Ingenue due to finish Melbourne Osaka race tonight

by Di Pearson on 4 May 2007 According to the latest information, the Victorian yacht Ingenue will be the next finisher in the double handed 2007 Melbourne Osaka yacht race; David James and Rosie Colahan are only 61 nautical miles from the finish line of the 5,500 nautical mile race.

Over the past few days the married couple from Brighton have increased their lead over Wild Boar after taking a little dig to the west. Ingenue is now 63 miles ahead of its Japanese adversary, positioned midway between the west and eastern shores, just 10 miles from the opening into Osaka’s Bay and the finish line.

James and Colahan should make it into Osaka tonight, but as has been well documented with previous finishers, wind and its direction will play a major role into what time the two finish.

Rosie, who has had a busy morning already, reported: 'I've been up the mast to clear the frayed inner forestay - couldn't fly a spinnaker with the broken strands there - would tear it to bits in no time flat.

'The boat is in good order and we are currently playing 'spot the ship' - there are plenty out here! The radar is working overtime picking them up. Our visibility is two miles which isn't a lot given the speeds they move.

We are in a Northerly – 10 knots on the nose, still carrying a full main and No. 1 headsail, moving at 5-6 knots on a half metre sea on an overcast day.

'Having muesli for breakfast at the moment; then will have Aussie lamb on the BBQ for lunch and scraps for dinner.

'We're 10 miles off the channel entry, then it’s 40 miles to finish -.nearly there!'

Shozi Yoneda and Jun Kanda (Wild Boar) with 124 miles to sail, look likely to finish tomorrow some time.

From Kanda this morning: 'Weather is fine and we have Force 2-3 west-nor-west wind - which means we don't have much wind! We wish the westerly would blow from the high pressure system.'

Kanda also expressed the wish: 'to be back in time to compete in the Access Dinghy Challenge.' He refers to of the many post-race social programs with Osaka citizens, which will take place between 10.00-1500 JST tomorrow in Osaka. Some of the boats will feature Melbourne Osaka race competitors paired with local citizens.

After taking a dig out to the east yesterday, Campbell Reynolds and David Best (Esoterica) are on a course east of the rhumbline, positioned on the layline to what has been the favoured eastern channel entrance to Osaka’s bay.

However, the Queensland friends are now 249 miles away from Wild Boar, almost abeam of the Bonin Islands to their east, and the weather ahead of them, according to the latest from Roger Badham, does not look pleasant.

The three remaining at sea will miss a keelboat 'Welcome Regatta' from 1100-1500 in Osaka today. Melbourne Osaka competitors will compete while Osaka citizens and officials will cheer the racers on from onboard spectator yachts supplied by Hokko Yacht Club members.

Weather from Roger Badham:

070503 0520Z
Winds are average winds at 10m – no gust.

GALES
SUNDAY 06-MONDAY 07
S-SW wind of 30-40 knots expected north of 28N, ahead of a front to cross the rhumb line by early Monday 7th May.
Wind on Monday 7th will turn W/30-40 and then ease below gale strength (NW/30-25) late Monday night to early Tuesday 8th.

About The Race:

Staged every four years, the Organising Authority for the Melbourne-Osaka Yacht Race is made up of City of Melbourne, City of Osaka Promotional Council, Osaka Hokko Yacht Club, Sandringham Yacht Club and in association with Yachting Australia.