Tassie yachts Black Sheep and 2Unlimited’s grip slips from Tattersalls Cup

Tasmania has only three boats in the Sydney to Hobart but for a while on Friday two of them were on the podium in the battle for overall handicap victory.

TASMANIA has only three boats in the 74th Rolex Sydney to Hobart but for a while on Friday two of them were on the podium in the battle for victory on overall handicap.

The Black Sheep and 2Unlimited were second and third respectively on outright IRC handicap and each had a finger on the coveted Tattersalls Cup.

But when the conditions swung against them they both slipped outside the top 10.

Black Sheep, a Beneteau First 45 owned by brothers-in-law Rob Gourlay and Matt Pilkington, was sailing along at 44th in the fleet on Friday night and within striking distance of two 50-footers, NSW yacht Pekljus and German entry Lunatix.

ROOKIE SKIPPERS THE BLACK SHEEP OF SYDNEY-HOBART

The Sheep was placed fourth in IRC division 3, trailing NSW pair SailExchange and Cinquante, and WA yacht Enterprise. The all-Tasmanian crew on Black Sheep said conditions were perfect on Friday afternoon.

“It’s champagne sailing out here as we enter Bass Strait. All well on board,” Gourlay said.

With co-skipper Rob Gourlay on the helm, the crew of Tasmanian yacht Black Sheep enjoys champagne sailing in the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

2Unlimited, a Farr 40, was 33rd on the water and locked in its own private race with 80-foot Hong Kong maxi Apsaras, and Enterprise, also a Farr 40.

The Hobart yacht retained its place in the top 10 of IRC division 3, holding onto ninth as it crossed Bass Strait.

Going into the race, skipper Greg Prescott said a strong finish relied on good timing.

“It’s important what time you hit Tasman Island,” he said.

“It’s great to get there at midday and come home with the sea breeze rather than at midnight and just sit there.”

Phil Turner’s pocket-maxi Alive continues hunting the four leading supermaxis as the fifth-placed yacht in the fleet.

The 66-footer also excelled on handicap, holding second in IRC division 0 behind the US Cookson 50, Privateer.