sun Hung Kai Scallywag third behind leader Black Jack and LawConnect as fleet approaches Hobart
- Organisers expect the leading boats to reach the finish on Tuesday based on Monday’s weather
- LawConnect overtook Black Jack late Monday but is back in second place as of Tuesday morning
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Hong Kong-owned Sun Hung Kai Scallywag 100 was in third place in the dash for Sydney to Hobart line honours on Monday night, with supermaxi Black Jack holding a narrow lead over rival LawConnect as they race down Tasmania’s coastline.
Lee Seng Huang’s super maxi Scallywag, skippered by David Witt and representing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, had caught up to the leading 100-footers after a technical issue on Sunday and was at one time in second place and closing in on then leader Black Jack.
But Christian Beck’s LawConnect fought back to surge into the lead ahead of Peter Harburg’s Black Jack. Stefan Racing was in fourth place.
LawConnect appeared fourth on the official race tracker for a while because they were unable to report their position owing to electronic issues. When they reappeared, the NSW Racing representative was in the lead. As of early Tuesday morning, Black Jack had retaken the lead.
“The Scallywags have made it across Bass Strait over night! SHK Scallywag 100 is now sailing down the east coast of Tasmania in 3rd position, trailing leader Black Jack & LawConnect,” the Scallywag team posted on social media. “Ongoing race tracker issues aside it’s shaping up to be a close one – go Scallywags!.”
The Hong Kong boat sped off into the lead at the start on Sunday but suffered a technical issue at Sydney Heads and lost time as they fixed the problem.
As of Tuesday morning, Black Jack was leading a fleet that was down to 52 boats, including 10 two-handed entries after one of them, Rogue Wave, withdrew after sustaining damage. Black Jack was six nautical miles ahead of LawConnect, while Scallywag was in third place, another nine nautical miles astern.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore Noel Cornish said the two leading supermaxis would be in a tussle for line honours, with a result not guaranteed until the finish line. He said the earlier rough conditions had abated, which would make for an exciting finish.
“It’s now a tactical race,” Cornish said.
