Monday April 18th 2011.
Highly successful Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club skipper Marcus Blackmore and his Hooligan crew refocused their attention on winning the Brisbane to Gladstone race seconds after claiming the New South Wales championship at Port Stephens yesterday.
Hooligan dominated the championship winning all five short course races contested in a varied wind system.
The former New Zealand Americas Cup syndicate owned TP 52 class sloop has now recorded wins in all of her major Australian short course regattas which suggests she will be a distinct challenger to win the 63rd Brisbane to Gladstone race starting at midday on Good Friday April 22nd.
But her delivery crew face a race against the clock to have the ocean race champion in Brisbane in time to be re-provisioned and ready to meet the start deadline.
However owner skipper Marcus Blackmore remains confident of making the deadline with favourable speed sailing southerly winds forecast for the approximate 390 nautical mile voyage.
Meanwhile the Brisbane waterfront has become a hive of activity as the 44 other crews continue to monitor the coastal weather pattern and complete the final check list for the annual 308 N/ml Blue Water classic.
Race Director Herb Prendergast is impressed with the list of entries which includes the dual line honours champion the 20 m Black Jack which is expected to become involved in a match race against the 30m maxi Lahana while the 1964 Gladstone Race champion the conventional timber planked sloop Pagan and her sister design the 1959 Sydney Hobart race winner Cherana remain among the best lower handicapped yachts to pose a threat to end the major race success of Hooligan.