The Challenge – 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race
The Melbourne to Osaka Double-handed Yacht Race is an extreme endurance sailing event that has grown into one of the world’s greatest long distance, short-handed sailing events. The race has now been run 8 times (on avg every 4-5 years) since the inaugural event in 1987.
The length of the race is 5500 Nautical miles (roughly 10,000kms which is 5 x Sydney to Hobarts ) so it will take most of the competitors anywhere between 30-40 days of nonstop sailing to complete the course.
The race is scheduled to start off Portsea in Port Phillip Bay in March 2025, and will finish in the Port of Osaka in late-April. The finish of the 2025 race has been timed to coincide with the opening of the World’s Fair in Osaka.
The 2025 race has attracted extraordinary interest from sailors from all around the world with entries received from 35 competitors already, the final starting line up will number around 50 entrants.
After years of planning and dreaming about doing this race, Grant Chipperfield and Peter Dowdney now have the distinction of being the very first entry received for the 2025 event.
The background of our team
Pete and Grant have been good mates since their teenage years. They spent many of their early sailing years honing their skills and racing against each other in high performance dinghies, sports boats, and larger keelboats.
In 2018, they joined forces for an event in FNQ and achieved a podium result in the popular Magnetic Island Race Week. While at this event, discussions started between the pair over a few beers, about their individual interests in fast emerging global movement towards shorthanded sailing. Further discussions led to them teaming up as a double-handed pairing for the 2020 Melbourne to Devonport race, the 2021 Sydney to Hobart race, and the 2022 & 2023 Melbourne to Hobart races. After successfully competing together in all of these events, the pair have now set their sights on competing in the ultimate double-handed challenge, the 5,500 nautical mile Melbourne to Osaka Ocean race in 2025.
The Melbourne to Osaka Double-handed Yacht Race is an extreme endurance sailing event that has grown into one of the world’s greatest long distance, short-handed sailing events. The race has now been run 8 times (on avg every 4-5 years) since the inaugural event in 1987.
The length of the race is 5500 Nautical miles (roughly 10,000kms which is 5 x Sydney to Hobarts ) so it will take most of the competitors anywhere between 30-40 days of nonstop sailing to complete the course.
The race is scheduled to start off Portsea in Port Phillip Bay in March 2025, and will finish in the Port of Osaka in late-April. The finish of the 2025 race has been timed to coincide with the opening of the World’s Fair in Osaka.
The 2025 race has attracted extraordinary interest from sailors from all around the world with entries received from 35 competitors already, the final starting line up will number around 50 entrants.
After years of planning and dreaming about doing this race, Grant Chipperfield and Peter Dowdney now have the distinction of being the very first entry received for the 2025 event.
The background of our team
Pete and Grant have been good mates since their teenage years. They spent many of their early sailing years honing their skills and racing against each other in high performance dinghies, sports boats, and larger keelboats.
In 2018, they joined forces for an event in FNQ and achieved a podium result in the popular Magnetic Island Race Week. While at this event, discussions started between the pair over a few beers, about their individual interests in fast emerging global movement towards shorthanded sailing. Further discussions led to them teaming up as a double-handed pairing for the 2020 Melbourne to Devonport race, the 2021 Sydney to Hobart race, and the 2022 & 2023 Melbourne to Hobart races. After successfully competing together in all of these events, the pair have now set their sights on competing in the ultimate double-handed challenge, the 5,500 nautical mile Melbourne to Osaka Ocean race in 2025.
Pete Dowdney, long term Sandringham yacht club member
After sailing high performance dinghies for a few years straight out of school, Pete’s interest turned to larger keelboats and in particular, the lure of offshore racing. He gained a solid reputation for his technical skills on the foredeck, and this in turn led him to being selected as the bowman on Steak n Kidney for the 1987 America’s Cup Defender Series in Perth, and again in 1991 onboard Challenge Australia in San Diego. A host of other major events & races followed with some of the more notable ones being:
After sailing high performance dinghies for a few years straight out of school, Pete’s interest turned to larger keelboats and in particular, the lure of offshore racing. He gained a solid reputation for his technical skills on the foredeck, and this in turn led him to being selected as the bowman on Steak n Kidney for the 1987 America’s Cup Defender Series in Perth, and again in 1991 onboard Challenge Australia in San Diego. A host of other major events & races followed with some of the more notable ones being:
- 12m World Championships in Sardinia and Sweden onboard Steak n Kidney,
- 1991 Admirals Cup and Fastnet races as a member of the Australian team in on board Bimblegumbie, Cowes UK
- Three separate Kenwood Cups in Hawaii aboard Challenge 3 (1986), Once Jolly Swagman (1988) and Challenge Again (1996).
- The 1984,85, 2023, & 2024 Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster” races on Freelance, Turkey Shoot, Joker on Tourer, & Joker X2.
- 18 x Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races on board boats such as Mandrake, Ragamuffin (2), Illusion (2), Westernport Venture, Sword of Orion, Ocean Designs, Wedgetail (3), Cougar 2, Blackjack (3), Terrafirma, Envy Scooters, & Joker on Tourer
Grant Chipperfield, long term Mornington yacht club Member
Grant’s Sailing skills and experience comes from racing off-the-beach dinghies from an early age. He sailed sabots, International Cadets and Sharpies, before moving across to one design keelboats such as J24’s, & Etchells. Along the journey he has been fortunate to have sailed with Olympic, World and National champions.
He then progressed into owning and skippering, his own Trailer Sailers and Etchells (this was where the Joker name first appeared)
In 2007 he purchased a Lyons 39, naming it “Geomamtic Joker”. Grant successfully campaigned it in two successive Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races and achieved a 2nd place result in the Melbourne to Hobart.
Grant went on to buy the Elliott 1250 Tourer, naming it “Joker on Tourer” in 2015. In this boat he and Peter achieved significant success in local and interstate regattas, focusing on refining their short-handed sailing skills and systems.
Grant’s Sailing skills and experience comes from racing off-the-beach dinghies from an early age. He sailed sabots, International Cadets and Sharpies, before moving across to one design keelboats such as J24’s, & Etchells. Along the journey he has been fortunate to have sailed with Olympic, World and National champions.
He then progressed into owning and skippering, his own Trailer Sailers and Etchells (this was where the Joker name first appeared)
In 2007 he purchased a Lyons 39, naming it “Geomamtic Joker”. Grant successfully campaigned it in two successive Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races and achieved a 2nd place result in the Melbourne to Hobart.
Grant went on to buy the Elliott 1250 Tourer, naming it “Joker on Tourer” in 2015. In this boat he and Peter achieved significant success in local and interstate regattas, focusing on refining their short-handed sailing skills and systems.
Notable results & races achieved by the pair in “Joker on Tourer” include:
After campaigning the Joker on Tourer solidly for the past three years, we both came to the same conclusion that to be successful in the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Race, they needed a more powerful boat that would give them better speeds in lighter wind conditions. After returning from the 2022 Melbourne to Hobart Race we started shopping around and settled on their new yacht in March 2023.
- 1 st Double Handed boat to finish and 3rd Overall in the 2020 Melbourne to Devonport race.
- 4 th Double Handed Boat across the line and on handicap in the inaugural Double Handed Division of the 2021 Rolex Sydney to Hobart
- 3 rd Double Handed boat to finish in the 2022 Melbourne to Hobart (50th anniversary West Coaster Race)
- 1 st Double Handed and Overall Winner of the 2023 ORCV Melbourne to Port Fairy Yacht Race
After campaigning the Joker on Tourer solidly for the past three years, we both came to the same conclusion that to be successful in the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Race, they needed a more powerful boat that would give them better speeds in lighter wind conditions. After returning from the 2022 Melbourne to Hobart Race we started shopping around and settled on their new yacht in March 2023.
Introducing the new yacht – Joker X2
After an exhaustive search throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia, we found what we feel is the perfect boat for our Melbourne to Osaka program. The design is a J133 which is a French-built, American design which is 13.30m (43 feet) long and weighs a little under 8T. We have named the boat JOKER X2, continuing the long line of Jokers, but also recognizing our focus on 2-handed racing.
The J133 is highly regarded for being a fast, well-built, and extremely offshore capable yacht. They also rate well under most of the current handicap rating systems, so we feel that this combination will give us the best chance of success across multiple handicap divisions.
Joker X2 is currently undergoing a total review of all of its hardware, electrical and sailing control systems. Our aim is to apply what we have learned from the past three years of 2- handed racing, giving us a significant head start in the preparation of this boat. Our first serious hit out was the ORCV 2-Handed Bay Race in August where we placed a very creditable 2nd place, overall. the Melbourne to Devonport in November which we placed 1st , 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Race unfortunately blowout our mainsail but sƟll manage to finish 2nd DH and 5th ORC and in our latest race Melbourne to king Island 1st DH and 3rd overall.
Our plans for 2024 include finishing off sailing season competing in a couple of local offshore events, then some refit work over winter before taking the boat to Sydney to compete in the Short-handed Offshore bluewater point score and the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race.
After an exhaustive search throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia, we found what we feel is the perfect boat for our Melbourne to Osaka program. The design is a J133 which is a French-built, American design which is 13.30m (43 feet) long and weighs a little under 8T. We have named the boat JOKER X2, continuing the long line of Jokers, but also recognizing our focus on 2-handed racing.
The J133 is highly regarded for being a fast, well-built, and extremely offshore capable yacht. They also rate well under most of the current handicap rating systems, so we feel that this combination will give us the best chance of success across multiple handicap divisions.
Joker X2 is currently undergoing a total review of all of its hardware, electrical and sailing control systems. Our aim is to apply what we have learned from the past three years of 2- handed racing, giving us a significant head start in the preparation of this boat. Our first serious hit out was the ORCV 2-Handed Bay Race in August where we placed a very creditable 2nd place, overall. the Melbourne to Devonport in November which we placed 1st , 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Race unfortunately blowout our mainsail but sƟll manage to finish 2nd DH and 5th ORC and in our latest race Melbourne to king Island 1st DH and 3rd overall.
Our plans for 2024 include finishing off sailing season competing in a couple of local offshore events, then some refit work over winter before taking the boat to Sydney to compete in the Short-handed Offshore bluewater point score and the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race.
| The Main Event – 2025 M20 Race Ultimately, our goal is to compete in, complete, and win the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. |  |
The Osaka Cup is a 5,500 nautical mile 2-handed yacht race that starts in Melbourne and finishes in the Port of Osaka, Japan. It is only South-North long distance ocean race in the world. The route passes through multiple weather systems and seasons as it crosses the Pacific Ocean.
The race starts off Portsea Pier in March 2025, taking the competitors into Bass Strait, and up the east coast of Australia. At some point, the boats will cross over the East Australian current and into the South easterly trade winds, which will carry them through the Solomon Islands and up into the doldrums near the equator. After crossing the equator, the competitors will move into the North Easterly trade winds and the equatorial currents, before fighting the Kuroshio (Japan current), which flows along the Pacific Coast of Japan. The race will take between 28-35 days to complete and finishes in the port of Osaka on Japan’s Honshu Island. The finish of the 2025 M20 Race is timed to coincide with the opening of the World’s Fair in Osaka.
The race starts off Portsea Pier in March 2025, taking the competitors into Bass Strait, and up the east coast of Australia. At some point, the boats will cross over the East Australian current and into the South easterly trade winds, which will carry them through the Solomon Islands and up into the doldrums near the equator. After crossing the equator, the competitors will move into the North Easterly trade winds and the equatorial currents, before fighting the Kuroshio (Japan current), which flows along the Pacific Coast of Japan. The race will take between 28-35 days to complete and finishes in the port of Osaka on Japan’s Honshu Island. The finish of the 2025 M20 Race is timed to coincide with the opening of the World’s Fair in Osaka.
Summary of Joker X2’s Sailing program for the next 12 months.
2024
2025
2024
- ORCV Ocean races and local races (summer series) M2AB, Coastal Sprint Races
- Short Offshore Point Score Events - Tollgate Island Race, Bird Island Race etc
- Rolex Sydney to Hobart (December)
2025
- Race mode delivery back from Hobart - 2-handed, non-stop, race mode.
- Assorted inshore & short offshore events, plus specialist M2O training program – Jan - March
- Melbourne to Osaka (mid-March) – ETA in Japan mid-late April
- Return of vessel from Osaka to Australia - late April to end of June 2025
Over the next twelve months, we will be spending a significant amount of money to ensure that the Joker X2 and crew are totally race-ready. This includes investing in several new purpose-designed sails, upgrading our electronics package and self-steering system to the latest technology, and ensuring that we have the best safety equipment available.
If anyone interested, we are essentially a blank canvas so please talk to us if you have any other ideas about how we might be able to help you promote your business, brand, or products.
Look forward to flying the MYC burgee and receiving the friendly MYC family support hope to see you around the club and speaking with you all about our quest.
Cheers,
Grant and Pete – Joker X2
Contact details:
Grant Chipperfield [email protected] or 0425 713 908
Peter Dowdney [email protected] or 0418 395 941
If anyone interested, we are essentially a blank canvas so please talk to us if you have any other ideas about how we might be able to help you promote your business, brand, or products.
Look forward to flying the MYC burgee and receiving the friendly MYC family support hope to see you around the club and speaking with you all about our quest.
Cheers,
Grant and Pete – Joker X2
Contact details:
Grant Chipperfield [email protected] or 0425 713 908
Peter Dowdney [email protected] or 0418 395 941
JokerX2 Hull and Sail plan – potential advertising billboard for your company
RSS Feed
