Melbourne Osaka Double Handed Yacht Race 22.4.2013 0600hrs

On the nose this morning for the leaders and strong winds forecast for those a bit further south turning into a friendlier direction for the next couple of days. Might even things up a bit as the center of a high will quickly pass over Osaka with forecast light winds again for those in front. Velocity made good is taking a battering and expected arrival times will go back a bit.
Escapade reports NW confused 3m sea.Wasabi-Bumpy night, max wind 32Kts , steep waves with wind agains tide. #5 and three reefs (out of four) on the main. Both crew all well and got good sleep overnight. Forecast easing this morning and clocking this PM.

Turbulence comments-Cloudy start, Swell 1.0 Mt , Wind 154M @ 8.9, Boat Speed 6.2 K. Optimus Prime says Wind 22 knots from the North, 2 tucks in the main and a no 4 jib. "We are both fit and well with no health issues Love a bit of crash'n and bash'n."
Cadibarra is experiencing 22kts NNW similar to Optimus Prime and further back Funnelweb has 6 kts wind with a flat sea-RFH

21/4/2013 1800hrs
Check in please Funnelweb!
With luck the yachts may have missed the worst weather although more is yet to come. After the bashing up the NSW coast it is not as though they lack experience of hard northerlies but all that calm weather……..Not that much further NorthEast 48 kts! The weather systems have played such an important part in the progress of this race and still do when one looks at the positions and the winds encountered. In tonights report from Turbulence-wind 3.5 kts, Optimus Prime 19 kts & light rain, Gusto no wind for 4 days-THIS IS NOT RACING-glassy, Spirit Thank you Lord our prayers answered, Cadibarra 8 kts wind
It is going to be interesting how the yachts tackle the features ahead, in particular the Kuroshio. I have attached 2 pics as explanation and adding that the Kuroshio is the warm northward flowing arm of the North Pacific Gyre (Clockwise flowing circulation of water current where the temperature is redistributed from the tropics) This warm current is akin to the Eastern Australia current which flows Southward down the NSW coast particularly as anti clockwise circulation of the South Pacific Gyre which engaged the yachts in various strategies for advantage northwards on their journey. One of the pics is a colour temperature satellite shot in which careful examination shows eddies and effects of the warm water current. The other is a drawing enhanced representation of the Kuroshio past Japan.and is used by shipping to assist their routing and particularly by the fishing industry. These current pics are current (pun intended). According to the graphical representation, the current is about 60 nm wide and flowing at 2 to 4 kts.

21/4/2013 0600
DEVELOPING LOW 1012 HPA AT 34N 140E SEA EAST OF JAPAN MOVING NORTHEAST 20 KNOTS.EXPECTED WINDS 30 TO 45 KNOTS WITHIN 600 MILES OF LOW SOUTHWEST SEMICIRCLE AND 300 MILES ELSEWHERE FOR NEXT 12 HOURS.

Should make for some interesting aspects for the race. According to the information available here, the low is fairly small and winds will change fairly quickly both in direction and strength. Within hours they could be running and shortly afterwards beating. Of course the centre of the system will have light winds-could be a busy day.
Funnelweb has left Saipan and reports the sea is calm as glass in his area but Kiss Goodbye to MS has wind and moving quite well while Southern Cross is about 30 nm from Chuuk.
Escapade has a lead of 100 miles from Wasabi and 130 from Optimus Prime and although the gap is narrowing is looking good. But this IS a yacht race and anything could happen! There are still plenty of challenges ahead.-RFH