Media Release
3rd May 2025

Alive Make Clean Sweep in the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Cup 
Osaka, Japan – The Reichel/Pugh 66 Alive, skippered by Duncan Hine and co-skipper Glenn Myler, has made a clean sweep of Line Honours, AMS, PHS and ORCi in the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Cup. 

Crossing the finish line in an impressive 22 days, 22 hours, 48 minutes, and 15 seconds, Alive had their sights on breaking the current race record of 21 days, 12 hours, 41 minutes, and 13 seconds, set by Chinese Whisper in 2018. Despite falling short, the Tasmanian-based yacht and crew’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. 
For skipper Duncan Hine, this race had long been on his sailing bucket list. 
"It’s been a dream for some time, being the only double-handed race that leaves Australia. I had it down to do in 2018, but life got in the way," Hine said.   
"You really have to be honest with yourself and fully commit to this race, it's a journey of self-discovery", said Hine, having just finished the race. 
“I didn’t come into the race to do a clean sweep but had my eyes on having a go at the race record" which is awarded based on elapsed time, not who arrives first into Osaka.
Alive started two weeks after the main fleet in the unique staggered start format of the race, where slower boats depart first, with the chase giving them motivation to also push hard as they passed six of the earlier starters before Osaka. 
The early stages of the race were not without challenges. An intense east coast low system saw Alive play it safe in Bass Strait.  
"It’s a hard boat to sail with just two crew, and doing it safely was our priority.  So we backed off the pace until we cleared the low," Hine explained. 
The doldrums, with their unpredictable winds, and finding those winds north of the Solomons, which were further north than predicted, added another layer of difficulty. 
 And as they closed in on Osaka, a dying breeze turned the final stretch into a test of patience and persistence. 
 
"We were just two hours out and made the finishing radio call multiple times, as the wind completely vanished. It was incredibly frustrating," Hine said. 
Despite the challenges, Hine believes Alive delivered a strong attempt at the record. 
"It’s a race where the boat, the weather, and the crew all have to be performing at their peak. I think we gave it a valiant effort." 
Alive will be remembered not only for their sailing prowess and results but will be remembered by many as the champion team who freely shared their sailing tips and commentary on their sail setups, how to avoid chaffing of halyards and providing us all with theatrics whilst they crossed the equator and a great laugh as ‘cousin Glenn’ meet King Neptune and became a shellback.  
Never a dull moment for these two lads from Tasmania who did themselves proud, pushing themselves and the boat all the way to Osaka.
A humble Hine and Myler accepted the award, acknowledging the competitors and race organisers for the effort it takes by all to put on this amazing race.  
Top 3 Results being 
AMS  
1st Kate Mitchell Perpetual Trophy – Alive (Duncan Hine & Glenn Myler)  and Overall Winner
2nd – Magellan (Richard & Megan Grant) 
3rd – Quest (Peter Tardrew & Rod Gunther)  

PHS  
 
1st Colin Smith Memorial Trophy – Alive (Duncan Hine and Glenn Myler) 
2nd – Blue Moon (Ken and Tristan Gourlay) 
3rd – Magellan (Richard and Megan Grant) 
 
ORCi 
 
1st - Friendship Bowl - Alive (Duncan Hine & Glenn Myler) 
2nd – Zero (Katsuhiro Yamada & Masayuki Kobayashi) 
3rd – 1122Trekkee (Hajime Nitta & Sonosuke Noda) 

 
Line Honours (lowest elapsed time) Alive (Duncan Hine & Glenn Myler) 
Full results being here https://melbourneosakacup.com/en/2025-race-results/ 

**MYC HOODIES**
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Available in sizes Kids 6 - 14 & Adults S - XXXL

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Friday 6th June 2025
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Participation aims to promote MYC in competitive women’s racing on Port Phillip, and as such training will be provided free of charge by MYC T&D (Training & Development)

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Graeme Lyell Perpetual Trophy 2024/2025
Congratulations to the recipients Graeme and Tonia Vertigan who were awarded the  Recognition of Sailability Volunteers for the Season 2024/25. This Award and Trophy is intended to acknowledge the significant contribution of volunteers as determined by our steering committee. In this connection Graeme has frequently demonstrated his willingness to fix things as required along with his longevity as a sailing volunteer both Midweek and Sundays. Tonia on the other hand is recognised for her longevity as a Sailing volunteer on Sundays along with her sail coaching expertise over many years.

A Thrilling Finish for Quest 

After more than 5,500 nautical miles of ocean racing, just 44 seconds separated Quest and Lord Jiminy in one of the closest finishes of the Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race so far. 

Quest, a Marek 43 skippered Rod Gunther and Peter Tardrew, had been close racing with the Class 40 yacht Lord Jiminy, skippered by Kevin Curtis and Dylan Oosterweghel, for days, trading leads and battling it out to the finish.   

"The finish was amazing," said the team from Quest. "We’d been in this tussle with Lord Jiminy for the last two to three days. They were about 3 to 10 nautical miles ahead, and we’d catch up, then they’d pull away again, it just kept going." 

But the final run through Osaka Bay brought Quest within striking distance. “We had more boat speed and closed the gap to about two miles. We were able to run ‘Pinky,’ our Code 0, and that gave us a lift. It was a thrilling finish, we were like the sneaky foxes in the chase.” 

As the water flattened, a light breeze filled in “We got a sniff of 6 to 8 knots. The boat started to slide, and we were hand-steering, hand-trimming, doing everything we could to squeeze a little more speed out. We just wanted to finish,” said Tardrew. 

"The boat performed beautifully, right to the very end. Tardrew continued, "It felt like she was doing her best for us, and that felt really good." 

After some confusion right at the finish, Lord Jiminy crossed the line 44 seconds ahead of Quest. 
“We had the finish line co-ordinates in the plotter although when we heard the crowd cheering, we thought we must have finished” said Oosterweghel.  “Kevin and I shook hands, took down the headsail before realising we hadn’t finished.” 

Turning around, despite the confusion, they recovered quickly and crossed just ahead of Quest, who came out of the darkness of the night close behind them. 

For Dylan, it was the “problem solving and taking on more skippering duties than before.  I feel quite chuffed to be in this race.  I was honoured when my Dad (Jimmy) and Kevin, whom I’d known since I was very young, asked me to take Dad’s place after being injured in a recent offshore race.” 

“My friends used to think Dad was insane sailing to Japan, and the next thing I know is that I’m doing it.” 
“We ran a 5 – 4 – 3 watch system, which worked well for us, giving a shorter time at night and longer rest periods earlier in the day” explained Oosterweghel. 

“It’s a race where all is going well, and then suddenly there’s absolute chaos. You need to find that perseverance and a way to keep going, as the reality is, where are you going to go?” finished Oosterweghel. 

Calling themselves “Zimmerman sailors” this race has proven to both Gunther and Tardrew that they can do it, even if they have a combined age of 143 years and been good friends for most of their lives. 

“I think the thing that’s been good for me is to find out that there’s life in the old dog, in a way to just see what your capacity is” explained Tardrew. 

Gunther adding “We don’t run around the deck like we used to when we were younger” with the highlight being “just putting it all together and arriving to such a close finish.” 

Lord Jiminy and Quest reminded us that it’s not over until you truly hear the finishing horn and that your mind is often the only thing holding you back. 

As the race enters the final week of racing, keep watching bluewatertracks.com the race tracker https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-osaka-cup-double-handed-race

M2O Media

Nothing fazes our intrepid lady sailors on Jensminc!!
On last Saturdays Pyramid race, Just past M1 in the middle of Port Philip the tiller broke
A quick ( not a tongue) lashing under the  capable skipper-ship of Janine , we secured the rudder to the boat hook and we were safely away back to Mornington Harbour powered by the head sail, under slightly sloppy control!
Well done Janine and Diana!!!

We invite all of our wonderful SaiAbility Volunteers along to an appreciation dinner to celebrate another fantastic season on Wednesday the 23rd of April!

Please RSVP to [email protected] by the 17th of April for catering purposes - thank you!

We are ordering more of our cozy MYC hoodies just in time for the cooler weather.  If you would like to pre order one in your size please let Tayla in the MYC office with your size!
Available in sizes Kids 6 - 14 & Adults S - XXXL

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Colouring pages are available in the MYC foyer or bar or download to print at home here
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