George Shaw
['Hokko Yacht Club Australian representative and a past competitor.]"Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race, 2018 – The Osaka Cup”
The Osaka Cup is a 5,500 nautical mile two handed yacht race and is 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.
This race is held every four years and is 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 race, first held in 1987 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Osaka, is now held to celebrate the City of Melbourne and the City of Osaka Sister City and Sister Port relationship.
Objectives of the race are to promote a challenging long-distance, short-handed racing event traversing the Pacific Ocean. In so doing to provide a proving ground for true seamanship and also to encourage the development of suitable seaworthy yachts and of appropriate gear, supplies and techniques for short-handed crossing under sail.
The 2018 Osaka Cup race will start in late March. It is Australia’s longest Category I yacht race, the equivalent of eight back-to-back Sydney to Hobart’s with only two people on board.