ORCV 2011 Melbourne Double Handed

and 2013 Melbourne to Osaka Race

The Bookends.

This story originally appeared back at the beginning of May, 2011. At the time keen observers asked the question, are we seeing two great bluewater sailors start an Osaka campaign? Now that they're the 44th EOI for the 5500nm classic, which they've both done before as part of different pairings, it's a little more official. Enquiries drew this response from them, "A couple more 'Dolls' out there on the water to join the armada of 'Living', 'Bad' and 'Extra Bad'!"

From different libraries and different shelves they came, but what a pedigree they brought together. Double handed racing to places like Hobart, Osaka and Vanuatu, along with countless cruising and delivery miles, amount to an absolute treasure trove of experience, tales, anecdotes and stories, too.

The Bookends comprise of two halves of two very famous and very experienced double handed racing teams. Robyn Brooke from By Order Of The Secretary (BOOTS)/The Secretary and Rosie Colahan from Ingénue. For the 2011 Melbourne Double Handed, they "borrowed" George Shaw's, The Secretary, to go and have some fun whilst the other two halves of their crews, George and David James, respectively, leant a hand to entertaining the Japanese delegation from Osaka Hokko Yacht Club, who were in town for a formal visit.

George Shaw waved off the girls (and got the iPhone out for this snap), as they departed with his boat... "I was helping with the Japanese visitors On Sunday, so Robyn and Rosie (whom I'm calling the bookends) took out Da Sec for the 2011 Melbourne Double Handed race. The Hokko visitors are still here and we've been with them and Melbourne City Council on Monday. The spit roast in the afternoon had us all very inspired", said Geo.

Seems like the bookends had a great time. Robyn, who has kept us so informed during their recent adventures, in between cooking, navigating, steering, being the radio relay vessel and attending to Geo who had broken ribs, said this of the short course. "To be honest I didn't see much - head down, tail up all day, but we had a great time and it was lovely weather."  Ever aware of an opportunity for a smile, Rob said that "...maybe we should have called the boat 'Tough Titties' for the day. I do recall being drowned in spinnaker at one stage, however. We had all three spinnakers up at different times and when I finally surfaced from under all that nylon, I found Rosie grinning about our mark rounding. 'A great windward drop Rob and I didn't give them an inch to get inside us and the mark! Unfortunately the light flyers got away from us during the lull. It would have been good to have one more triangle, as the wind came in just after we finished, helping the smaller boats home."

 "It was a good first time out for the two of us. There's lots to improve on, but we enjoyed the day and we had our shark hats and Hawaiian shirts on. Just forgot the palm tree to hang off the stern", said Robyn.

 Robyn's cohort, the bubbly Rosie Colahan was in complete agreement. "We had a great day on Sunday. As our first double hander together, it was a blast! George and Robyn are usually our rivals when racing double handed in the ocean, so it was great fun to team up with Robyn aboard The Secretary, while George and David lunched with the Japanese."

 "The Secretary is a somewhat larger and more complex beast than Ingénue, with a rather long runway from front to back. At 12 tonnes, we were definitely in the 'heavyweight' class on the day which was challenging in the very light and variable conditions. Our most closely matched competitor was probably the Sayer 44, Slice of Heaven, with whom we had a good battle in the first few legs of the race, but then cleared out from them and then they retired. Coming from Ingénue to The Secretary is a giant leap up There is a plethora of winches, of every imaginable size, scattered around the boat from the mast to the cockpit, which after Ingenue’s four standard winches, is amazing and we had most of them working a lot of the time, with the flying of the symmetrical and asymm kites and also a brief run with the code zero/ drifter. We were constantly busy all day."

"The good news is that we did not break anything, we did not hit anyone and we were doing perfect gybes with the assy by the end of the day!!!! We went through the shortened finish line, executed a perfect gybe and then took off in the direction of R2 at our best speed of the day. The wind had finally settled in, but the race was over", said Rosie. "Thank you to George for generously allowing the girls to race unsupervised on his boat!"

So then, to put a bookend at the bottom of this story, we have some pics of the delegation from the Japanese host of the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka race - Osaka Hokko Yacht Club. Many thanks to Alex McKinnon for getting these to us.

The full OHYC delegation headed by Vice Commodore Tsutomu Kondo, who is standing next to SYC Commodore Steve Richards and Bayside City Council Mayor, Councillor Alex Del Porto. During formalities, tribute also paid to the nation of Japan, after her losses at the hands of the recent earthquakes and resultant issues.

Keen and ready to roll.

This crew obviously had winning on their minds...

Yep. I'd say they had a good time.

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Suspended from a cherrypicker after the SYC Centennary Regatta on the Saturday, Alex grabbed this shot of all the gang present on the Northern side of the deck at the Taj.

Well done to all.

Go HERE to see all the 2011 ORCV Melbourne Double Handed results.

Go HERE to register your interest in the sensational 2013 M2O race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate in the 2013 M2O.

Yes. We'll find something to wax on about....

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	Could be a very, very interesting little field, this one.  If you're around on Sunday May First, you should get out there for the scope.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Dozen.

There are now a dozen EOIs for the 2013 M2O, which is just great. No entry got me interested, as Runaway, however, because it was when Andrew McCole and James Ryssenbeek saw that He of the Countdown Timer and Greg Rayner had put theirs in, that they decided they must go and get an EOI in themselves - and quickly at that!!!

Now these guys know a little about short-handed racing. You see, they did the 2006 M2V, as above in the © Andrea Francolini pic and then the 2007 M2O in the © Teri Doods pic below.

Aerial image from the start of the 2007 M2O.

"Look! It's the new keel."

Runaway is a Sayer 11M, was the eleventh EOI and she is a carbon fibre and water ballasted, purpose-built M2O boat, which was third over the line in the 2003 M2O and is still the Open Racer Class C record holder for the event. The boys purchased the boat in 2005 and mounted a two year campaign for the 2007 M2O race. During that campaign, they finished fifth in the 2005 M2HW and fifth in the inaugural 2006 M2O, in which they were second in the two-handed division.

During the 2007 M2O they were in third place on day eight when they suffered a critical keel failure. Andrew says, "After a 40-hour survival mission, where we motored 230nm ashore to Bundaberg in Queensland, we were forced to retire from the race. The survival story is an achievement against the odds and is a testament to both the seaworthiness and stability of the boat." No doubt a fair old dollop of seamanship was part of that too. Since then, the boat has had a new keel and rudder built and a full re-paint of the hull. "With the 2013 M2O now up and running, we are set to finish what we wanted to achieve in 2005", said Andrew.

Runaway is moored at RBYC in Melbourne and is currently on the market. James and Andrew are looking to upsize for the 2013 event, but are planning on racing Runaway if she doesn’t sell. This boat would be perfect for any competitor looking to achieve great results in a fast, lightweight and extremely stable yacht. She is in great condition, is Category Zero compliant and is ready to race. Ring Andrew on 0403 578 764 to put your purchase order in.

So back to EOIs then and number 10 was TBA 4 - Geoff Tomlins from RQYS, whereas 11 and 12 are a bit closer to the starting point. Number 12 is Tony Fowler from RGYC with the new Ocean Skins, which is a Sydney 39CR..

Tony Fowler and crew of the Rodgers46 Ocean Skins that won the 2009 M2HE - seen here sliding up the Derwent wonderfully.

You betcha - more to come.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Sage.

Yes. The following is some very sage advice, from a man who has completed the M2O twice before. Robin Hewitt's other pair of mitts for both times he did this magnificent two handed event, was the ORCV's Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden. Robin has been kind enough to develop the following material for potential entrants in the great race.

Robin has taken the Miller and Whitworth penned, Yoko, to Osaka twice - with thanks to Steb Fisher for this image of her, taken during the 2010 M2G.

Herewith is his three-step plan for you, to help you manage the process of entering and more importantly, preparing for, the Melbourne to Osaka two handed race.

ONE

The yacht must comply, in all respects, to the safety aspects of Category Zero for the regulations of the year specified, which will probably be 2010 or 2011. The Notice of Race will most likely have some amendments, as Cat0 is modelled for very cold water, like the Atlantic, whereas the M2O operates primarily in warmer areas.

The safety auditors are volunteers and must follow to the letter, all of the regulations, as also must the Race Committee. Don’t leave the interpretation of the regulations to chance - eg. If the mid-lifeline height must be not be more than 380 mm above deck, 381mm will not be accepted, so do something about before the audit. Stability, builder's and designer's certificates have all brought entries undone because they cannot be obtained at short notice, like a lot of crucial paperwork, so get these solved early. Conversely, incorrect flare dates can be rectified at the last minute - just sign the cheque or wave the card!

Remember, everything to comply with the NOR takes long-term preparation and needs be started very, very early.

TWO

Being able to enter and then be accepted is your No. 1 mission. Being competitive or able to sail at your absolute best is No. 2. Planning and financing the sailing is of no use if you cannot pass Step One, above. The qualifying voyage is not necessarily an early requirement, but it and others can teach you lots! Your co-skipper needs to be very compatible and have a mature, tolerant outlook.

In a fully crewed yacht, decisions are acted upon by consensus of the majority. In the two handed situation, there can only be agreement or a difference of opinion, which may degenerate into an ego contest. It requires having a firm objective for the race and what is required to be achieved. Consider differences in terms of ‘your watch = your way AND my watch = my way’.

Remember long distance sailing is just not about ability, it is also endurance! A big effort today will probably mean a very poor effort tomorrow! Do you push the yacht to high-risk limits early in the race? Will you then have only damaged sails and gear for the rest of the race? Or maybe have to retire. Consider tactical and strategic aspects of the voyage, the boat, expected weather and equipment that suits. What is your food plan and preparation facilities? Do you have suitable communications, not just for the regulations, but also socially, for looking after those back home. Loneliness can be a factor for some. You will also need to develop a return trip arrangement or plan.

THREE

This is the wish list and it may well be desirable, but it is certainly not essential! It may also be possible, if there's enough funds, which there won’t be, but you may be able to tick some of your desires off.

CONCLUSION

Make your three lists with all the required regulations and then tick each item off, as it is covered or prepared. This means you will be running the sailing and equipment lists/steps concurrently. For sure you'll want to tick them off, but also remember to review both lists frequently. Ultimately, get to the wish list last and not get blinded by it.

Sponsorship can make a very big difference, but there has to be a balance between the time spent obtaining it, then servicing it and getting on with the business of ticking off the all important lists.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

By Robin Hewitt with John Curnow

© ORCV Media

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Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Ian 'Molly' Meldrum.

Hosted a very popoular show that ran for ages - Countdown. Our champ of the countdown, Jeremy Walton, has joined the burgeoning EOI list for the 2013 M2O. His cohort as the Number Eight EOI, is long-time friend, Greg Rayner. While they sort out an appropriate craft, they are known as TBA3...

Jeremy tells us "... we have 893 days to solve the vessel issue." (As of Monday 25/10/10).

He of the Countdown Timer - new ORCV Committee Member, Jeremy Walton.

And this is that Oh-So-Famous Steb Fisher pic of the boat they have spent a lot of time on, Rogue Trader.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Golf.

As in Caddy. You see Cadibarra 8 was up until recently known as Cadi. The title also works because of the fact that she was #4 (as in the warning cry you make on the fairway) in the 2013 M2O EOI programme.

The rudder post is visible just behind the liferaft and I can still see Nigel Jones with the tiller that used to be attached to it, darting around pre-start on Port Phillip. The guys who sailed with him offshore around that time, said he a had a manoeuver called the NiggleWiggle, which set the boat up beautifully to take on a wave and accelerate wonderfully...

Now the Jones 42, originally known as Cadibarra (VIII), was the also the last of Don Jones' personal vessel line. There is an Optimist known as Cadibarra IX out of Mornington Yacht Club, but if you see her in Bass Strait, I think it will be a case of alert the Authorities... While we're at it at, Cadibarra still holds the record for Melbourne to King Island, the oldest ocean race in the land, Melbourne to Launceston and another one she is likely to keep for a long time, as I cannot see us going back there in a hurry - Melbourne to Hastings. They took about 10 minutes of ours on Helsall II, which we had set only a couple of years ahead of them. Doh, doh, doh, doh....

Anyway, her new owner, Paul Roberts tells us, "My previous boat was the Murray 41, Fuzzy Logic, which raced locally and competed in three Sydney Hobart races with the other co-owner. I have recently acquired Cadibarra 8 to compete in Bay races, as well as ocean races, with the ultimate goal of competing in two handed racing. Prior to the purchase of Cadibarra 8, my main requirements were for a fast, 40-foot ocean racing boat, which was designed for off the wind action, was light weight, had the ability to sail short handed and is designed to take the punishment of the our marvellous Bass Strait with its potential high wind/wave conditions". Job well done I would have thought...

On the hardstand at her home club - RYCV - with the old Minesweeper, Castlemaine, in the background.

I reckon this shot is from up North...

After leaving Melbourne originally, Cadi was sailed out of Mooloolaba, with an attempt to race Melbourne to Osaka in 2007. "We brought her back down with only three crew and had a great time, even though we had several days of motoring. The plan is to compete in the 2013 M2O, with the warm up being the Round New Zealand two handed race in 2012. It's my original home and I lived there until graduating with an Engineering degree from Massey University, located in Palmerston North. The other crewmember for the 2013 M2O is long time sailing pal, Brian Murphy. Between the two of us we have close to 20 Sydney Hobart races and enjoy the challenge of ocean racing preparation and blue water sailing."

"The boat is to be raced out of Royals, with a mix of some new and previous Fuzzy Logic crew. New sails have been ordered from Col Anderson’s Doyle loft. Col and his son, Blake have been of great help in assisting to determine the new sail design details, which we are looking forward to proving out on the race track. Don Jones has also been tremendous, providing his knowledge of the boat and it is much appreciated. Since Don sold the boat, new water ballast has been added for short handed sailing. There's also a bow sprint and twin carbon wheels", said Paul. The owners and crew of Goldfinger have had a great time aboard Cadi, as she was, for a couple of Hamilton Island Race Weeks, over the ensuing years. One of the owners of Goldfinger, Peter Blake, bought Cadibarra VII and turned it into Kontrol for his tilt at Osaka by adding a new three-foot false bow. Interestingly, when Cadibarra VIII broke the M2KI record, Kontrol (nee C VII) was also inside the previous record. Kontrol herself, still holds the M2S record.

Now we just learned from our good pal, Chris Furey, that you can have Cadibarra VII/Kontrol/Alex-Team MacAdie, which is obviously Cat 0 capable, to do the 2013 M2O. Call Chris now on +61 410 55 19 77 or email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 2013 M2O TBAs please be advised - first in best dressed for this former M2O winner.

Here is the boat as Kontrol - a Jones 42 with three feet of false bow added by Mal Hart, if memory serves me well, which then meant she had the watertight bulkhead up for'ard. Handy.

Below is as Alex and in Two-Handed configuration.

Finishing (and winning) the 2007 M2O.

Back onboard Cadibarra 8 now and there are those new wheels.

"To date I am very happy with the boat and am looking forward to racing, particularly the upcoming Melbourne to Stanley race, where she will relish off the breeze strong wind conditions. We will be only taking six crew to Stanley, which means we can use just one six-man liferaft and also save on the weight of food and water for the extra souls. We consider this a distinct advantage, as the boat is very stable", Paul finished with.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Lemonade.

Seven Up - Basil Brush.

There are now seven EOIs for the 2013 M2O, which is just wonderful.

Number four was the Jones 42, Cadibarra VIII, which is now owned by Paul Roberts. These images are from the 2007 M2O, with many thanks to Steb Fisher for the use of them.

Now numbers five and seven are quite interesting. The boat names were TBA, as the registrants go looking for a suitable vessel. Number five is Brian Burggraaf, who sails Remedy and we spoke a bit about that in the M2G and AGM stuff. Number Seven was really interesting. From the Southport Yacht Club, comes Lisa Beecham.

We got to ask her a few questions recently and here are her responses, "No haven't done the M2O before! I'm friends with Murray Bucknall and sailed on his boat, Ryujin fgi, a couple of times. Done lots of other Ocean Racing, however:

• 93/4 Whitbread Round the World
• 93 Fastnet
• 92 Sydney Hobart
• 10 or so Brisbane to Gladsones
• 2 Brisbane to Great Keppel Island
• 2 Port Lincoln Races
• Lots of shorthanded delivery miles, but no shorthanded races yet..."

"We do not have a suitable vessel presently, but there's possibly an option on a Adams 45, otherwise there's purchase, charter or build. We will try for some sponsorship... I'm a GP and my co-skipper is Dave Pullin, a Shipwright. He has done:

• 2 Port Lincolns
• 2 Brisbane to Gladstones
• 1 Brisbane to Great Keppel Island
• 1993 Etchells World titles
• Trailer/Sailer; Rl 24 2010 Nationals - 3rd"

Lisa also informed us that, "Both us crewed together in the 2010 Queensland State Trailable Titles and got 3rd on a Rl 24. We also both crewed the Lake Eyre Yacht Club race in 2010 and were the the first monohull in the Birsdville Track! First ever yacht race and first mono to ever fly a kite on the Birsdsville Track!!!"

"All of which was done on a $300 470 trailered over a 4600 km round trip", an enthusiastic Lisa commented. "As a result of all that, we might sail under dual the burgees of Southport YC and Lake Eyre YC."

I think we can allow that and I also think we can say they are suitably qualified to take on the 5500nm epic. Well done, Lisa and Dave.

It's Ross Wilson behind the glasses - he was the Race Director for 2007.

The Race Committee is keen to review all potential racing opportunities, including things like Class 40. The potential three week starting time window has been proposed to allow vessels of differing speeds to arrive in Osaka at a similar time. Please contact ORCV Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden to discuss your requirements: +61 418 145 909 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This is the bow of Phil Coombs' Dekadence's, as she goes past Steb near McCrae on the shores of Melbourne's Port Phillip.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

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© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Billy Bowden.

Arms up in the air and the goose step to go with it - as in signalling a six in cricket - Brent Fraser 'Billy' Bowden (NZ) - come on down!!!

Now it may have all started with Harold Dennis 'Dickie' Bird, MBE, but Billy has taken it to a whole new level. Sure it helps if you come from a cricketing nation, but our Japanese friends can just think of it like one of their truly unique TV Game Shows. No Lost in Translation with that one.

Enough said...

So then, after all that explanation, our 'six' is Tony Warren from Team BO, as in the Inglis more formally known as Beyond Outrageous. No word as part of our sixth M2O EOI, as to who the other pair of hands is yet, but we do know that it is not our serial go-to RMYS guy, Ian Lindsay.

At any rate, if there is ever any chance to use Chris Furey's image of them on Port Phillip, hooting down under that now, very famous fractional Bag, well, it just has to be used!!!

QED.

You know what? While we're at, why don't we just show the whole lot again. Yeeeee HAAAAAA.

With the Colt (Sydney 38), Adrenalin and her sistership, Addiction, on the right.

The Race Committee is keen to review all potential racing opportunities, including things like Class 40. The potential three week starting time window has been proposed to allow vessels of differing speeds to arrive in Osaka at a similar time. Please contact ORCV Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden to discuss your requirements: +61 418 145 909 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Reggae.

'As in 3/4 time, Mon'... So, anyway, our three and four time are Ryujin fgi and Cadibarra VIII.

As you can see from the image below, Ryujin fgi has been there before and got it's T-Shirts too. She is a Sayer 12m. Incidentally, our first entrant, Chikara Outlaw, is also a Sayer (44), but a little bit older...

Osaka Bay 2007 - done it all before...

As per the date stamp - it's Ryujin fgi this year, off the Gold Coast.

Recently returned to Port Phillip is Cadibarra (VIII). She's been up in QLD for a while and Paul Roberts from RYCV now owns her. She's being referred to as Cadibarra 8 and is doing the 2010 M2S, as well. The Jones 42 was the last of Don Jones' Cadibarras and still holds the M2KI record. Cracked sheets and anything open even further and she will move along. More on it all, soon enough. So there you have it.

There's our 3/4 time. Who will be five???

The Race Committee is keen to review all potential racing opportunities, including things like Class 40. The potential three week starting time window has been proposed to allow vessels of differing speeds to arrive in Osaka at a similar time. Please contact ORCV Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden to discuss your requirements: +61 418 145 909 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Melbourne to Osaka (M2O from 05/04/13)

Two Hands. Two Boats.

So far. Please put your two hands together for the first two boats to put in their EOI for the famed Melbourne to Osaka Two-Handed Yacht Race (M2O).

First were Bill Trueman and Joanne Norbury of Chikara Outlaw.

Then there was Vladimir, alias Robert Bradley, with Escapade.

Editor's note - Now what kind of a party are they going to have when they get to Osaka, given how much they got into it for just the 45nm it was to get to Geelong?! WOOHOO.

Editor's further note - Escapade can take one or two souls to Stanley this year in the M2S. If you need to build your experience, then this is a must. See the ORCV Forum on the bottom right of the home page for details.

Editor's further, further note, I'm sure they will have flossed by then!!! They're draping the kite gear over the side to attempt a bit of it...

The Race Committee is keen to review all potential racing opportunities, including things like Class 40. The potential three week starting time window has been proposed to allow vessels of differing speeds to arrive in Osaka at a similar time. Please contact ORCV Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden to discuss your requirements: +61 418 145 909 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Go HERE to register your interest in this sensational race.

Go HERE to see who has already expressed their desire to participate.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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ORCV Latest News

Melbourne to Osaka - In safe hands.

The famed Melbourne/Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race (M2O) is very much in safe hands, with planning underway for the next official event in April, 2013. The event will be co-hosted by Melbourne’s Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC) and Osaka Hokko Yacht Club in Japan. The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) will be conducting all the on-water activities and formalities. The April 2013 starting date is very auspicious in itself, as it marks the 35^th anniversary of the City of Melbourne and the City of Osaka formalising their Sister City status.

Nakakita San was very impressed with the facilities when he visited earlier in the year. SYC Commodore, Philip Burn showed our distinguished guest around the club.

There have been seven of these 5500nm classics held every four years, since the first in 1987, originally conceived by the cities of Melbourne and Osaka as a celebration of the relationship between the two cities. Accordingly, when the Commodore of the Osaka Hokko Yacht Club, Muneyoshi Nakakita, visited Melbourne in April, 2010 to discuss the next M2O event, he was looking forward to gaining commitment from the Australian end. Sandringham Yacht Club and the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria readily provided assurance of their support and commenced seeking the necessary approvals from Yachting Australia, so as to streamline the mountains of paperwork an event like this requires.

‘We are delighted with the progress of discussions to ensure the conduct of this sensational race again. April 2013 is not that far away, when you consider all that is required for crews to compete and all that we need to do to have Melbourne ready to host the start’, said SYC Commodore, Philip Burn.

SYC's superb facilities will make a very warm and convivial environment for all competitors.

‘Expressions of interest are already being accepted. The ORCV is thrilled to be conducting the on-water sections of this marvelous event, which has such a great nautical history as Australia’s only Category Zero race. The start time was purposely chosen to maximise the importance of the relationship between Melbourne and Osaka, during this special anniversary’, ORCV Commodore, George Shaw went on to add.

Information, including the Notice of Race, will be available from syc.com.au and orcv.org.au, at a later date.

More Information:

Philip Burn, +61 409 932 068

George Shaw, +61 411 464 802

Good friends of the ORCV David James and Rosie Colahan aboard their Ingenue, seen here when they crossed over the finish line. Yep. You'd be pretty happy. Pic © Tak Yamazaki.

SYC's Olympic Room.

The Osaka Hokko Yacht Club.

By John Curnow