SYDNEY—Queensland yacht Ocean Affinity claimed line honours in the 36th Gosford to Lord Howe Island yacht race in the second slowest time in more than a decade.
Skippered by Stewart Lewis, Ocean Affinity, a Martens 49, crossed the line on Monday night after taking 56 hours 12 minutes and 08 seconds for the 414 nautical mile journey.
With no maxi yachts in the fleet and moderate northerly breezes for most of the voyage since the start from Broken Bay, north of Sydney, on Saturday, the race was bound to be slower than in recent years.
It was the slowest time since Yendys took 57 hours in 2005 and Team Jaguar Infinity II took 57 hours 22 minutes over the slightly shorter course back in 1997.
Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas' AFR Midnight Rambler was expectexd to finish second with most of the fleet due in on Tuesday.
The 51-year-old wooden yawl, Sanyo Maris, skippered by Ian Kiernan was well placed for for a second successive IRC handicap win.
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