With just under 700 nautical miles to go, Zero has officially entered Japanese waters. But their journey is far from over as they complete their passage through the transition zone or horse latitudes, crossing the Kuroshio current, which flows northward at nearly 4 knots along the Japanese coast. And then comes the final test: threading their way through Osaka Bay, dodging ships, fishing boats, seaweed, and fish farms. If all goes well, Zero is expected to reach the finish line early in the week leading into Easter.
Having departed Japan last November, the approach to home brings mixed emotions for co-skippers Katsuhiro Yamada and Masayuki Kobayashi of the Imx40 Zero. There’s the excitement of reuniting with family, speaking Japanese freely again, and savouring long-missed comforts like chicken karaage. But there’s also a quiet sadness, knowing this extraordinary journey is nearing its end. Along the way, they’ve found themselves part of a tight-knit Melbourne Osaka Cup community and will return with not just memories but many new lifelong friends.
Yamada, Skipper of Imx40 yacht Zero commented, “It feels like you can see Japan straight ahead, but there’s still some miles to go” as the nights get colder and they sail north with at a constant 8 – 9 knots.
Zero holds a commanding lead of around 500 nautical miles over Escapade and Curious Roo, still struggling to find consistent winds in the transition zone of the horse latitudes.
Meanwhile, the main fleet starters are now spread across more than 1,000 nautical miles of the Pacific. 1122 Trekkee, skippered by Nitta, is expected to pass Guam today, making the most of steady northern trade winds and maintaining boat speeds around 10 knots as they steadily tick off the miles.
In the closely-packed mid-fleet group, with less than 300 nautical miles between them, White Spirit skipper Cyrus Allen indicates:
“A 3/4 moon is lighting up the sky as we race northwards in good air. The breeze is warm but not hot. The sea is only slightly up, and the breeze is a constant 12–14 knots ESE. We’re running the Code 0, and the boat is flying along at mid-8s to mid-9s without effort. It’s a beautiful evening.”
Back in the Solomon Seas, we find Alive, The Secretary, Sailor Moon and Roaring Forty in search of wind and coolness under the tropical sun and dreaming of a cold beer and a steady breeze.
Will the move through Manning Strait give back time to Roaring Forty as they look for the advantages of the northern current? Time will only tell.
With the winner determined from four starts, it’s the quickest boat on elapsed time that will win this race, not the first to cross the line, so now they must wait for the final finishers to reach Osaka.
Every boat is writing its own story, but all are united by one shared goal: reaching Osaka and completing one of the world’s most unique yacht races and our Melbourne-Osaka sister city relationship.
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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