Second, fourth, second, that is the stuning score card for Morning Star crew, at the finish of the Melborne Osaka, after 5306.7 nautical miles of intense racing, in all conditions from calm to gale.
 
As the Osaka fleet made thier way to the finish, the waiting game started for Pete Brooks and Jo Breen, second to finish behind the fleets fastest yacht Rupert Henry and Greg Oshea's Judel-Vrolijk 62', Chinese Whisper, the Morning Star crew had to wait and see if they had done enough to hold onto thier handicap placing's' as the rest of the fleet closed on the line.

An outstanding result for the races smalest entrant, saw Jo and Pete take second in PHS, to Chinese Whisper, fourth in IRC, behind Chinese Whisper, Kraken and Maverick, with Morning Star only two hours off third place, Pete and Jo completed their score card with a second in the AMS Division, behind the clean sweeping Chinese Whisper. Full results here.

Chinese Whisper took line honours and first in all handicap divisions and claimed a new race record of 21d:12h:41m:13s, beating Grant Wharingtons 1995 race record in Wild Thing of 26d:20h:47m:06s, by a stagering five days. 

Morning Star's Elapsed time was 39d:15h:23m:56s, saw them at the time writing, placed thirteenth on Line Honours, just one day and twelve hours longer over the course than fellow Tasmanian entrants, Tristan Goulay and Jamie Cooper, in Force 11. With another four, realisticaly faster yachts behind them.

Epic result, congradulations again to Pete and Jo from all PDYC members, stunning result and just reward for all the hard work in preparation and drive to keep Morning Star moving in the race through all conditions.

Photo Deb Brooks