Everyone who finishes the Melbourne Osaka race is a winner. This 5,500 Nautical mile two-handed race covers a myriad of conditions and is also a navigational and tactical challenge. So just making it to the start line, let alone the finish line is a huge effort.
This year with the threat of a cyclone bearing down on the fleet, most had to run for shelter on the Queensland coast, and resume racing with an appropriate allowance. Jeanneau Sun Fast’s were in force with 1 x Sun Fast 3200, and 3 x Sun Fast 3600’s, two of which finished in the top three overall on IRC. The 3200 was also on track for a podium, but unfortunately suffered fatigued rigging and had to limp the last 500 miles to the finish, but finish they did, so well done!
Furthermore, Rod Smallman only purchased his Sun Fast 3600 from us about 12 months earlier, competing in his first ever Osaka race and finishing a remarkable 3rd overall on IRC. Rod said that the boat was flawless throughout the whole race including the B&G autopilot installed by Marine Offshore Electronics at Sandringham, and really the only issue was a blown up A4 spinnaker. Not bad for a month of continuous racing!
Rod has now organised for the boat to be sailed back to Cairns where it will be available for sale. Click here for more details…
IRC overall:
2nd “Kraken” Sun Fast 3600 Todd Giraudo & Dave Dubbo White
3rd “Maverick” Sun Fast 3600 Rod & Tyson Smallman
5th “Mister Lucky” Sun Fast 3600 Mark Hipgrave & Rohan Wood
9th “The Edge” Sun Fast 3200 David Kenny & Paul Schulz