Gusto reaches the equator and the race is on!

by Di Pearson on 14 Apr 2007 The Melbourne Osaka double handed yacht race is well and truly on this morning as the top five yachts leave the Doldrums behind them and the next group not too far from doing the same.

According to the Argos tracker, COCORIN interland remains in the lead on a course just west of north, off the northern end of the Saint Matthais Group and yet to cross the equator.

Itaru Matsunaga reported from COCORIN yesterday afternoon: 'Yesterday when we sailed between Lihir Island and Tanga Island, a narrow boat was approaching us. John was seriously worried as he had encountered pirates before at Maracca Strait - but luckily it was not!

'We sagged towards the island, and got as close as 3nm due to the calms. Should stay away from the islands.' The two recorded top speeds of 7-8 knots in winds from the nor-nor-east.

Gusto, further to the east, but heading in a westerly direction, is further up the track. Will be interesting to see how it shapes up when the two converge.

Gusto (Patrick Giudice/Brian Pattinson) crossed the equator this morning, leaving the Doldrums behind. They should now have the pleasure of experiencing the north-east trade winds in Micronesian waters.

The ‘trades’ come from the North Equatorial Current which flows from east to west and increases in strength from the Philippines to Taiwan and will be a bonus to all after a dose of the Doldrums.

Will be interesting to see whether those who have previously crossed the equator have anything organised for their uninitiated crew.

Jock and Hamish MacAdie (Alex, Vic) are the next best placed and have their minds set on catching COCORIN; 29 nautical miles is all that separates the two. Tamagomalu comes next, 17nm away, the Dekadence a further 29nm away; all three are closing in on the top two.

'The wind has picked up a little since last night. We are sailing at 5 knots and definitely need winds,' said Makoto Hisamatsu from Tamagomalu yesterday.

Phil Coombs and ‘Pee Wee’ on Dekadence describe the conditions and mood succinctly yesterday: 'We are getting frustrated with wind (or lack or it) and we are not even in the doldrums ha ha.... just practicing...

'We are now finally past New Ireland - thank goodness, but not as relieved as COCORIN - how frustrated would they be? Then to have Gusto come back from their inshore experience.

'Lucky we aren't a line honours boat and are just enjoying the scenery ha ha.

'Saw an island in the distance today for first glimpse of land for some time - wow. Not sure exactly, but I think we took nearly a week to travel the 550 nm from Louisiades to New Ireland - wrist slashing stuff.

'On a positive note, we have had good breezes for the last 36 hours, approx. 4-9 knots - I have never paid so much money to go so slow. What The!!

'We are now approaching Malendok Island; you know where that is don't you? Latitude 3 degrees 40 min, but what is VERY important, is that we are only 230 nm from the equator.

'In physical distance, we are just over half way after 20 days – scary. However, second half of race will be lot quicker.

'Have been head butting 1.5 to 2 knots current for 85 percent of the time, which has had a big impact on all the boats. Add very light winds and the progress is very small (I'm being very polite for kids reading this).

'We expect to be at the equator in two-three days max, then Japan is ONLY 2000nm from there, or 3.5 Sydney Hobart's back-to-back. A walk in the park and probably will be after what we have all been through.

'Spirits are good on the boat and everything is working well. There is no doubt for us that we are going to get there, and our goal of finishing in top five is also realistic, so for us all good.' Their missive was signed: 'Bye for now, Felix and Oscar (Phil and Pee Wee).'

In the next group this morning, caught in the grip of the Doldrums, Asadori (Shinsuke Nishi/Kyojun Fujita), positioned to the east of the southern end of New Ireland leads Jim and Joe O’Keeffe on Hullabaloo and David James and Rosie Colahan on Ingenue.

Yesterday afternoon Asadori, Ingenue and Hullabaloo found themselves going around in circles off the southern tip of New Ireland, while helplessly watching the top five yachts in sail away from them.

Asadori’s Shinsuke Nishi reported yesterday: 'On Thursday we caught a yellow-fin tuna of 15kg. Since the fridge consumes a lot of electricity, we ate best part and didn't preserve the rest.

'We only needed a smaller bonito, but what we ended up with was a big tuna. We can sail powerfully now, as we took enough nourishment!'

It was during yesterday afternoon that RYU-JIN – fgi expectedly overran Wild Boar, the Queenslanders extending their 1nm lead to 26 this morning.

Taking a dig to the west and positioned at the top end of Bougainville this morning, Murray Bucknall/Jon Sayer have got RYU-JIN back in the yacht race, but are 305nm from COCORIN interland.

This morning, dry humour intact, Jon Sayer sent this message: 'Like a mail order bride…….we love you long time! Real frustrating. Keep parking and swimming around boat.

'Heard a bang the other night after doing 10.5 knots in a rain squall. When I went swimming, found that we had hit a log which has damaged the bow and left some tree embedded in the carbon. We may be limited in spinnaker use as the prodder attachment has been crushed?'

Aboard Wild Boar, Jun Kanda appears to be a poet. He was wanting to write a Haiku, a traditional 17-letter poem at the Doldrums when he spotted a yacht's mast behind. It was Ryujin sneaking up. 'Kanda contacted Jon via VHF and found that they also had hard time with light wind,' said skipper Shozi Yoneda.

One of Kanda’s poems reads:

'Much ado (to push the boat frantically) God felt sorry and sent some wind'

From behind, Esoterica (Cambell Reynolds/David Best) and Southern Light (Tom Crabb/Trent Justice) have decreased the miles to the next group. The two crews are respectively 340 and 372nm behind the leaders, Esoterica just 9nm away from Wild Boar.

Argos tracker positions at UTC 22.00.00 (8am AEST & 7am JPN Saturday April 14):
COCORIN interland (Itaru Matsunaga/John Bankart), Gusto (Patrick Giudice/Brian Pattinson), Alex (Jock and son Hamish MacAdie), Tamagomalu (Makoto Hisamatsu/Jimmi Doherty), Dekadence (Phil Coombs/Peter Walsh), Asadori (Shinsuke Nishi/Kyojun Fujita), Hullabaloo (Jim and son Joe O’Keeffe), Ingenue (David James and wife Rosie Colahan), RYU-JIN (Murray Bucknall/Jon Sayer), Wild Boar (Shozi Yuneda/Jun Kanda), Esoterica (Campbell Reynolds/David Best), Southern Light (Tom Crabb/Trent Justice), Cadi (John and son David Netherton, retired), Wasabi (Ken Down/Shane Gaddes – retired), Runaway (James Ryssenbeek/Andrew McCole – retired), Pippin (Roger Sayers/Anthony Bown – retired).