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.