First Finisher Across the Line in the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup – Zero Sets the Benchmark
by Melbourne Osaka Media 15 Apr 16:52 NZST
15 April 2025
The IMX40 yacht Zero is the first boat to cross the finish line in the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup, arriving in Osaka at 07:00:18 (GMT+9) on April 15. Having departed from Melbourne in the second start group on March 9, co-skippers Katsuhiro Yamada and Masayuki Kobayashi were overjoyed with emotion upon completing the race.
Applause for Zero's achievement echoed across the fleet. Magellan's skipper Richard Grant, currently leading on predicted standings, shared, "Congratulations Team Zero!. You have set the bar, now it becomes the challenge. See you soon in Osaka!"
Richard continued, "Looking at the outlook for the next week or so, especially as Zero has now set the bar for us to measure up to."
He added, "It is going to be interesting! Magellan is a similar cruiser racer as Zero; our ORCi handicaps are almost the same, though on AMS, we have about 5% more favourable rating, possibly due to sail selections."
"The various models predict 5-20kt winds for the next 5 days, E to SE, then they become stronger up to 30kt from the south."
"Magellan is well balanced & reaches its best when not over-pressed. Our problem is actually keeping a lid on enthusiasm given that the damaged side of the rig is on the starboard, and for most of the week, we will be on starboard tack."
"We will stick to two sail reaching, unless during lighter patches we can fly either of our asymmetrical spinnakers which is how we've been running since our rig was compromised."
"For the past week, we are logging 170 - 180nm daily runs or around 7.5kt average speeds and on more than one occasion, we've reefed and seen the boat speed improve as the boat is better balanced and has less counter rudder drag."
"Magellan has a tiller, which makes it easy to see if the boat is overpowered as the tiller is pushed to windward by the autopilot ram."
Grant also reflected on the final challenges ahead: "Our biggest challenge will be navigating across the Kuroshio Current & then the Osaka approach. From what I've read, Osaka looks like it keeps sailors trying, just as my home Derwent Estuary does on the approach to the Christmas races finish line in Hobart!. But of course for us we have zero (punn intended of course) local knowledge."
Grant finished with a heartfelt message to Zero, "Magellan will be trying as hard as we can to keep you honest. This race has been a blast to be part of, with the camaraderie of all of the crews and the fantastic race management team. Megan & I are honoured to be in such company," paying final tribute to the great race that Zero has set for them all.
The race is a long way from being over, as the following fleet keep looking back to the final starter, Alive, who has now found the Northern trade winds and is again on the hunt as they find inspiration again in "rock and roll" and setting up for what could be a fast run to the finish line.
Keep an eye on the tracker as the fleet sets its sights on Osaka.
Race tracking on Bluewatertracks.com here
Remember that final placements will come after consideration of protests and redress when all are safely docked.
See who's racing and when they started here.