Lining up for their 5th Melbourne Osaka will be Jon Sayer on the J99 ‘Learning to Fly’ and also “Russell and Morris” as they are affectionately known onboard ‘The Secretary’ which were designed and made by the legendary sailmaker Mark Remington, now with South Eastern Sails.
The wind seeker jib and main doldrum sails “Russell and Morris”, made from the lightest spinnaker cloth, are deployed when there is not a breath of wind and sheeted to both port and starboard, left to rustle away until silence on deck indicates a settling breeze. First used in 2003 on ‘BOOTS’, they have since been deployed in successive races, on Ingenue (2007), Cadibarra (2013), Force Eleven (2018) and now The Secretary (2025).
When the mind-numbing, slatting sails are driving you crazy through the doldrums, it is surprising how the colourful antics of drifter sails can lift your spirits and guide you ever so slowly forward.
Photo M2O Media