Roaring Forty's Osaka Challenge ends
by Melbourne to Osaka Media 22 Mar 00:08 PDT
22 March 2025
Roaring Forty Starting their journey - Melbourne Osaka Cup © Al Dillon
Roaring Forty, the Lutra Boc Open 40, owned by Kevin Le Poidevin with co-skipper Darrell Greig, has sadly retired due to a broken boom from the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup today.
"Just gutted not to be racing to Japan after so much prep," Le Poidevin expressed after informing the Ocean Racing Club Victoria (ORCV) Race Managers of the incident early this morning.
"I was sitting at the nav station doing the next round of weather routing around 23:30 last night," Le Poidevin recalled. "Everything was good—we were sailing along at 9-11 knots with 15 knots of balmy breeze on the quarter—when suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound on deck."
Darrell, on watch at the time, was sitting in a beanbag under the dodger when he saw the issue immediately. "The carbon boom had folded in half."
"Our Melbourne Osaka race ended right there—170nm southeast of my home in Port Stephens."
With a carbon boom, there was no quick fix. "No amount of Air Force framing tape was going to fix this breakage"
Thankfully, conditions were manageable as we worked with military precision to secure the boat. "It took four hours to lower the mainsail, salvage reefing lines, boom bags, and secure one very heavy, fully battened mainsail."
It needed to be secured so we had clear access to continue to fly the headsails and spinnakers and protect the remaining sails and gear letting the "boom stay connected to the mast for security and then lashing boom and mainsail to the deck." explained Le Poidevin.
Why did it happen?
It's always the question. "It's an old boat, built in 1997, and it's sailed around the world about one and a half times—the equivalent of 50 years of use compared to your local weekend racer," Le Poidevin explained.
With a carbon boom, repairs aren't as simple as heading to a local workshop, adding, "There are a lot of stresses on the boat."
Once they arrive in Newcastle and clear customs, they'll assess the damage and explore repair options—a process that could take time.
It takes four years of effort to make it to the start line, and both Le Poidevin and Greig have used their racing to raise awareness for important causes. Brain Tumour Alliance Australia, Soldier On, and Pankind all hold personal significance.
"A close mate from the Air Force passed away from brain cancer. When I asked what I could do, he simply said, 'Help these guys out and promote them as much as possible.'" These organizations provide invaluable support not just for patients, but for their families and carers—just as Pankind did for Greig's sister through her battle with pancreatic cancer.
Will they be back for the next race? Le Poidevin summed this question up.
"Competing in the Melbourne Osaka Cup is a massive commitment—it's a four-year effort that requires balancing life, business, and finances."
Going on to pay tribute to his co-skipper. "Finding the right co-skipper like Daz isn't easy either; there aren't many willing to lock themselves into a boat for weeks on end,"
For now, the two mates—gutted but always looking for the next challenge—plan to enjoy some well-earned treats, including their favourite On Track Meals - Slow Cooked Australian Steak, as they sail at 6 knots under jib towards Newcastle.
Follow the fleet as they race towards Osaka via the race tracker.
See who started when on the staggered starts:
melbourneosakacup.com/en/2025-race-start-times.
Learn about the Competitors and boats
melbourneosakacup.com/en/2025-competitors.
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