2013 Melbourne to Osaka Double Handed- The Missing Link
Robert and Joey from Escapade have sent us many wonderful snippets from their journey to Osaka.
Now the festivities and celebrations are over Robert has had time to forward the next/final instalment (will Robert surprise us again) from ‘Off to the races”.
Off to the races
..."and as they come around the Marianas Islands and into the home Strait, its Escapade by 150,000 lengths to Optimus Prime and then a few thousand lengths back to the pack. They straiten for the run home and Escapade looks to be fading. What a gallant effort from the tiny boat by Farr out of Binks, she's led them all the way as the pace maker (plenty of pace makers on board as it happens) but looks to be tiring a bit now as the pack start to reel her in. The crew are riding her hand and heels (there seems to be a glass of wine in the other hand) and they've given her one last call (hope they're not calling her on the satphone) ... yes, she's responding, look at her go! The pack seem to have lost their spirit (Escapade's down to their last 2 rations of rum as well) and Escapade is showing them a clean pair of heels (finally had enough water for a wash - last week). Past the 700 mile post and it’s still Escapade. Can she hang on to the finish? Wasabi now has broken free from the pack (as opposed to some of the competitors who are just plain broken) and has joined Optimus Prime in the chase. It's neck and neck (or stem and stem since boats don't have necks) between Optimus Prime and Wasabi as they start to close the gap and both boats are at full stretch. What's Escapade up to now (might as well ask the boat since the crew are clearly out of their minds) - looks like she's decide to go wide looking for the better running and it seems to be working and the hounds are still struggling to make a dent in 150,000 length lead as they Pass the 400 mile post. The dogs/hounds/expensive lumps of plastic or whatever they are, now look to be wound right up and the gap is starting to close, just 100,000 lengths now and it's still any boats race . They're at the 200 now and the margin is down to 30,000 as they go stride for stride. Optimus Prime kicks clear of Wasabi as they finally overhaul Escapade (and boy, does she need overhauling) as they cross the finish line it's Optimus Prime by 35 miles with Escapade a further 25 miles back (yep, got tired of trying to divide 1852 by 12/14/15 or whatever) clinging to third place. What an exciting race, but wait what's that? The stewards have called for a swab. Looks like Optimus Prime has been injecting performance enhancing hydro carbons into her cast iron sails."
Robert Bradley
