"Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race, 2018 – The Osaka Cup”
George Shaw, 'Hokko Yacht Club Australian representative and a past Osaka Cup competitor.
George’s passion is sailing yachts and he is currently one of the organisers of the Melbourne to Osaka race. This race is held around every 4 years and is equivalent to sailing Sydney to Hobart eight times but with only two people on board. The boats are at sea for 30-40 days and George stressed how important it was to be on good terms with your fellow sailor.
George’s boat is a J44 (the only one in Australia), called The Secretary, and his sailing partner is Robyn Brooke. George recounted a story of sailing near the Caroline Islands when a super-typhoon hit and they were forced to seek shelter off a tiny atoll. The local people of Ulul welcomed them but being without an internet service email asked George to send an email seeking books and pencils for their children’s’ schooling. This became publicly known and when The Secretary arrived in Japan they were met with a large number of public donations. All very well but it required them to return to Ulul.
The Ulul school had no flag, so George asked his son who is a graphic artist to design one. It is based on their culture of fishing and navigating by the scent of perfumed trees on the island. The school now has a flag, and George has one too back which he proudly displayed to us.