The clouds cleared late this afternoon as the front runners in the Audi Centre Sydney BWPS Bird Island Race passed Sydney Heads, closing on the finish line.

With Master Lock Comanche retiring early in the race, Anthony Johnston’s URM Group led the fleet home to claim Line Honours. She was followed by David Griffith’s Whisper, with Max Klinks’s Caro and David Gotze’s No Limit running parallel as they entered the Harbour.

While Michael Firmin’s Infinity 52 Zeus was a late withdrawal from the race, she followed the fleet north for a while and made an impressive sight as she re-entered the Harbour amongst the finishers.

As at 11pm Saturday, Caro is the clubhouse leader on IRC, with URM Group and Seb Bohm’s Smuggler second and third respectively. Andy Offord’s Sunfast 3300 Borderline leads the double-handers on both IRC and PHS.

No Limit and Caro head for the finish line – photo © Bow Caddy Media

The fleet’s tail enders still at sea are also double handers, with Christopher Canty’s Sailor Moon and Bill Barry Cotter’s Maritimo Katwinchar offshore from McMaster’s Beach.

Zeus enters the Harbour – photo © Bow Caddy Media

Whisper rides the Sydney swell – photo © Bow Caddy Media

Heading home – photo © Bow Caddy Media

URM Group passes the Heads – photo © Bow Caddy Media

Caro powers to South Head – photo © Bow Caddy Media

Zeus enters the Harbour – photo © Bow Caddy Media

No Limit near South Head – photo © Bow Caddy Media

Caro powers to South Head – photo © Bow Caddy Media

URM Group rounds North Head – photo © Bow Caddy Media

by Bow Caddy Media