George Shaw

Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race March’18

The Osaka Cup double handed yacht race is held every four years on average, organised through the collaborative effort of three yacht clubs:
    Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC) in Melbourne, Australia
    Hokko Yacht Club (OHYC) in Osaka, Japan
    The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) in Melbourne, Australia

The Organising Authority for the 2018 event is the Melbourne Osaka Double-handed Yacht Race Limited, a Not-for-Profit company limited by guarantee, with 3 Joint Venture members.

The Osaka Cup is a 5,500 nautical mile 2 handed yacht race starting in Melbourne and finishing in Osaka and it’s one of the only South-North long distance ocean races in the world. The route passes through multiple weather systems and seasons as it crosses the Pacific Ocean. The race, first held in 1987 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Osaka, is now held every four years (on average) to celebrate the City of Melbourne and the City of Osaka Sister City and Sister Port relationship.

The Osaka Cup race will take place for the eighth time in late March 2018.

This is Australia’s longest Category 1 yacht race, the equivalent of eight back-to-back Sydney to Hobart’s with only two people on board.