Race leader out

Wasabi breaks her rudder in two handed Melbourne Osaka race

Ken Down reported to Kevin Wilson, Race Director of the Melbourne Osaka tonight, that due to rudder damage to their new Sayer 12m Wasabi, he and Shane Gaddes would be retiring to Sydney and are expected to arrive in the Harbour some time tomorrow afternoon.

The extent of the damage is not known at this stage, or whether Down and Gaddes, from Mooloolaba in Queensland, would be able to make repairs and continue the race.

Wasabi was leading the race at the time of retiring; her last position was reportedly off Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast, sailing to windward with speeds averaging 4.9 knots.

Ironically, the new race leader is RYU-JIN – fgi, Murray Bucknall’s brand new sistership to Wasabi, with the designer builder Jon Sayer aboard as co-skipper, who also comes from Queensland. At the time of the incident, Wasabi was around 4 nautical miles ahead, but the boats have been closing sailing since shortly the start and swapping the lead.

Both Wasabi and RYU-JIN were tipped as hot prospects for the win and friendly rivalry existed between the pair. The only real differences between the boats are that Wasabi has twin wheels, while Bucknall’s boat is tiller driven and also sports a centreboard rather than a fixed keel.

In a second incident, father and son team, John and David Netherton, also from Queensland, reported a fuel tank was leaking diesel from their Jones 13m Cadi and they were currently considering their options.

Cadi is currently in third place, following Wasabi’s announcement, now approximately 40nm behind the Bucknall boat with Gusto, an Open 60, between them.

On board Ingenue, a Melbourne entry, David James reported: "We eventually tacked towards Wilsons Prom on Monday night, the wind still on the nose. As we headed towards Skull Rock, in the moonlight, we started to get a lift from the tide and tacked out near Wattle Island. About half way to Rodondo Island we were forced to tack again to avoid a ship heading west in the shipping separation scheme. Another couple of tacks to clear Forty Foot Rocks and South East Head saw us on our way North towards Cliffy Island.

"Seas were short and we had the odd green water over the deck which managed to come through the open companionway and drench the stove. During the hard bashing to windward, Picasso's vacuum packed pasta has been a winner, thank you John.

"On Tuesday, the seas settled and the sun came out. Off came the wet weather gear and thermals so we could work on our suntans while we had Rogan Josh curry with rice and sambals for lunch. After a pleasant sail to windward in the afternoon, the wind strengthened to 24 knots and we were back to the staysail, and at times a reef in the main, then back to full sails towards morning.

"The solar panels provided enough power to run all systems from 11.00am until 5.00pm. The Victron battery manager is brilliant; it keeps us well informed as to our power consumption and charging - no more guess work.”

In an update weather report from Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham, the forecast read:

GALES
An area of gale force winds is expected behind a cold front that will cross eastern Bass St on Friday 30th and the South West Tasman Sea on Saturday 31st.

FRI 30
West/South-West 30-35 south of 36S and west of 155E

SAT 31
South-West 30-35 south of 35S and west of 160E
Conditions easing later Saturday and into Sunday below gale strength.