Welcome to the Team Runaway website. Team Runaway, formed in 2005 is an ambitious project of Andrew McCole and James Ryssenbeek to campaign for the 2007 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race, the world's longest double handed (two crew) ocean challenge. Their vision: To be the youngest team to win its class in the Osaka Cup in 2007
With the smallest yacht and the youngest crew, the team have enjoyed great success during lead up races including the 2005 Melbourne to Hobart 'Westcoaster', and the2006 Melbourne to Vanuatu race, finishing 2nd in the double handed (two crew) division.
We hope you enjoy checking out our site and invite you to follow the team's progress before and during the race to Japan.
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Team RUNAWAY comprises two young professional Victorian co-skippers, Andrew McCole and James Ryssenbeek, who share a passion for adventure and success. With an average age of just 30 they will be the youngest crew ever to compete in an Osaka Cup. In their first international yacht racing campaign, the team have come a very long way from competing small sailing dinghies as young teenagers!
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Andrew McCole is a 31 year old Seahawk helicopter pilot in the Royal Australian Navy. He has served his country on operations in the Middle East and has been involved in multiple life saving rescue missions. Andrew is currently working as a Qualified Flying Instructor for the Australian Defence Force. Andrew first started competitive sailing at the age of 12 on Port Phillip Bay and has competed in multiple Australian National Championships and has won three Victorian State Championships. Andrew has also represented the Royal Australian Navy in multiple inter-service sailing competitions.
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James Ryssenbeek is a 30 year old Product Manager at Landmark and has work experience both in Australia and overseas where he has held multiple leadership roles. Starting competitive sailing at 8 years old in Port Phillip Bay, James has won two Victorian State Titles and has competed in over 6 Australian National Championships and multiple Victorian State Championships. James has travelled extensively overseas and worked as a sailing instructor in the Netherlands.
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The key criteria considered for the purchase of our yacht were that it must be of proven design and construction, competitive, and seaworthy to cover 5500 nautical miles. Launched in February 2003, RUNAWAY is the current race record holder for Open Racer Class C and came 3rd on line honours for the 2003 Osaka Cup. A Sumo 101 Sayer 11m design, RUNAWAY is a true ocean sports boat designed specifically for the Osaka Cup and met our requirements exactly.
With a fine hull form for speed and low drag, RUNAWAY is constructed
from the latest design and materials. Using Epoxy R300 resins and an engineered combination of PVC foams, stitched and directional ‘E’ glass and carbon fibre skins, RUNAWAY is an extremely fast, strong and lightweight hull ideal for the extreme conditions expected in Bass Strait and the windless conditions at the equator.
Other design and technological advantages; RUNAWAY uses North Sails exclusively for all our racing for the best performance and proven longevity, water ballast, rod rigging, a deep bulb keel and the latest onboard instrumentation, navigation and GPS. This provides RUNAWAY and her crew with the best possible chance to maximise high speed opportunities in all weather conditions, ensuring RUNAWAY is a serious contender for the 2007 Osaka Cup.
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Team RUNAWAY is committed to a comprehensive training and racing plan in preparation for the Osaka Cup.
Team RUNAWAY anticipates competing in the following Port Phillip Bay races during the 2006/2007 season:
- Range Series.
- Queenscliff to Hastings.
- Queenscliff to Stanley.
- Skandia Geelong Week 07.
Racing experience over a range of conditions is a critical component of our training and development program, providing us with valuable information to refine and optimise the overall performance of Team RUNAWAY. The racing program is designed to test and improve the following:
- Boat performance against others of similar rating & size.
- Correct selection and setting of sails.
- Crew work under the pressures of close competition.
- Accurate and strategic navigation.
- Knowledge and development of ocean / long distance racing tactics.
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The Osaka Cup is a non-stop, 5500 nautical mile 2 man (double handed) race from Melbourne, Australia to Osaka, Japan. The race pushes crews to the limit as they battle fierce competition, extreme weather and fatigue. Crews must draw on strong team work and single handed sailing skills, as each crew member is required to skipper the boat for up to 12 hours a day while the other recovers and prepares for the next watch.
Traversing the Pacific Ocean from South to North, the race takes competitors back through the seasons leaving Melbourne in autumn, crossing the equator in summer, and arriving in Osaka during spring. Supported by the City of Melbourne and City of Osaka, the inaugural Osaka Cup was held in 1987 and has been successfully conducted every four years since.
In past races there have been as many as ten nations competing in this global event. The 2007 Osaka Cup is the sixth Osaka Cup challenge promising once again to attract yachts from all around the globe to compete in this challenging double handed event. Hosted jointly by the Sandringham Yacht Club Melbourne and the Osaka Hokko Yacht Club Osaka, the Osaka Cup also enjoys the support of the Japanese Sailing Federation.
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Team Runaway has already attracted considerable media attention, through a variety of local, national and international outlets, as listed below:
TV
ABC News 23 DEC 05 – Full feature story
PRINT
MERCURY Newspaper 30 DEC 05
SHORT TACKS Magazine JULY 2006
Australian Sailing July 2006
Australian Offshore January 2006
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Team RUNAWAY offers investors a unique opportunity to provide critical support to, and associate themselves with, a professional and committed team competing in high profile Victorian and interstate sailing events leading up to the internationally renowned Osaka Cup.
The flexible support packages are designed to provide investors maximum benefit including months of non-stop exposure in Australia and overseas throughout our training and racing campaign as well as the 2007 Osaka Cup.
Click here to download our comprehensive sponsorship proposal.
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Osaka Cup 2007
Keen as Toast
Royal Brighton Yacht Club
Sayer Design Services
North Sails
Door Solutions
Satellite Phone Solutions
Teri Dodds
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Greetings Team Runaway Supporters,
The passage of time since our last update (only one week ago as I type) has dealt us some cruel blows. To be sitting in my lounge room in Melbourne typing, instead of leading the race as we thread our way around the islands of PNG has been difficult to adjust to, and I’m sure it will be some time before it ‘sinks in’ (no pun intended). So… what the hell happened??? More...
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The last 48 hours have been intense on board Runaway. After finally receiving the SW'ly wind change, we made our way back toward the coast in an attempt to get out of the strong south flowing current and ride a 'back eddy' running with us to the north. Unfortunately, the wind strength too much for us to make it inshore at Jervis Bay, and it ended up being north of Wollongong (about 90 km for those not familiar). More...
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G'day all,
If someone is playing some sick game with 'Huey' (the wind God), can you please cut it out! Well, today is day five of being smashed into waves and dropped 15-20 feet into troughs of waves with wind on our nose at every turn. You might think that that would get frustrating after a while.... but I can tell you that it is particularly so when it starts raining as well! I doubt such crap weather could ever have been anticipated, and if it had, I may well be at home now like all you guys! More...
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After what could only be described as an emotional start to the race with lots of family, friends and sailing collegues wishing us well, we have had the forecast winds and are currently making our way across 'the paddock'
(Bass Strait) having rounded Wilsons Prom early this evening. More...
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There is now only 10 days until the start of the 2007 Osaka Cup on Sunday March 25th. Despite months of preparation, the last two weeks have been frantic, but we now have all of the major jobs behind us. In that time we have seen several competitors retire from the race, which goes to show that even after such a lengthy and expensive (time and money) campaign, that this race is extremely demanding… before the race has even begun! It's also a good reminder that everyone trying to achieve this is finding it as difficult as we are. More...
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Despite nearly 20 months of planning, preparation, training and racing, sometimes it seems that the list of tasks remaining before we are ready to set off for Japan will never end! At this late stage, with only seven weeks to go, the team’s planned deadline to have all jobs finished by the end of February is still on track. More...
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The Sayer 11.0 metre ocean racer ‘Runaway’ from Royal Brighton Yacht Club had an eventful time over the recent Skandia Geelong Week. The regatta was held over the Australia Day weekend at Williamstown and from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. The yacht and crew were chosen as members of the ‘Skandia Squad’, representing the company’s core value of ‘Commitment’. More...
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James Ryssenbeek and Andrew McCole have been friends since meeting through sailing dinghies in Melbourne as 13 years olds, but neither dreamed that 17 years later they would together be embarking on the longest and most difficult race to leave Australian waters, the Melbourne Osaka double-handed yacht race. More...
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