Osaka Start underway!

At 1300hrs yesterday, Commodore Bill Torgensen from the Annapolis Yacht Club fired the gun for the start of the 2013 Osaka Cup off Portsea Pier.
Families and friends had enjoyed the hospitality of Blairgowrie Yacht Club on Saturday evening.
Yasu and Masa from Southern Cross and Robert and Joey from Escapade,attended weather briefing early Sunday morning with Race Director, Simon Dryden and Robin Hewitt.
With the weather looking lively outside the Heads both yachts carried #4 headsails and Escapade had one reef in the main.Shortly after the start In the lee of Point Nepean, the wind eased and Escapade shook out the reef. Whilst Southern Cross won the start, Robert and Joey were first out the Heads.
Both boats are now heading to Gabo and you can follow their journey on the TRACKER.

Escapade and Southern Cross get underway

The wind eased a little shortly after the gun.

Escapade on the way out the Heads

Southern Cross in the Heads

Melbourne Osaka Yachts to begin Epic Journey

Race to start in three parts from Sunday, March 17 at Portsea Pier

“Competitors are primed and ready to race,” said organiser and former competitor, George Shaw.

This weekend signals the moment all Australian and international crews in the 2013 Melbourne – Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race have been waiting for.

The first of three groups of yachts will greet the starter at Portsea Pier on Sunday, March 17 at 1:30 pm.

The second and largest group will start the following Sunday, March 24, at 10:30 am. This is anticipated to be the most closely contested division.

The third start will be for the highly rated 66-footer Gusto, which will start on Thursday 28^th March 2013.

Ahead of them will be the toughest, most extreme race to start from Australian waters; up to six weeks of non-stop, two-handed sailing in conditions which rival any ocean race in the world.

“After 2 years preparation, a 5,500 nm battle is about to begin,” Mr Shaw said.

The starts are staggered to allow all boats to finish at about the same time. The three starts reflect the performance of each of the boats, with the fastest starting last.

“Crews are also going to be asked to nominate the order the yachts will finish. This will give an interesting perspective of how each boat views its competition,” Mr Shaw said.

In contrast to other races, like the Sydney-Hobart, all yachts and crews must clear customs at Sandringham Yacht Club early on the Saturday before their start. 

Each yacht must be crewed by only two people.

“Many are asking who will lose the most weight. In every race crews lose weight and many lose over 10kg during the “M2O”.

Crews will be made available for media interviews on request.

For more details about the entrants:

https://www.topyachtsoftware.com/db/aus/entrants_display.php?SeriesID=1633&Task=ShowSeriesEntrants&EventID=179

CUSTOMS CLEARANCE

WHEN: Saturday mornings before start day

WHERE: Sandringham Yacht Club, Jetty Rd Sandringham.

STARTS

WHEN: Sundays; March 17, March 24 and March 31

WHERE: Portsea Pier

Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race: Entrants

Yacht name: Spirit of Downunder Skipper: Laurie Ford Co-Skipper: Tim Ford Yacht Type: Cameron De Lange 40

Melbourne Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race - Blairgowrie Farewell - book today!

Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron will host a farewell dinner on Saturday 16^th March for the first of the crews to depart for Osaka. Families and friends are welcome to attend, but you must book by 4pm today.  Bookings and arrangements for DINNER and BERTHING.

Come along to farewell Escapade, Southern Cross and Turbulence.

http://www.melbourneosaka.com