Melbourne Osaka Cup - Southern Cross mechanical fault.
Southern Cross are diverting to Brisbane to effect repairs to their steering.
melbourne-osaka-cup
Melbourne Osaka Cup - Wednesday Night.
Look at the three boats in front - at present...
If you look at the tracker site, or at the enclosed snip you can see that Escapade has rocketed ahead offshore.
Turbulence did start a little later - and the course suggest it is undecided tactiaclly and oscillates between the rhum line and the coast whislt Southern Cross' course is midway in between these two others - and mid way in the distance covered.
The other yachts are hugging the low NSW coast
Donald Fraser
Melbourne Osaka - Optimus Prime - First casualty
At around 0045 AEST Optimus Prime lost their forestay. The mast still stands and both crew are ok. They are under
motor on the way to Eden to await the southerly change before heading to Sydney for repairs. Crew are well.
Melbourne Osaka Cup Notice of Race is Changed!
All competitors have unanimously agreed to the proposed change to the NOR in regard to penalties for outside assistance. Therefore that proposed change is now confirmed as a change to NOR.
Samurai Jack update in Melbourne to Osaka Cup
There were lots of comments flying around at the M2O Q and A re freeze dried versus some home cooked meals! The wind has eased for the second starters so thoughts have turned to the galley!
"37*46' s 149*37'e
Very light and calm E, sunny
All is well onboard after a frustrating lack of wind again next to Funnel Web - or as we're beginning to call it the 'spider web'. Only a little jealous of Will and Ivan as they boasted about their bacon and eggs. Biltong and canned tuna for us!
Had a calm night last night but managed to fly our big A1 for most of it... Forgot how big it was until I packed it this morning!
Hi and thoughts to all family and friends on land.
Ryan- Samurai Jack'
Melbourne to Osaka Escapade Crew!
We can only guess that the wind and sea state have eased and sitting at the Nav station is more comfortable for the crew aboard Escapade.
"This one will have the Race Director scrambling for his copy of the Blue Book to check the definition of "crew". At last count there were no less than five names on the list of souls aboard. In the last few days since the weather has improved we have been opening all the lockers to check for water and do the necessary bailing. Apart from about 200l of water we also discovered a few stowaways! Here is a full list of the Escapade crew to date.
Robert - skipper, nominally in command (see next line) Joey - First officer, sometimes forgets to prefix his suggestions to the skipper with "Permission to speak freely SIR". Also thinks "if you please" really means he has a choice.
Otto - His inclusion in the crew was approved in accordance with clause 9.2 of the notice of race (modification to RRS52) so the race director shouldn't be too concerned here. His principal responsibility (in fact, his only responsibility) is to steer. He is excused from general duties such as meal preparation and head cleaning. His German extraction is reflected in his unswerving insistence on steering the precise course he has been instructed irrespective of any change in the weather conditions and how much power he consumes doing so. We have found we need to keep a weather eye on him as well as the weather which has meant that either skipper or first officer needs to be on watch with him. So much for port, cigars and a hand of whist after dinner in the officers mess. (although we do have a very big mess)
Andy - Andy's presence aboard was suspected three days ago due to the seacock on the head being found open when both the skipper and first officer know they had closed it immediately after finishing their duties there. Hence an exhaustive search was made to discover the culprit who we know to be about somewhere because he has also been leaving lockers open in the galley and flicking the chart table pencils onto the floor. Andy has history aboard Escapade. As some of you will know, the skipper is also an RYA Yachtmaster instructor and Andy has participated in several 5-day liveaboard courses. Despite being a very (painfully) slow learner and falling into the tide as many as 8 times in the one day, he is a very keen sailor and told the skipper he was willingly to do anything to get a ride on a boat to Osaka when he learned that Escapade was a competitor. The skipper apologised for already finalising the crew list and gleefully referred him to other entrants thinking that would be the last he would hear of the matter. in retrospect the skipper should have gaffer tapped him to the locker door at HBYC.
Vladimir - Vladimir is an old hand at sneaking aboard various boats starting with Slinky Malinky on the 2010 M2V. Despite being warned about the reception a loud Russian with a bad accent and no vocabulary was likely to get in Japan, (given that there's bit of history between the two nations) he has still made a couple of cameo appearances in the Galley dressed in his customary overalls and nothing else. Fortunately they are Musto high waisted ocean pants which limited the amount of hair in yesterdays meat balls with sauce, onions, grilled tomato and salad. Having made it on board, we expect more appearances from him as the weather warms up.
Finally, Escapade herself. Couldn't really have done the race without her.
and to Dr Rosie, yes the first officer is checking to see that the skipper is taking his medication."
More Photos from Melbourne Osaka Cup race start.
There were plenty of spectators for the second start of the Osaka Cup on Sunday. Sue Halliwell and David James were on Portsea Pier and sent us these shots.
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| Spectators on Portsea Pier |
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| Kiss Goodbye to MS -Sue Halliwell |
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| Some headsail changes pre-start -Sue Halliwell |
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| Finally underway- Sue Halliwell |
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| Funnelweb -Sue Halliwell |
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| Optimus Prime waves goodbye -Sue Halliwell |
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| Wasabi- Sue Halliwell |
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| Cadibarra 8 and Optimus Prime - Sue Halliwell |
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| Samurai Jack -Sue Halliwell |
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| View from Portsea Back Beach after the start -Sue Halliwell |
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| Laurie and Tim farewell their fans David James |
Melbourne Osaka Cup – Monday morning sked 25 March, 2013.
Yesterday’s seven starters have maintained a great pace right through to this morning; six of them still fairly close together south of Gippsland Lakes and the seventh, Kiss Goodbye to MS, a bit wider and about 30 miles behind Wasabi – the leader of the bunch.
The speed is likely to slacken during the day today as the wind drops off and then comes in from the east and north east later on.
It looks like another light day for Escapade, still way out on their own, just 15 miles west of Lord Howe Island; they should have more breeze from east or north east by tomorrow.
Southern Cross, 200 miles east of Sydney, and Turbulence – approaching Botany Bay just a couple of miles off the coast – have both managed steady progress through the night. Southern Cross should pick up a moderate south easterly today before it lightens off again tonight.
Turbulence looks like they’ll be in for north easterlies for a couple of days while they stay near the coast.
Melbourne Osaka Cup – Sunday evening sked 24 March, 2013. Today’s seven new starters have had a great run from Port Phillip Heads, with Wasabi less than 20 miles to go to Wilson’s Prom at the 7.00 pm sked, Cadibarra 8 a couple of miles behind the green boat and (smallest boat in the fleet) Kiss Goodbye to MS trailing the fleet, but still only 12 miles behind Wasabi.
The wind should ease from the very strong westerlies overnight and by early morning they are likely to have less than 15 knots, but still from the west.
From Wasabi: “All good out here on WASABI. Bit of a rushed start pulling in 2nd reef with 4 mins to go, no harm done...
Once round the corner we have had excellent running conditions. A good rain squall came through just minutes after we pulled down our spi, even so still a major lay flat. Saw OPrime with their spi 1/2 down and wiping out as well... The Caddi had already gotten theirs down a few minutes sooner, lost sight of them in the rain. After that all good”.
From Funnelweb: Hi guys, had a great start, lots of fun, we are trucking along at about 12 knots in about 35 knots of breeze.
Had some drama already blown put our first kite, it ended up in the water, and we lost 30 min getting it back on board :( it fully ripped and will need some lovin to get it back out of intensive care .
Just got a 48 knot gust and another roundup Yeeehah :)
Ivan
Optimus Prime reported: “Crew are OK, had some fun surfing down the coast out of the heads, had a stumble during a 40knot squall but back on our feet and trying to chase down the leaders. Just snuck past Spirit of Downunder”.
While the new starters have been surfing towards the Prom, Escapade, Southern Cross and Turbulence have all made slow progress today, Escapade doing best but with just 30 miles made good in the last 12 hours, Turbulence and Southern Cross both managed even less than that between the morning and evening skeds.
Things were looking up by the evening sked, with Turbulence reporting “sunny skies again, 1 metre swell, Wind 360 M @ 9.3k, Boat Speed 6.8k”.
Escapade reported a 1 metre swell, sloppy seas and a 10 knot northerly.
Proposed change to Melbourne Osaka NOR
At the briefing last night, Donald Fraser discussed with competitors a proposal to change the Notice of Race.
Briefing for competitors in Melbourne Osaka Cup
With seven yachts due to start on Sunday 23rd, the Osaka crew members gathered on Saturday Night at Blarigowrie Yacht Squadron for their compulstory weather briefing.
Before their dinner, and other light refreshments, skippers and co-skippers were provided with the latest weather information and a few other reminders for safe sailing in this great event.
Yachts: Cadibarra 8, Funnelweb, Kiss Goodbye to MS, Optimus Prime, Samurai Jack, Spirit of Downunder and Wasabi started on Sunday to join the three other boats underway.
Many well wishers, including previous competitors, joined the crew for the evening.
Once again, Blairgowrie provided a warm welcome, berths for competitors and excellent food for competitors and friends.
Donald Fraser
Sunday 23/3
Melbourne Osaka Cup – Sunday morning sked 24 March, 2013. Sunday morning and Escapade is almost 300 nautical miles off Newcastle, still with that northerly, which should generally be less than 15 knots today turning into a drifter for a while tomorrow morning.
Southern Cross, almost 300 miles south west of Escapade, has managed a more northerly track, but it looks as though they may have the wind from the north again by this afternoon.
Turbulence, just off Ulladulla at 7.00 am has made steady progress overnight and according to the forecast should have variable winds today, turning into 10 to 15 knots north to north westerly tonight.
Cadibarra 8, Funnelweb, Kiss Goodbye to MS, Optimus Prime, Samurai Jack, Spirit of Downunder, and Wasabi will all start at Portsea at 10.30 this morning and are looking at a strong north westerly, turning west to south west this afternoon. They should all be well past Wilson’s Prom by late tonight.
Gusto will start at 4.00 am on Thursday.
Melbourne Osaka Cup – Saturday evening sked 23 March, 2013.
Turbulence is still sneaking up the NSW coast in a light to moderate breeze. At the 7.00 pm sked they reported a perfect sunny end of the day, no swell and an easterly of about 8 knots. It’s likely to remain less than 10 knots overnight and through Sunday.
Escapade was still on a north easterly heading, still with 18 knots of wind from the north-north-west and the weather cloudy with showers. The wind should ease for them tonight, but remain in the north.
Southern Cross, also still well offshore looks like having light airs tonight and into Sunday, although they managed to average 6 knots on a northerly heading during the afternoon.
A bit busier tomorrow, with another 7 boats starting from Portsea at 10.30 am.
Melbourne Osaka Cup - Saturday morning sked 23 March, 2013. Escapade over 230 nautical miles East of Sydney and making steady progress on a North Easterly heading - still in a 25 knot North-North-Westerly at 7.00 am. Reported avoiding a lightning storm last night.
Southern Cross, almost as far East as Escapade, but 200 miles further south, also still sailing into a Northerly breeze,
Turbulence remaining inshore, 25 miles North of Eden at 7.00 am, reported a sea flat as glass with a light South Westerly. This was in contrast to Eric’s email written last night:
Hi folks, really rough night last night (Thursday) 5 to 6 metre sea and very blowy at times, 35 to 45 knots. I had a bad night with sea sickness but settled now, and sailing in perfect conditions off Eden, 14 knots of breeze and trucking along at 8.5 knots.
Paul is asleep right now so she's on sleepy bill auto pilot. Paul is going super well as always and only had 1 beer so far, last night’s weather even slowed that down! Tomorrow I think we'll get out the CD's that Jacko set up for our voyage and give them a blast. Well over and out for now! Keep watching the tracker. Cheers Eric & Paul, Turbulence
Melbourne Osaka Cup - Friday evening sked 22 March, 2013. At the 1900 sked, Turbulence was 20 nautical miles east of Gabo Is with a 10 knot South Easterly breeze and heading up the NSW coast.
Escapade (300 miles North East of Turbulence) reported they still in a Northerly, but now less than 25 knots and clearing.
After 2 days of bashing into very strong Northerlies (see their report from yesterday) Southern Cross reported that they’d had an afternoon of good sailing, but were now almost becalmed!
NSW coastal forecasts indicate that Turbulence should have moderate winds behind the beam until Saturday afternoon, but it’s likely that winds for the other 2 boats will stay in the north overnight. It’s looking a bit light for them after that.
