Osaka Cup-News from aboard 16.4.13

The 'Big G' Gusto is on the move again. VMG of close to 11 knots at the 1400 Tracker update has them continuing to make big ground on 'The Escapee' Escapade, 'Freight Train' Optimus Prime and 'The Hounds' pack Wasabi, Cadibarra 8, Spirit of Downunder and Turbulence who have all slowed, some more than others. With some very interesting weather ahead Funnelweb, Kiss Goodbye to MS and Southern Cross may be in for some good luck for a change. Game on.

From Southern Cross
This morning at 8am the wind suddenly dropped away. Last night from 20:00 the wind had picked up to 10 knots from the NE and by midnight we’d made good progress of 50 mile. The breeze probably came from a high pressure to our east.

A few things to mention today. About 30 meters off the starboard side I’ve seen splashes and ripples that spread out in the water. Haven’t really seen what’s there but its some type of animal and I heard a "pffft". A whale perhaps?

My image of a perfect sea here faces reality and crumbles when I see so much plastic and other rubbish in the water around me. However with the sun high above us here the water becomes transparent. In my photo taken from the bow you can see my shadow down into the water with a shine around my head like some sort of god. Seeing it for real is better than the photo though!

From here to the equator is another 210 mile and if we can get the trade wind we could do that in one day. If we can pick up the right current today we won’t wander about like yesterday.
Yasu

From Cadibarra 8
Great to see Funnelweb is up and going again in this morning's tracker update, it seems they finally have the wind in their favour. Nail biting tension watching them hanging on to Gusto's coat tail
Onboard update from Cadibarra 8 Co-Skippers Paul Roberts and Martin Vaughan, Tuesday 16 April, 2013:

Repairs and progress.

It's amazing the wear and tear on things during a long race like this. We are making good progress in these constant NE trade winds. We have had days of progress without many dramas but today it was wear & tear day.

It started with the main sheet giving way thanks to a shackle which broke due to fatigue (a bit like the Cadibarra crew). Paul jury rigged it quickly then put in a strong temporary strop. After reassembling we spent time discussing why the 20/20 (mast display units for the instruments) weren't working. Lots of mulling over, lots of fiddling and we figured it was power. Paul ripped into it, eventually identifying the power feed had failed, so temporarily wired in another power feed. Something to revisit in Osaka but for now we have most of the displays back working. One of them is still showing an odd display, tomorrow's job.

Did I mention the microwave wasn't heating again? Similar problem to that which dogged us on the Melb to Hobart race. Not a huge issue, we can do without it, if need be.

Then there were the solar panel wiring joints, where salt water had got in and corroded them to the point they no longer connected. Crimping terminals, tape and should be oayk to get to Osaka, hopefully.

Race wise it has gone a bit quiet. We are still chasing down 'Escapade' and are tussling with 'Wasabi', they are doing okay quite near us, have had their strong code 0 up all day, we think.

Less than 1500 Nm left to Osaka bay. (<10 days) Hooray!

From Escapade

The Cormorant who has seen better days- Escapade

Laundry day- Escapade

"Pop" at the Equator perhaps!