5,500 mile Melbourne Osaka race starts March 25th

by Di Pearson on 9 Mar 2007 Imagine racing non-stop for 5,500 nautical miles, just two of you onboard in a confined space to deal with daily life at sea well that’s exactly what the current competitors entered into the Melbourne Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race will do come March 25.
A difficult event by any standards, the race moves backwards through the seasons; autumn in Melbourne, summer at the equator and spring in Osaka, only two crew members allowed per boat, rather than the usual full crew.

Melbourne couple, David James and Rosie Colahan, are one such crew who will undertake this unique odyssey. The husband and wife combination from Melbourne will join the other entries from Australia and Japan when the race gets underway off Station Pier.

Life in general has its share of trials and tribulations, but during this race, the two will have to come to terms with, amongst other things, changing weather conditions, making instantaneous decisions, sleep deprivation, dealing with everyday life in a confined space, and be ready to fix breakages that are bound to occur in a race of this magnitude.

Married for 10 years, they have spent the last few years preparing for their forthcoming adventure. To that end, James says, 'We have been competing two-handed in ocean races to test the boat and its refinements, as well as ourselves, in preparation for the forthcoming Osaka race.

'Year before last, we raced the 2005 Melbourne-Launceston Race two handed and achieved second place. In July 2006, we sailed two-handed in the inaugural ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu Race and won the two-handed division,' Colahan adds.

They own 'Ingénue', a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40, their entry for the longest ocean race to leave Australian waters and have already completed over 7,000 miles aboard her.

James, a retired pharmacist now in his mid sixties has been sailing for 56 years, building and racing off-the-beach boats since his teens. 'I started racing and cruising in keelboats in 1990. I’ve cruised overseas, in the Med, Caribbean and Finland to Nice, and have completed over 31,000 ocean miles as crew, navigator and skipper' he tells.

A qualified RYA and YA Yachtmaster Instructor, delivery skipper and charter operator, he loves messing about in boats. James also enjoys woodwork and design, good food, wine, reading and classical music, all a good fit for the long journey to Melbourne’s twin city, Osaka.

Since bringing Ingénue to Melbourne in 2004, James and Colahan have established Yachting Port Phillip Charters, providing match racing and skippered charters with Ingénue’s sistership Avanti.

Beyond their charter activities, the Melbourne couple maintains a strong commitment to racing, competing in local regattas such as Skandia Geelong Week, and are keen participants in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria offshore events.

Colahan, a Medical General Practitioner, is an experienced sailor of 45 years, and started racing dinghies as a seven year-old, including Lightweight Sharpies for which the Melburnian obtained University Blue for Yachting during her years of study.

During 1975, the yachtswoman started racing and cruising keelboats, winning the Royal Brighton YC-Queenscliff Cruising YC 1997-1998 Cruising Yachtsman of the Year award.

With her medical training and offshore sailing experience, Colahan has advised on Medical Kit requirements for the ORCV and the forthcoming Cat Zero Osaka race. She has provided practical training in suturing and management of injuries at sea for offshore sailors and will provide radio medical support to the fleet during the Osaka Race.

Having completed 15,000 sailing miles, Colahan is savouring the prospect of another short-handed long-distance ocean race, not only to enjoy the challenges of the race and the 'virtual' camaraderie amongst the fleet, but to enjoy the journey, finding time to read listen to great opera and jazz and dine on great food. Dressmaking will be left at home. 'It’s more sail making these days than dressmaking,' she laughs.

'As the race-start draws closer, panic of the last few months is gradually being replaced by the excitement of it all coming together. This race captured my imagination some 12 years ago, but it’s taken this long to be in a position to have a boat and partner to do the race,' Colahan surmises.

While the pair obviously shares busy lives, she says: 'We have been preparing for the race for the last few years, competing two-handed in ocean races to test the boat and its refinements as well as ourselves.

'The easy part will be crossing the start line – the hard part is the preparation to get there! We have been fortunate to have had access to previous competitors who have generously shared their knowledge and experience with us; particularly Robin Hewitt, George Shaw and Robyn Brooke. Their input has been invaluable in our preparation.'

James has his reasons for wanting to compete. 'The challenge of sailing short-handed in the only international yacht race that is sailed across the Equator from south to north interests me greatly. I love the long distance ocean races and making new landfalls.'

Putting in some practice, James delivered Ingénue home after he and Colahan contested the 2006 Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston Race two-handed in the PHD division. Boding well for their Osaka attempt, they finished the race second in a field of 20, one of only two short-handed crews.

Representing Royal Brighton YC in the race, Colahan admits: 'Neither of us has been to Japan, but we know people who competed previously. Their experiences have fired our imagination. We look forward to arriving and to exploring and enjoying the culture.'

Of their expectations, James says: 'We want to enjoying the sailing, navigation and weather challenges along the way, and arriving safely in Osaka with the boat with the marriage intact!

Held every four years by the City of Melbourne and the City of Osaka to celebrate the sister city and sister port relationship between the two cities, the Osaka Cup race will take place for the sixth time in 2007.

The Melbourne Osaka double-handed yacht race was first held in 1987 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Osaka.

Competitors and their yachts will gather at Waterfront City, Melbourne Docklands, on Friday March 16 for Melbourne Osaka Boat Week, which will be held in association with the Melbourne Club Marine Sail Boat Show from 23-25 March at Waterfront City.