Light conditions in Bass Strait

Di Pearson updates us on the two handed Melbourne-Osaka race

Following the start of the double-handed 5,500 nautical mile Melbourne Osaka race on Port Phillip yesterday at 1pm, Esoterica's crew, Campbell Reynolds and David Best (Qld) reported to Principal Race Officer Kevin Wilson late last evening: "we have decided to remain in Port Phillip to affect a few repairs before heading out into Bass Strait." However, the two fixed what they described as ‘minor problems’ and left Blairgowrie to rejoin the race this morning, now sailing along towards Wilsons Promontory.

Wild Boar, a Japanese entry co-skippered by Shozi Yoneda/Jun Kanda, were off Westernport on the tip of Victoria, with a boat speed of 0.5 knots, but have since tacked out and moving along a little faster, but the entire fleet as of early this afternoon were still sailing in very light airs.

Following a windward start, the boats set spinnakers down the south channel before entering the RIP. Gusto (Patrick Giudice/Brian Pattinson, Qld) got an early jump on its rivals, with Wasabi (Ken Down/Shane Gaddes), Dekadence (Phil Coombs/Peter Walsh, Vic), Cadi (John and David Netherton Qld - photo below) and RYU-JIN –fgi (Murray Bucknall/Jon Sayer) following close behind.



At this early stage, the yachts are bunched fairly closely. At 5.00.00 UTC (3.00pm AEST) today, Wasabi, Gusto (Vic), an Open 60, RYU-JIN and Cadi were sailing in close proximity off Wilsons Promontory, with Tamagamolu, Southern Light, Pippin and Ingenue in hot pursuit, 15-25 miles behind the leader while further out to sea Dekadence, Runaway, Hullabaloo and Alex had taken a leg back towards the coast., with Cocorin interland in contact with that group but heading seawards again.

Currently in Bass Strait, it won’t be long before the Victorians head into the Tasman Sea. However, they are only travelling at speeds of anywhere between 3 and 5.5 knots, telling plenty about the lack of breeze.

The bulk of the fleet, headed by Queenslanders Ken Down/Shane Gaddes on the new Sayer 12 Wasabi and their sistership, RYU-JIN - fgi (Murray Bucknall and Jon Sayer, Qld) are closer to the Victorian coast off Wilsons Promontory with slightly better speeds in the 4 to 5.4 knot range.

Both yachts were designed and built by Sayer, but Wasabi, which has a few more creature comforts, features twin wheels whilst RYU-JIN is tiller steered and has a centreboard rather than a keel. Both are keen to be the fastest boat and have been keeping in close contact since the race start.

Japanese entry, Cocorin interland an Elliot 16m schooner (Itaru Matsunaga and Queenslander John Bankart), had been heading away from the coast, but have come back in, searching for pressure.

Further back in the field, the yachts are struggling, doing between 2.6 and 3.8 knots, making the early stages of the race quite tricky and one of tactics - coast or sea?

Meteorologist Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham, currently in Valencia with America’s Cup Emirates Team New Zealand challenge, is looking after weather predictions for the fleet. His report shows the area from Wilsons Promontory to 60nm east of Gabo Island will experience south-east to north-east of 10-15 knots in the afternoon, increasing to 20 knots during the evening on 1-1.5m seas, which will be a welcome relief for competitors.

Come Tuesday, competitors can expect north-easterly winds of 10-20 knots on 1-2 metre seas.