Melbourne Osaka Double Handed Race Update 1st April 1 pm
The yachts of the first two starts have broken free. No longer trapped in the doldrums, Zero, Curious Roo, and Escapade are now riding the steady northern trade winds, their sails full and their spirits high.
Behind them, the chase continues. A staggering 2,880 nautical miles separate the first starters from Alive, just starting out.
Out in front, Zero reaches a milestone—the Equator. Yamada, the skipper of Zero, wrote in to say, “This morning, we crossed the equator. In Japanese, equator means a red line, but there was no red line anywhere.” Just an invisible crossing and the quiet satisfaction of knowing they’ve entered the Northern Hemisphere first.
Further south, the main fleet is navigating the Solomon Sea, weaving through shifting winds and navigating the currents. It’s 1122 Trekkee—now simply Trekkee, after its numbers were blown off the sails—that skillfully leads the pack halfway up Bougainville Island before being becalmed.
Meanwhile, Alive back in Bass Strait is sailing steadily, eighteen hours in, well past Wilsons Promontory. Choosing the coastal path as they cross the paddock and round Gabo Island, in order to slip by the East Coast Low, now moving well offshore.
But what does a sailor do with all this time when they aren’t trimming sails, calculating tacks, or pouring over navigation projections? Before the race, one competitor dismissed the idea of slowing down to admire the scenery. “We’re not here to take in sunsets—we’re serious racers,” they had said.
And yet, even the most focused sailor can’t ignore the artistry around them. The towering cloud formations, the golden hues of sunrise and sunset, and the amazing nightly star formations. And every now and then, a red-footed booby swoops in, a reminder that even in a race, the ocean has its own way of keeping you entertained.
In the longest double-handed north-south race, where the “chocolates” are awarded based on elapsed time for both line and handicap wins, it’s early days with only another month of racing to come.
Follow the fleet progress via the race tracker here. https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-osaka-cup-double-handed-race
Melbourne Osaka Media
Follow the fleet as they race towards Osaka via the race tracker https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-osaka-cup-double-handed-race
Learn more about the race and competitors via the Melbourne Osaka Cup website https://melbourneosakacup.com/en/home/
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Osakacup2018/
About the Melbourne Osaka Cup:
Melbourne Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race: The World’s Longest South-to-North Sailing Event, is about to kick off, attracting both international and local sailing talent.
Competitors sail non-stop and unassisted on their own boats with just two people onboard, navigating four weather systems over 32 to 35 days.
This event provides a unique opportunity for sailors, many of whom are Corinthian (non-professional and self-funded), to embark on the challenge of a lifetime. While major shorthanded races like the Vendée Globe and Transat Jacques Vabre feature professional teams, large shore crews, and significant budgets, the Melbourne Osaka Race stands apart by offering accessibility to sailors who do not rely on extensive support teams.
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