melbourne-osaka-cup
Wasabi off to Japan
The aptly named and coloured Sayer40 WASABI co-skippered by John Davies and Bruce McKay is the 8th confirmed entry for the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka Two Handed Yacht Race.
WASABI was purpose built for the previous running of the M2O however due to unfortunate circumstances was forced to withdraw after only a few hundred miles.
Bruce purchased WASABI in 2007 and since then has completed many minor and a few major modifications to enhance the performance of the yacht along with improving the overall reliability of the onboard systems.
Since owning WASABI, Bruce has competed in three Rolex Sydney Hobart races with the best result a divisional win in 2009. WASABI has also competed in three Southport races with a podium finish in 2010. She has completed a Gosford to Lord Howe race achieving third on line honours, Brisbane to Keppel race along with many coastal blue water races. In June this year Bruce and John successfully competed in the 830NM Brisbane to Noumea race finishing as the first two handed and third overall on line honours.Both John and Bruce are active members of the Shorthanded Sailing Association of Australia competing together and also single handed, John on his Northshore 369.
In the lead up to the M2O race John and Bruce have been sailing shorthanded together all year from their home club of the Cronulla Sailing Club along with the SSAA Winter Series. Thye propose to continue training together with as much shorthand racing as possible including the SSAA Two Island Race, Pittwater to Coffs(two handed division) and of course with the Cronulla Sailing Club Summer Series
Social Side of Melbourne to Osaka not forgotten
We know of the Melbourne to Osaka as a ‘sailors’ race’.This is an endurance race where the competitors have to be great sailors – there is neither hype nor hangers on – just great sailors. For years the Hokko Yacht Club has been an absolutely fabulous host at the end of the race……competitors have been treated like kings and queens and feted for their achievement of completing the race. For the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka race we are organizing some terrific hospitality for the entrants before the start of the race in March. A ‘buddy system’ will be set up so each international and interstate competitor has a small group of volunteers to help make the job of getting their boat ready for the race easier. We would like to make the competitors feel at home in Melbourne – feel they are supported and can relax in the midst of the pressure of preparation. If you would like to be part of the support group for the competitors please contact Kate Mitchell at
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The starting date for the Osaka Cup is just 250 days away!
