The first mother-daughter team make history as equals in the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup
by Melbourne Osaka Media 13 May 14:48 AEST
13 May 2025
Annette (left) and Sophie (right) of Fika having finished the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup © Kazuyoshi Yamano
Spending 35 days at sea with your daughter might not appeal to everyone, but for Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders - the first mother-daughter team in the race and both accomplished sailors - the experience aboard Fika, their Najad 490, was one so natural and easy as they sailed from Melbourne to Osaka.
"For years I imagined doing this race with my daughter Sophie," said Hesselmans, skipper of Fika, a 15-metre cutter-rigged yacht. "In 2018, Sophie joined me as first mate on the return leg from Japan, where I was responsible for my younger crew, but in 2025, we were sailing as equals."
In the seven years since the last race in 2018, "Sophie has become an accomplished sailor, sailing her own yacht around Australia. I am so proud of Sophie and her incredible skill, resourcefulness and ability on the water. We worked together with every aspect of the race, from race tactics and repairs, to sharing meal preparation and sail plan, and I so valued Sophie's knowledge and skill," explained Hesselmans.
Reflecting on the experience, Hesselmans said, "The 2018 race changed my life. It gave me the confidence to start my own sailing business. Doing it again, with Sophie this time, feels surreal, and I'm still absorbing it."
"There are so few things in our lives that push us this far out of our comfort zones. This race does, and in doing so, it builds confidence and resilience," she said.
"Fika is one of the bigger, heavier and quite a powerful yacht. Fika is 15m long and weighs 19 tonnes. She is cutter rigged and has quite a 'busy', complicated, yet versatile rig, with a staysail and running back stays. Her headsail is a 130% overlapping sail. She is not set up for racing, and not many lines come back to the cockpit, which we did our best to setup her up more efficiently prior to the race," explained Hesselmans.
When asked whether they were mentally and physically strong enough, the confirmation was a resounding yes, with Hesselmans going on to explain.
"Strength is only a small part of sailing. Women make up for it in agility, technique, and mindset," she continued "As a female sailor, I find that I need to position myself so that I can use my whole body (not just my gangly arms) to winch. I literally 'throw' my body at hoisting the main or the spinnaker. It is all in the technique!"
"Given that the Melbourne to Osaka yacht race is an endurance event, the sails do not need to be hoisted in record time, with our overall fitness improving throughout the race."
Mentally, this race can be very challenging, particularly when you make the wrong tactical decisions and watch the yachts ahead sail away. Hesselmans explained, "I'd give myself a positive pep talk that it was only for a short time, and we'd have wind again" as she learnt not to look at the tracker but do the best they possibly could and sail their own race.
Hesselmans was proud of Sophie's capability and composure under pressure. "This was so evident when things broke and went wrong. Sophie was quick to step into action, troubleshoot and make repairs. We had the spinnaker halyard jammed at the masthead, with us unable to lower the spinnaker; the halyards chafed (the outer core), preventing us from being able to lower the Code Zero. Sophie quickly moused a new halyard to the contorted old halyard, and we were not only able to lower the sail but did not lose our halyard."
But it was Sophie's empathy and positivity that made the biggest difference. "If I was feeling concerned or flat, Sophie would listen attentively, hear my concerns and offer even more support. She did not dismiss even my most minuscule thoughts/worries. I very much valued her warmth and kindness."
"Sophie's excitement for life was infectious. Her love of the ocean, sea water, birds, whales, and fish brought excitement and festivity," Hesselmans said, adding, "I too was immersed in the excitement and saltwater bucket baths, bow dunkings and revelling in the excitement of our visiting birds, flying fish and false killer whales."
Hesselmans took a hands-on approach to safety and preparation throughout. "Every day, I would do deck, rig and engine checks to try to prevent anything from going wrong. Unfortunately, we still had a few unforeseen issues, but we were able to troubleshoot and manage these. I always felt immensely relieved with each problem solved. I also felt immensely proud of our ability to troubleshoot and fix."
This mother and daughter's love for the ocean was ever-present. Hesselmans recalled her journal entry: "The blue of the ocean is spectacular. It is alive and sparkling, inviting us to play in its vastness. It dances with passion, warmth and enthusiasm. It is positive, welcoming, and refreshing. It is hard not to be bedazzled and in awe every time I look its way."
Sophie's passion as a filmmaker and storyteller added a special energy to the race. Hesselmans remembered, "She never stopped, filming, writing scripts, lists and planning. Her enthusiasm for the ocean and all its life was infectious, bringing joy and lightness to the toughest days."
Looking at the broader impact of the race, Hesselmans remarked, "It's a race that includes all cultures, genders, ages (this time from 27 through to 76 years old) and vessels (both cruising and racing). As an endurance event, it relies on a wealth of all-round knowledge and skills from crew welfare, safety, maintenance and problem solving. It's a great leveller and humbles the most out there sailor."
Small moments of connection helped keep spirits high, like a friendly VHF chat with fellow competitors on
Magellan and the realisation that it's a very long way in a very small boat. "This race challenges each sailor's resilience and persistence. There are not many things left in Western life that push us out of our comfort zone and provide such a huge sense of achievement for at least trying," said Hesselmans. "And completing this with my daughter Sophie has been such a joy."
As they sailed across oceans together, it became clear that Sophie wasn't just following in her mother's wake; she was forging her own path, with Annette as her mother's steady influence as a foundation. "Sophie reminds me of a younger me," Hesselmans said, "but she's stronger, wiser, and already a remarkable sailor in her own right." What began as a mother's dream became a shared triumph, a crossing not just of seas, but of generations, values, with respect for the ocean that brought them closer than ever.
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