Osaka Cup 2007 -

06 May 2007

Day 43: Esoterica crew face gales today   

Only Campbell Reynolds/David Best (Esoterica) remain at sea in the double handed 2007 Melbourne Osaka yacht race and today were expected to face gale force sou-east and sou-westerly winds of 35-40 knots as predicted by meteorologist Roger Badham.

At 8.00am AEST this morning, Esoterica, a comfortable Martz 46, was 129 from the Osaka finish line, were east of Shikoku, on target for Tanabe, the eastern entrance to Osaka’s bay, having sailed a good 122 miles in the last 24 hours.   

Prior to starting the race, Reynolds, an experienced sailor of 20 years from Main Beach in Southport commented: “I am expecting an interesting time.” He can expect that today.

His co-skipper, Best, a Kiwi yachtsman who loves to travel, said he was very much looking forward to finishing safe and sound with minimal damage and to meeting new people.

He and Reynolds have previously sailed in the Caribbean together and should reach the Melbourne Osaka finish line some time tomorrow, signalling the end to the fifth edition of the 5,500 nautical mile race, first held in 1987 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Osaka.

The pair will finish last on line, following the finish of Wild Boar yesterday.

Weather from Roger Badham:
070505 0515Z
Winds are average winds at 10m – no gust.

GALES
SUNDAY 06
SE-SW wind of 35-45 knots expected north of 29N, ahead of a front to cross the rhumb line later Sunday 6th.
Wind turn SW-W/30-35 and ease below gale strength, then turning and easing further during Monday with NW/20-10 knots.

About The Race:
Staged every four years, the Organising Authority for the Melbourne-Osaka Yacht Race is made up of City of Melbourne, City of Osaka Promotional Council, Osaka Hokko Yacht Club, Sandringham Yacht Club and in association with Yachting Australia.

Pic shows Wild Boar's Shozi Yoneda and Jun Kanda celebrating their arrival yesterday.

See Argos tracker on this site to follow the last yacht's progress.

Di Pearson