The 10th Melbourne Osaka Cup is set to start in March 2030, with expressions of interest now officially open. Often described as the equivalent of eight Sydney to Hobart or Fastnet Yacht Races back-to-back, it is widely regarded as the most challenging ocean race starting in Australian waters, sailed by only two crew, non-stop and unassisted.
Since its inception in 1987, the race has stood as a powerful symbol of friendship between Australia and Japan. Competitors arriving in Osaka are welcomed not just as sailors, but as honoured guests. The warmth of the Japanese people, the depth of culture, and the sense of achievement after weeks at sea combine to create one of the most emotional finishes in world sailing.
Spanning 5,000 nautical miles, the Melbourne Osaka Cup is the longest north–south ocean race in the world. Open to monohull yachts up to 23 metres and conducted under Category 1+ safety requirements, the race is sailed double-handed and unassisted, placing complete reliance on skill, endurance, and the strength of your sailing partnership.
Competitors will traverse the Pacific Ocean from south to north, crossing the notorious Bass Strait, through the Tasman Sea, Coral Sea and Solomon Sea, before navigating the unpredictable Intertropical Convergence Zone, known to sailors as the Doldrums.
The race challenges and requires knowledge of multiple weather systems, from the stronger conditions of southern waters to the complex light-air tactics of the tropics and transition zone for the approach to Osaka. The course threads international waters, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the United States territories of Guam and Saipan, before passing Japan’s remote Ogasawara Islands enroute to the final finish in Osaka.
The race is organised through a long-standing partnership between the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria and the Osaka Hokko Yacht Club, a collaboration spanning all ten editions.
A staggered start format is designed to bring the fleet together for a dramatic finish in Osaka. While yachts may arrive within sight of one another, final placings are determined by elapsed time and handicaps. The current race record stands at an extraordinary 21 days, 12 hours, 41 minutes and 13 seconds, set in 2018 by Rupert Henry and Greg O’Shea aboard Chinese Whisper. The average crossing time is approximately 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.
With limited entries available and the immense logistical effort required to stage the race, opportunities to compete are rare. Sailors ready to take on one of offshore racing’s greatest challenges are encouraged to submit their expression of interest and review the preliminary Notice of Race via the official event website, www.melbourneosakacup.com
This is your moment. Commit early. Prepare well. Be part of the 10th edition and make history in 2030. Add your name to the Expressions of Interest https://melbourneosakacup.com/en/home/