Teams checking in at Lady Barron race control

Excitement at race control as three teams arrived at the same time. Team 8, Sullivans Cove Whisky, dropped its runners Andrew Howse and Adrian Young at the wharf just seconds before Jacqui Guy and Michael McIntyre departed Team Whistler. Whistler is competing for the Tilman trophy, which will see all five crew tackle the last run leg.
Haphazard's John Claridge and Tristan Gourlay arrived two minutes later, packing race control with teams checking in. The three teams departed between 3.31am and 3.34pm.
Howse and Young are so far the only team to elect to run anti-clockwise.
Robyn said it was unusual to see so many teams start the run at the same time, and that three teams was the maximum she had seen check in at one time.
``It's good when they're out on the road because it gives them someone to pace,'' she said.
Fellow volunteer Michael Sullivan reported from the top of Mt Strzelecki that leaders Blake and Kromar made it to the top at 3.18am while second-placed Guy and Piper had made up some time to summit at 3.39am. With only 21 minutes separating the top two teams, it will be a close race to the finish.
Next boat expected in is Peccadillo, which has reported its position as abeam of Big Dog Island - about 15 minutes away. With a dying breeze and outgoing tide, the sailing will slow from now.