Race Update: 5th April Race 1pm 

Alive is on the move, gliding north like a great white shark, silently closing in on the fleet and picking off competitors one by one. The race now stretches over 2,500 nautical miles, with boats scattered from Queensland Australia, through to Micronesia.

Alive, which started the race four weeks after the first boat and two weeks behind the main fleet, is making good progress, clicking off the miles and capable of 13 knots SOG in just 10 knots of wind. With only two crew aboard (a boat typically sailed with 12), they’re surprising even themselves, running a triple sail and jib stick setup while sharing commentary and tutorials along the way. 

“It’s day 5, and we’re off Queensland, making nice progress.  Passed the first of the opponents,” says Duncan Hine, skipper of Alive as they passed the Lutra Boc Open 40, Roaring Forty. Duncan added, “In their defence, they did stop and restart after breaking their boom.”

With Roaring Forty behind them, next up is J44 The Secretary. Still shaking off the early setbacks and charging north again, there’s friendly banter going on between crews as they prepare for the Alive encroachment.  

Meanwhile, towards Micronesia, Yamada’s IMX40 ‘Zero’ is storming ahead in solid trade winds, clocking 8.8 knots with a 430nm lead over Escapade. 

While the main fleet starters struggle to break free from the Solomon Sea. The much-needed Northern Trade Winds remain elusive, having moved further north, just out of reach. 

Having come this far, without any major issues, Kayoka Nakano skipper of the Bakewell-White Z39 ‘Jazz Player’ explained “I’m excited that we are almost at the equator, however we haven’t had much wind and our progress is slow.” as she goes onto be concerned about their stores of supplies running out if they don’t reach the trade winds soon. 

Patience is being tested, but humour remains afloat with the Fika crew joking that it's feeling like it's time to cut out all the heavy wood from their beautiful Najad 490 to reduce its weight.   

Whilst ‘White Spirit’ drifts sideways and slowly north along Nissan Island, the frequent sail changes and gentle pace offering crew front-row seats to nature’s show, tuna jumping out of the water as they chase their prey and sea birds circling above to scavenge the leftovers 

It’s a very relaxed Ken Gourlay on Blue Moon II as he and son Tristan continue to enjoy the marvellous tuna caught a few days ago, adding, “We are in good spirits and hope to get to Osaka by Christmas”. 

“After a good run up to the Solomon Sea, we were happy, but with all things in life, some bills have to be paid. Our bill is getting out the top with these challenging currents and very little wind to fight them.” 

As they contend with the oppressive heat with only two USB fans downstairs, Ken continued, “some surprising aspects are finding our best sails for the conditions, and that can be different from first thought.” 

This father-son duo are staying cool and creative, Ken even had time to pen a poem, a tribute to the race that captures the highs, lows, and humor of life at sea presently for them. 

I Did Love Sailing by Ken Gourlay 

I love to go sailing 

Out on the lake 

It can be such a great break.  

My friends and I would go sailing 

We would laugh, drink and enjoy 

It was our home not our employ.  

The wind in you hair 

Light spray in your face 

The boat heels and picks up pace.  

The feeling of freedom  

Out on the open blue 

Nature is at one with you.  

Wind, quick adjust the sails 

White sails flapping in the breeze 

They bellow out with ease.  

Come racing they all told me 

Together we will make a team 

I grabbed my gear, I was keen.  

There’s this race they said 

Melbourne to Osaka just for you and me 

We will sail through the Solomon Sea.  

The day it came 

We sat ready to start 

Too much wind for us to start 

Straight up the East coast 

That suits our boat 

I had better not gloat.  

The Solomon Sea 

I’m looking forward to that 

But alas that’s where we sat.  

12 miles one boat cried 

I had to smile we did 15 

This sea can be awfully mean.  

My boat is too heavy I hear the cry 

The reply came, jettison the wood 

Will it help, well it could.  

Flat as flat can be 

We all waited for the breeze 

Come sailing they said with such ease.  

Slat slat the noise is back 

Slat slat we heard it all day 

Oops that just broke there’s more money to pay.  

About us are plenty more 

Lights it’s a fishing boat 

Lights it’s a tanker boat.  

Oh I did love sailing 

When I went at home 

When it was me all alone.  

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Learn more about the race here: https://melbourneosakacup.com/en/home/

Words by: Delma Dunoon

Photos by: Al Dillon, Alive Yachting and Kayoko Nakano