Samurai Jack update in Melbourne to Osaka Cup

There were lots of comments flying around at the M2O Q and A re freeze dried versus some home cooked meals! The wind has eased for the second starters so thoughts have turned to the galley!

"37*46' s 149*37'e

Very light and calm E, sunny

All is well onboard after a frustrating lack of wind again next to Funnel Web - or as we're beginning to call it the 'spider web'. Only a little jealous of Will and Ivan as they boasted about their bacon and eggs. Biltong and canned tuna for us!

Had a calm night last night but managed to fly our big A1 for most of it... Forgot how big it was until I packed it this morning!

Hi and thoughts to all family and friends on land.

Ryan- Samurai Jack'

Melbourne to Osaka Escapade Crew!

We can only guess that the wind and sea state have eased and sitting at the Nav station is more comfortable for the crew aboard Escapade.

"This one will have the Race Director scrambling for his copy of the Blue Book to check the definition of "crew". At last count there were no less than five names on the list of souls aboard. In the last few days since the weather has improved we have been opening all the lockers to check for water and do the necessary bailing. Apart from about 200l of water we also discovered a few stowaways! Here is a full list of the Escapade crew to date.

Robert - skipper, nominally in command (see next line) Joey - First officer, sometimes forgets to prefix his suggestions to the skipper with "Permission to speak freely SIR". Also thinks "if you please" really means he has a choice.

Otto - His inclusion in the crew was approved in accordance with clause 9.2 of the notice of race (modification to RRS52) so the race director shouldn't be too concerned here. His principal responsibility (in fact, his only responsibility) is to steer. He is excused from general duties such as meal preparation and head cleaning. His German extraction is reflected in his unswerving insistence on steering the precise course he has been instructed irrespective of any change in the weather conditions and how much power he consumes doing so. We have found we need to keep a weather eye on him as well as the weather which has meant that either skipper or first officer needs to be on watch with him. So much for port, cigars and a hand of whist after dinner in the officers mess. (although we do have a very big mess)

Andy - Andy's presence aboard was suspected three days ago due to the seacock on the head being found open when both the skipper and first officer know they had closed it immediately after finishing their duties there. Hence an exhaustive search was made to discover the culprit who we know to be about somewhere because he has also been leaving lockers open in the galley and flicking the chart table pencils onto the floor. Andy has history aboard Escapade. As some of you will know, the skipper is also an RYA Yachtmaster instructor and Andy has participated in several 5-day liveaboard courses. Despite being a very (painfully) slow learner and falling into the tide as many as 8 times in the one day, he is a very keen sailor and told the skipper he was willingly to do anything to get a ride on a boat to Osaka when he learned that Escapade was a competitor. The skipper apologised for already finalising the crew list and gleefully referred him to other entrants thinking that would be the last he would hear of the matter. in retrospect the skipper should have gaffer tapped him to the locker door at HBYC.

Vladimir - Vladimir is an old hand at sneaking aboard various boats starting with Slinky Malinky on the 2010 M2V. Despite being warned about the reception a loud Russian with a bad accent and no vocabulary was likely to get in Japan, (given that there's bit of history between the two nations) he has still made a couple of cameo appearances in the Galley dressed in his customary overalls and nothing else. Fortunately they are Musto high waisted ocean pants which limited the amount of hair in yesterdays meat balls with sauce, onions, grilled tomato and salad. Having made it on board, we expect more appearances from him as the weather warms up.

Finally, Escapade herself. Couldn't really have done the race without her.

and to Dr Rosie, yes the first officer is checking to see that the skipper is taking his medication."

More Photos from Melbourne Osaka Cup race start.

There were plenty of spectators for the second start of the Osaka Cup on Sunday. Sue Halliwell and David James were on Portsea Pier and sent us these shots.

Spectators on Portsea Pier

Kiss Goodbye to MS -Sue Halliwell

Some headsail changes pre-start -Sue Halliwell

Finally underway- Sue Halliwell

Funnelweb -Sue Halliwell

Optimus Prime waves goodbye -Sue Halliwell

Wasabi- Sue Halliwell

Cadibarra 8 and Optimus Prime - Sue Halliwell

Samurai Jack -Sue Halliwell

View from Portsea Back Beach after the start -Sue Halliwell

Laurie and Tim farewell their fans David James

Melbourne Osaka Cup – Monday morning sked 25 March, 2013.

Yesterday’s seven starters have maintained a great pace right through to this morning; six of them still fairly close together south of Gippsland Lakes and the seventh, Kiss Goodbye to MS, a bit wider and about 30 miles behind Wasabi – the leader of the bunch.

The speed is likely to slacken during the day today as the wind drops off and then comes in from the east and north east later on.

It looks like another light day for Escapade, still way out on their own, just 15 miles west of Lord Howe Island; they should have more breeze from east or north east by tomorrow.

Southern Cross, 200 miles east of Sydney, and Turbulence – approaching Botany Bay just a couple of miles off the coast – have both managed steady progress through the night. Southern Cross should pick up a moderate south easterly today before it lightens off again tonight.

Turbulence looks like they’ll be in for north easterlies for a couple of days while they stay near the coast.