The smallest boat in the 9th edition of the Melbourne Osaka Cup double-handed yacht race has embarked on its 5,500-nautical-mile adventure to Osaka. ‘Curious Roo’, an S&S34 skippered by Peter Garrett and Neil McKinley, set off just after the starting gun fired at 4:40 p.m. on March 2, 2025, to the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd at Portsea Pier.
With official duties completed, Curious Roo pushed back from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, fully prepared for the challenge ahead. After battling a strong current through the Sorrento Channel, the boat found its pace, crossing the start line well-rigged for the 15-knot southerly wind.
Curious Roo carries a rich history—previously sailed by Welshman Dafydd Hughes in the 2023 Global Solo Challenge from Spain to Hobart. Now, with Osaka as its next destination, the boat is ready for yet another remarkable journey.
Embarking on another adventure, co-skippers Neil McKinley and Peter Garrett—both doctors from the Sunshine Coast Queensland and long-time friends—are now living a dream that began fifteen years ago.
In the coming days, conditions are expected to range from 5 to 20 knots, providing a comfortable start to the race. Meanwhile, Race Management is closely monitoring the path of Cyclone Alfred along Australia’s eastern coastline, though it is forecasted to moderate before the fleet reaches the area.
Though small in size, ‘Curious Roo’ has big support. Fans gathered both at Portsea Pier and online to wish them “fair winds,” with a nostalgic Dafydd Hughes adding, “They’re looking fabulous,” and encouraging them to “keep the chasing pack behind you all the way.”
With the main fleet set to start on March 16, and additional departures on March 9 and 30, this race already carries echoes of the last edition. In that race, Jo Breen and Pete Brooks, sailing their S&S34 Morning Star, held the lead until just before Osaka—when the final starter, Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea aboard Chinese Whisper, a Judel/Vrolijk 62, surged ahead, setting a new race record of 21 days, 12 hours, 41 minutes, and 13 seconds.
Will history repeat itself, or will Curious Roo carve its own legendary path? Only time—and the vast Pacific—will tell.
You can follow the fleet via the race tracker https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-osaka-cup-double-handed-race
For Notice of Race and List of Competitors, please visit www.melbourneosakacup.com
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