2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup - Launched, ready to race

Melbourne Osaka Cup © Ian Macwilliams

The 9th Melbourne Osaka Cup, the longest longitudinal short-handed crewed race in the world, is open for entry. With 152 expressions of interest from around 11 countries, the 5500 nautical miles which traverses the Pacific from South to North is expected to fill quickly.

George Shaw, Chairman of the Organising Authority, and a previous competitor says:

"The Melbourne Osaka Cup is a unique and challenging ocean yacht race. Previous competitors call it their pinnacle of racing, and it attracts sailors who enjoy the distinctive satisfaction of short-handed sailing, this ocean race requires significant preparation for crews and boat alike, and a long lead time is necessary to get to the start line in March 2025.

The average elapsed time for the race is 35 days, with the record of 21 days set in 2018 by the Sydney yacht, Chinese Whisper. A staggered start over three weeks brings the boats of differing speeds together towards the finish line, with results calculated from handicaps applied to their elapsed time.

The race is a substantial test of the crews' skill, courage and endurance through eight weather patterns, in potentially extreme conditions. It is the longest, most challenging ocean race to start in Australian waters and is the equivalent of nine Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races continuously sailed."

Alistair Murray (President of Australian Sailing) commented:

'I have been aware and in awe of the famous Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race since its inception in 1987.

It has been run successfully eight times between the sister cities of Melbourne and Osaka and is slated again for March 2025.

It is a unique and challenging race, with only two crew per boat and covers the enormous distance of 5,500 nautical miles.

It is listed on the World Sailing's Major Oceanic Events Calendar."

Melbourne and Osaka share many cultural and trade connections and the race in 2025 is an exciting lead up event to the opening of the World Expo in Osaka 2025, providing an attractive destination for sailors, their support crew and their families.

Entries will be initially capped at fifty for non-Japanese boats with only those paid up and on the waitlist given first option should space open up.

The Notice of Race has been published and the Online Entry is available at www.melbourneosakacup.com.

For more information contact George Shaw or visit www.melbourneosakacup.com.