Kayo Mae Ozaki wins 2023 OCC Australian Trophy
by Guy Chester 4 Jan 04:00 UTC
Kayo Mae Ozaki has won the 2023 OCC Australian Trophy © Guy Chester
The OCC Australian Trophy was awarded for single-handed passages from Australia to Nuku Hiva via the Indian and Atlantic Oceans then Panama. She has subsequently completed her solo circumnavigation.
Kayo is an architect who studied in Adelaide. She learned to sail on Pittwater, Sydney as an adult and has been a keen yacht owner and sailor for many years. Kayo has owned Nausikaa for some years and has already undertaken a solo voyage from Australia to Japan and returned before departing Australia on her solo circumnavigation in 2022.
Originally leaving Brisbane on 2 June 2022, Kayo coastal hopped to Darwin, then crossed the Indian Ocean making landfall in Richards Bay, South Africa. She rounded South Africa during the southern hemisphere summer stopping at East London, Knysna, Hout Bay, and Cape Town. Kayo then crossed the south and north Atlantics with one stop in St Helena, to arrive in Grenada on February 21. She then sailed to Panama via a short stop in Aruba.
Kayo arrived in Hiva Oa, Marquesas from Panama on 9 June after 48 days. She then crossed the South Pacific via Fatu Hiva, Tahiti, Moorea, Huahina, Suva, Vuda and Noumea, arriving in Bundaberg on 8 November 2023.
Nausikaa is a very well-fitted Vancouver 34C long keel cutter, built in Canada in 2009. Kayo sails mostly with a wind vane. Interestingly, Nausikaa's standing rigging is Dyneema.
I first met Kayo in Richards Bay (at Zululand Yacht Club), she is a softly-spoken but extremely competent sailor. Kayo migrated to Australia as a young adult and raised a family before setting off on her solo sailing adventures.
This article has been provided by the courtesy of Ocean Cruising Club.