Ocean Racing Club of Victoria spokesman Bob Tanner said that at least three late entries were likely for the dash across Bass Strait starting at Queenscliff on December 27.
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"It's a good quality fleet particularly given a big contingent of Victorian yachts are heading North for the 60th Sydney to Hobart," Mr Tanner said.
Mr Tanner said that some of the 27 Victorian yachts in the Sydney to Hobart were battling to be ready in time and could opt to race to Launceston.
The local entries are Julian Robinson's 12m self-designed and built Apollonius, which placed second on handicap in the weekend's Examiner Tamar Valley Classic and is having its second tilt at the race, and Tamar Yacht Club commodore Ken Gourlay's new boat Spirit Silver Edition.
Spirit Silver Edition was to compete in a short-handed race across the Tasman earlier in the year but the event was cancelled.
"If there's strong downwind conditions, line honours could well be a battle between veterans of Bass Strait in Kevin Bell's 15m Adams design Volante, winner of the 1996 Melbourne to Devonport race, and Bruce Eddington's 15.5m Elliott Moshio, winner in 2001," Mr Tanner said.
Two new Victorian racers will be making their blue water debuts in the race.
Mr Tanner predicted good performances from both Peter Coleman's Hick 39 Just A Minor Hickup and Gordon Syme's Radford 35 Yachtmaster.com.au.
Boats currently doing well in Port Phillip Bay racing included David Bingham's Farr 11.6 Amaya, and the Hick 35 Midnight Rambler which, under former ownership, won the 1998 Sydney to Hobart.
The Melbourne to Launceston yacht race is part of the ORCV's Rudder Cup regatta which is organised in association with the Tamar Yacht Club.
THE ENTRIES: Amaya (David Bingham, Vic) Farr 11.6, Apollonius (Julian Robinson, Tas), Bali Dancer (Chris Waters, Vic) Farr 1020, Fleur de Lys (Bruce Thompson, Vic) Bavaria 40, Garisenda (Jeff Savage, Vic) Cavalier 395, Granny Apple (Victor Kibby, Vic) Farr 11.4, Just A Minor Hickup (Peter Coleman, Vic) Hick 39, Merlion (Eddie Mackevicius, Vic) Beneteau First 40.7, Midnight Rambler (David Cartan, Vic) Hick 35, Moshio (Bruce Eddington, Vic Elliott 15.5, New Morning II (Mark Buckley, Vic) Northshore 38, Orlan (Alaster Edwards, Vic) Northshore 340, Plantronics Duo Pro (Bill Feore, Vic) Adams 11.9, Rough Red (Kevin Robinson, Vic) Farr 1104, Schuss (Denis McConnell, Vic) Beneteau First 12, Spirit Silver Edition (Ken Gourlay, Tas) MBD 12.5, The Alchemist (Hugh Rutter, Vic) Northshore 380, Volante (Kevin Bell, Vic) Adams 15.2, Windward II (Mark Lawrence, Vic) Cavalier 350, Yachtmaster.com.au (Gordon Syme, Vic) Radford 10.6.
