Williamstown sailor Rod Gunther is no stranger to the high seas, but the 70 year old has never tackled anything quite like the Melbourne to Osaka yacht race.
“She’s daunting, I’m nervously excited,” said Gunther of the 5500nm race he and 76 year old Peter Tardrew will embark on when they depart aboard their yacht ‘Quest’ on March 16.
“It’s just out of the heads, turn left and the next stop is Osaka,” said Gunther of the task they will then face as they compete against more than a dozen other boats in the longest yacht race in the southern hemisphere, equivalent to nine Sydney to Hobarts.
Unlike the Boxing Day classic, all boats in the Melbourne to Osaka are restricted to crews of just two, meaning Gunther and Tardrew will be travelling much further while doing a lot more work.
“It’s 24-7,” said Gunther of two-handed yacht racing.
Quest normally has a crew of 10, but Gunther said he and Tardrew had been preparing for two years and knew how to compensate.
“Once we get into a system it’ll be three hours on three off. One guy will be down below trying to sleep and the other will be steering,” Gunther said, adding that he couldn’t think of anyone better than his friend of 50 years to do it with.
“You’d be asking for trouble doing it with someone you didn’t know or get along well with.”
While it’s Gunther’s first Melbourne to Osaka, Tardrew competed in 2003.
They’re hoping to finish in 30 to 33 days.
As for getting Quest back to Australia, Gunther said he hoped they wouldn’t need to.
“If we’re really lucky we’ll sell it in Japan, otherwise we’ll have to sail it home. We’re after crew if anyone’s interested.”
Track Quest’s progress at: https://melbourneosakacup.com/en/home/
Cade Lucas
