In March 2025, the ninth edition of the Melbourne to Osaka Doublehanded Yacht Race will begin. Also known as the Osaka Cup, this 5,500 nautical mile yacht race was first held in 1987 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Port of Osaka and has since run on average every four years.
This year, Ronstan will have a special involvement in the race: not only is it organised right in our backyard by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) and Sandringham Yacht Club, but our own Peter Dowdney will be competing onboard the J/133 Joker x2. Pete and his sailing partner Grant Chipperfield have been preparing for the race for the better part of the past two years, including competing in the doublehanded division of the 2023 Sydney-Hobart Race. Pete now has an impressive 16x Sydney-Hobart races under his belt, but the Melbourne-Osaka race will be his longest race to date.
Eager to learn more about the Melbourne-Osaka Cup, we caught up with Race Chairman George Shaw to learn more about this unique and challenging shorthanded ocean race.
What is your personal history with the Melbourne to Osaka race?
(SHAW): I competed in the 2003 M2O event in my Cavalier 37 (Davidson design). Together with sailing partner and co-skipper Robyn Brooke, we trained for 2 years to prepare for the race. We are still sailing together after nearly 25 years! Since then, I have also organised the 2013 & 2018 Osaka Cups.
As a veteran of the race yourself, what can competitors expect? What is your favourite aspect of this particular race?
(SHAW): Competitors need to be prepared to sail through the international waters of seven Western Pacific countries, some of which have little rescue services. They need to prepare for every type of weather system: Bass Strait, Tradewinds, and Doldrums. My favourite aspect of the race is being totally reliant on yourself, sailing through remote oceans, despite the variety of challenging conditions that will be faced.
How long does the race typically take to complete, and what is the record? Are there any entrants in the 2025 race that will have their sights set on breaking the record?
(SHAW): At 5,500nm the race is roughly equivalent to 8 consecutive Sydney-Hobart races. The record was set in the 2018 race by the JV62 Chinese Whisper, having completed the race in 21 days, 12 minutes, 41 seconds. So far, out of 30 boats currently registered for the 2025 race, it looks like the Volvo Ocean 60 Merit and the RP66 Alive both have a shot to challenge the record.
Any moments in particular that stand out from your experience in 2003?
(SHAW): During the 2003 race we experienced a super typhoon in the Caroline Islands where we had to seek shelter at the tiny atoll of OnOn. That experience was life-changing when we became aware that there were no school or medical supplies at that location. It is a long story, however, after the race we returned to OnOn with school and medical supplies. There was no written language in that location, and when an American linguist contacted us, we were able to take the first version of their written language back to the Island.
That experience prompted me to create two races to the Vanuatu Islands which had a focus on providing humanitarian aid to remote islands after the race. The 2013 and 2018 M2O’s included a focus on humanitarian aid to remote Western Pacific nations by returning yachts to Australia.
