Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Dozen.

There are now a dozen EOIs for the 2013 M2O, which is just great. No entry got me interested, as Runaway, however, because it was when Andrew McCole and James Ryssenbeek saw that He of the Countdown Timer and Greg Rayner had put theirs in, that they decided they must go and get an EOI in themselves - and quickly at that!!!

Now these guys know a little about short-handed racing. You see, they did the 2006 M2V, as above in the © Andrea Francolini pic and then the 2007 M2O in the © Teri Doods pic below.

Aerial image from the start of the 2007 M2O.

"Look! It's the new keel."

Runaway is a Sayer 11M, was the eleventh EOI and she is a carbon fibre and water ballasted, purpose-built M2O boat, which was third over the line in the 2003 M2O and is still the Open Racer Class C record holder for the event. The boys purchased the boat in 2005 and mounted a two year campaign for the 2007 M2O race. During that campaign, they finished fifth in the 2005 M2HW and fifth in the inaugural 2006 M2O, in which they were second in the two-handed division.

During the 2007 M2O they were in third place on day eight when they suffered a critical keel failure. Andrew says, "After a 40-hour survival mission, where we motored 230nm ashore to Bundaberg in Queensland, we were forced to retire from the race. The survival story is an achievement against the odds and is a testament to both the seaworthiness and stability of the boat." No doubt a fair old dollop of seamanship was part of that too. Since then, the boat has had a new keel and rudder built and a full re-paint of the hull. "With the 2013 M2O now up and running, we are set to finish what we wanted to achieve in 2005", said Andrew.

Runaway is moored at RBYC in Melbourne and is currently on the market. James and Andrew are looking to upsize for the 2013 event, but are planning on racing Runaway if she doesn’t sell. This boat would be perfect for any competitor looking to achieve great results in a fast, lightweight and extremely stable yacht. She is in great condition, is Category Zero compliant and is ready to race. Ring Andrew on 0403 578 764 to put your purchase order in.

So back to EOIs then and number 10 was TBA 4 - Geoff Tomlins from RQYS, whereas 11 and 12 are a bit closer to the starting point. Number 12 is Tony Fowler from RGYC with the new Ocean Skins, which is a Sydney 39CR..

Tony Fowler and crew of the Rodgers46 Ocean Skins that won the 2009 M2HE - seen here sliding up the Derwent wonderfully.

You betcha - more to come.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Sage.

Yes. The following is some very sage advice, from a man who has completed the M2O twice before. Robin Hewitt's other pair of mitts for both times he did this magnificent two handed event, was the ORCV's Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden. Robin has been kind enough to develop the following material for potential entrants in the great race.

Robin has taken the Miller and Whitworth penned, Yoko, to Osaka twice - with thanks to Steb Fisher for this image of her, taken during the 2010 M2G.

Herewith is his three-step plan for you, to help you manage the process of entering and more importantly, preparing for, the Melbourne to Osaka two handed race.

ONE

The yacht must comply, in all respects, to the safety aspects of Category Zero for the regulations of the year specified, which will probably be 2010 or 2011. The Notice of Race will most likely have some amendments, as Cat0 is modelled for very cold water, like the Atlantic, whereas the M2O operates primarily in warmer areas.

The safety auditors are volunteers and must follow to the letter, all of the regulations, as also must the Race Committee. Don’t leave the interpretation of the regulations to chance - eg. If the mid-lifeline height must be not be more than 380 mm above deck, 381mm will not be accepted, so do something about before the audit. Stability, builder's and designer's certificates have all brought entries undone because they cannot be obtained at short notice, like a lot of crucial paperwork, so get these solved early. Conversely, incorrect flare dates can be rectified at the last minute - just sign the cheque or wave the card!

Remember, everything to comply with the NOR takes long-term preparation and needs be started very, very early.

TWO

Being able to enter and then be accepted is your No. 1 mission. Being competitive or able to sail at your absolute best is No. 2. Planning and financing the sailing is of no use if you cannot pass Step One, above. The qualifying voyage is not necessarily an early requirement, but it and others can teach you lots! Your co-skipper needs to be very compatible and have a mature, tolerant outlook.

In a fully crewed yacht, decisions are acted upon by consensus of the majority. In the two handed situation, there can only be agreement or a difference of opinion, which may degenerate into an ego contest. It requires having a firm objective for the race and what is required to be achieved. Consider differences in terms of ‘your watch = your way AND my watch = my way’.

Remember long distance sailing is just not about ability, it is also endurance! A big effort today will probably mean a very poor effort tomorrow! Do you push the yacht to high-risk limits early in the race? Will you then have only damaged sails and gear for the rest of the race? Or maybe have to retire. Consider tactical and strategic aspects of the voyage, the boat, expected weather and equipment that suits. What is your food plan and preparation facilities? Do you have suitable communications, not just for the regulations, but also socially, for looking after those back home. Loneliness can be a factor for some. You will also need to develop a return trip arrangement or plan.

THREE

This is the wish list and it may well be desirable, but it is certainly not essential! It may also be possible, if there's enough funds, which there won’t be, but you may be able to tick some of your desires off.

CONCLUSION

Make your three lists with all the required regulations and then tick each item off, as it is covered or prepared. This means you will be running the sailing and equipment lists/steps concurrently. For sure you'll want to tick them off, but also remember to review both lists frequently. Ultimately, get to the wish list last and not get blinded by it.

Sponsorship can make a very big difference, but there has to be a balance between the time spent obtaining it, then servicing it and getting on with the business of ticking off the all important lists.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

By Robin Hewitt with John Curnow

© ORCV Media

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Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Ian 'Molly' Meldrum.

Hosted a very popoular show that ran for ages - Countdown. Our champ of the countdown, Jeremy Walton, has joined the burgeoning EOI list for the 2013 M2O. His cohort as the Number Eight EOI, is long-time friend, Greg Rayner. While they sort out an appropriate craft, they are known as TBA3...

Jeremy tells us "... we have 893 days to solve the vessel issue." (As of Monday 25/10/10).

He of the Countdown Timer - new ORCV Committee Member, Jeremy Walton.

And this is that Oh-So-Famous Steb Fisher pic of the boat they have spent a lot of time on, Rogue Trader.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Golf.

As in Caddy. You see Cadibarra 8 was up until recently known as Cadi. The title also works because of the fact that she was #4 (as in the warning cry you make on the fairway) in the 2013 M2O EOI programme.

The rudder post is visible just behind the liferaft and I can still see Nigel Jones with the tiller that used to be attached to it, darting around pre-start on Port Phillip. The guys who sailed with him offshore around that time, said he a had a manoeuver called the NiggleWiggle, which set the boat up beautifully to take on a wave and accelerate wonderfully...

Now the Jones 42, originally known as Cadibarra (VIII), was the also the last of Don Jones' personal vessel line. There is an Optimist known as Cadibarra IX out of Mornington Yacht Club, but if you see her in Bass Strait, I think it will be a case of alert the Authorities... While we're at it at, Cadibarra still holds the record for Melbourne to King Island, the oldest ocean race in the land, Melbourne to Launceston and another one she is likely to keep for a long time, as I cannot see us going back there in a hurry - Melbourne to Hastings. They took about 10 minutes of ours on Helsall II, which we had set only a couple of years ahead of them. Doh, doh, doh, doh....

Anyway, her new owner, Paul Roberts tells us, "My previous boat was the Murray 41, Fuzzy Logic, which raced locally and competed in three Sydney Hobart races with the other co-owner. I have recently acquired Cadibarra 8 to compete in Bay races, as well as ocean races, with the ultimate goal of competing in two handed racing. Prior to the purchase of Cadibarra 8, my main requirements were for a fast, 40-foot ocean racing boat, which was designed for off the wind action, was light weight, had the ability to sail short handed and is designed to take the punishment of the our marvellous Bass Strait with its potential high wind/wave conditions". Job well done I would have thought...

On the hardstand at her home club - RYCV - with the old Minesweeper, Castlemaine, in the background.

I reckon this shot is from up North...

After leaving Melbourne originally, Cadi was sailed out of Mooloolaba, with an attempt to race Melbourne to Osaka in 2007. "We brought her back down with only three crew and had a great time, even though we had several days of motoring. The plan is to compete in the 2013 M2O, with the warm up being the Round New Zealand two handed race in 2012. It's my original home and I lived there until graduating with an Engineering degree from Massey University, located in Palmerston North. The other crewmember for the 2013 M2O is long time sailing pal, Brian Murphy. Between the two of us we have close to 20 Sydney Hobart races and enjoy the challenge of ocean racing preparation and blue water sailing."

"The boat is to be raced out of Royals, with a mix of some new and previous Fuzzy Logic crew. New sails have been ordered from Col Anderson’s Doyle loft. Col and his son, Blake have been of great help in assisting to determine the new sail design details, which we are looking forward to proving out on the race track. Don Jones has also been tremendous, providing his knowledge of the boat and it is much appreciated. Since Don sold the boat, new water ballast has been added for short handed sailing. There's also a bow sprint and twin carbon wheels", said Paul. The owners and crew of Goldfinger have had a great time aboard Cadi, as she was, for a couple of Hamilton Island Race Weeks, over the ensuing years. One of the owners of Goldfinger, Peter Blake, bought Cadibarra VII and turned it into Kontrol for his tilt at Osaka by adding a new three-foot false bow. Interestingly, when Cadibarra VIII broke the M2KI record, Kontrol (nee C VII) was also inside the previous record. Kontrol herself, still holds the M2S record.

Now we just learned from our good pal, Chris Furey, that you can have Cadibarra VII/Kontrol/Alex-Team MacAdie, which is obviously Cat 0 capable, to do the 2013 M2O. Call Chris now on +61 410 55 19 77 or email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 2013 M2O TBAs please be advised - first in best dressed for this former M2O winner.

Here is the boat as Kontrol - a Jones 42 with three feet of false bow added by Mal Hart, if memory serves me well, which then meant she had the watertight bulkhead up for'ard. Handy.

Below is as Alex and in Two-Handed configuration.

Finishing (and winning) the 2007 M2O.

Back onboard Cadibarra 8 now and there are those new wheels.

"To date I am very happy with the boat and am looking forward to racing, particularly the upcoming Melbourne to Stanley race, where she will relish off the breeze strong wind conditions. We will be only taking six crew to Stanley, which means we can use just one six-man liferaft and also save on the weight of food and water for the extra souls. We consider this a distinct advantage, as the boat is very stable", Paul finished with.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.