The mother and daughter team who took on the longest longitudinal yacht race in the world

Fika rolls within the swell as Sophie clings to the mast. Twenty-four hours since we left Melbourne, we’re crusing by means of Bass Strait, infamous for its gale pressure winds and nasty seas.

I hoist Sophie skyward in the direction of the masthead and, with every roll, look as much as examine her progress. Her motion turns into more and more precarious, like a human pendulum. I watch my daughter wrap her lengthy limbs round each accessible maintain to forestall her being flung into the mast. I dread to marvel what Sophie will discover on the prime. It’s solely day two and I admit to feeling somewhat defeated: we’ve over 5,000 miles to go.

It has been a tricky 24 hours. My interior critic is berating my resolution to take us offshore to keep away from a predicted wind gap between us and Australia’s Victorian coast. These gentle circumstances are uncharacteristic of Bass Strait. The race tracker solely reinforces my foolishness. The remainder of the fleet is crusing swiftly north-east. In the meantime we’re ghosting alongside heading south-east in the direction of Tasmania, subsequent cease: Antarctica!

Fika is operating below symmetric spinnaker. The wind continues to veer northwards and I’m undecided what the proper tactic is. Regardless, it’s time to sock the spinnaker and decrease it. My coronary heart sinks once I realise the halyard is jammed and the spinnaker won’t come down. However there’s no time for self-pity. That is the sail of a lifetime. A priceless journey with my unbelievable daughter. We’re crusing within the Melbourne Osaka Cup; double-handed, continuous from Australia to Japan.

Melbourne Osaka Cup

This race has been on my thoughts since I watched the beginning of the primary Melbourne Osaka Cup in 1987 aboard my father’s timber motorboat. I used to be a sailing-obsessed teenager believing I sooner or later would sail around the globe similar to my idols, Naomi James and Claire Francis.

At 5,500 miles the Melbourne Osaka Cup is the longest longitudinal yacht race on the planet and the equal of eight Sydney to Hobart yacht races. Opponents sail from 38°S to 34°N, traversing many climate techniques, and travelling backward by means of the seasons from autumn in Melbourne to summer time on the equator and spring in Japan, by way of the Tasman, Coral, and Solomon Seas, and North Pacific. It’s held roughly each 5 years.

In 2025, crew ages ranged from 27 to 76 years, with six feminine sailors. The 16 yachts included each conceivable model, from an S&S 34, Class 40s, J-Boats, one-off designs, – such because the Reichel-Pugh Alive with a professional crew – and cruising yachts together with our Najad 490, Fika.

Having competed within the 2018 Melbourne Osaka Cup, I discovered the race actually life altering. It’s a humbling expertise feeling the enormity of the huge ocean. Dealing with the extremely difficult gentle winds and lack of progress at occasions teaches endurance, perseverance and humility. Efficiently finishing the 2018 race gave me the arrogance to start out my very own crusing journey enterprise, which is now an RYA Coaching Centre.

Mom and daughter Annette and Sophie labored properly collectively. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

Co-skippers

After the 2018 race, my then-20-year-old daughter, Sophie, provided to be my first mate for the return voyage again to Australia. We set sail for what Sophie described initially, and naively, as a sundown cruise. It quickly turned rudely obvious that the supply can be something however with fixed transport, squalls, warmth and discomfort aboard the spartan racing yacht I sailed on the time.

On the two-month passage dwelling Sophie proved invaluable and I cherished each second. Following our return, Sophie moved aboard her personal yacht, Nakama, and started crusing round Australia whereas finishing her diploma and documenting her travels on YouTube (@SlimSophSailingNakama). So I didn’t hesitate to enter the 2025 race – nor to ask Sophie if she’d be my co-skipper.

I’m extremely lucky to have probably the most lovely yacht to sail on our journey. Fika is the spine of my sail coaching enterprise, and we spend a lot of our time plying the oceans whereas sharing data, expertise and hopefully growing the arrogance of all who sail aboard. Designed by Judel Vrolijk, it’s a Najad 490, in-built Sweden in 2001. With no intention to swap Fika for a elaborate racing yacht, Sophie and I set about making ready her for the marathon sail from Melbourne to Osaka.

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Together with her high quality traces and excellent design, the Najad 490 is a seakindly yacht. As dogged as her proprietor, when circumstances deteriorate she simply knuckles down and will get on with the job. Regardless of her weight (19 tonnes), Fika performs properly and may simply make 200 miles a day on passage. With a flexible cutter rig she’s properly arrange for offshore crusing, although we’ve tried to simplify by changing the furling increase with a traditional increase and single line reefing resulting in the centre cockpit.

Our coaching schedule included a 750-mile sail out to Lord Howe Island, and our qualifying race: the Rolex Sydney-Hobart (wherein we received the double-handed PHS Division). With every coaching sail, we tweaked Fika’s deck set-up and examined our unique spinnakers and second-hand Code 0. Every coaching sail additionally strengthened how suitable Sophie and I are as a group. Within the seven years since that supply, I felt my daughter had develop into my crusing peer.

The 2 months main as much as the race had been spent in Melbourne. Each my aged dad and mom had been hospitalised six weeks earlier than the beginning. My time turned centered on mum and pop quite than the race. At occasions I felt extremely egocentric to be even desirous about beginning, and critically puzzled if we might make it. My husband, Gerry, and Sophie’s associate, Simon, labored tirelessly to assist us and assist put together Fika. Regardless of the unhappiness of leaving my dad and mom, it was an enormous aid to lastly cross the beginning line.

Fika raced with a restricted sail wardrobe, however nonetheless so much for 2 to deal with, particularly when the spinnaker halyard jammed, requiring a mast climb. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

Bass Strait

Shortly after the beginning, we discover ourselves on this predicament in Bass Strait. Apart from the caught spinnaker halyard, our hydraulic increase vang is defective, greedily gulping all of the hydraulic fluid required to work not solely the vang however the backstay and babystay.

One step at a time, we deal with every of the problems. On the masthead, Sophie discovers the halyard delicate shackle is caught round one other becoming however is ready to free it. We jury rig a Dyneema rope increase vang, then bleed and refill the hydraulic system with oil after isolating the vang from the extra essential backstay. After 4 days we head offshore to search out the north-bound East Australian Present. I really feel immensely happy with the 2 of us as we downside clear up.

Eventually we begin making progress. I flip the race tracker again on and watch as we slowly rejoin the principle fleet. We seize the tradewinds and make our method northwards alongside the Australian coast some 100 miles offshore. We push Fika as arduous as potential, flying the spinnaker and Code 0 properly into the evening, sacrificing valuable sleep for velocity. Fika is in her factor powering alongside on a broad attain. The hole to the fleet reduces to five miles from our nearest competitor Magellan, a one-off Knoop 39. It’s a recreation of snakes and ladders, and we’re climbing a ladder.

Glassy seas and no wind had been a daily function. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

As we shed layers of clothes with the warming climate, we settle into a stunning routine sharing our meals, taking it in turns to compensate for sleep in the course of the day, then sitting on the facet deck within the shade for a ‘blissful hour’ of soda water and nibbles. I relish our time collectively.

A low strain trough disrupts our progress and prematurely stifles the south-east trades. The wind backs to the north-east after which north. The cube has rolled and we’ve landed on a snake. Our progress slows in lightening winds and the fleet sneaks forward. We fly the Code 0 and chafe by means of the outer sheath of the halyard. With a bulging halyard we’re unable to decrease the sail. At midnight, Sophie and I mouse a spare whereas slicing the deformed one away. With success, we decrease the Code 0 within the strengthening wind.

Solomon Sea

The temperature continues to rise as we inch nearer in the direction of the equator. Saltwater baths deliver temporary, welcome aid. We tack our method north, averaging simply three miles an hour in the direction of the doorway to the Solomon Sea. At 13°S the ocean resembles a mirror, the doldrums nonetheless just a few hundred miles away.

Our progress is excruciatingly sluggish by means of the Solomon Sea as we expertise gentle to no wind, headwinds, thunderstorm cells and fixed squalls. If we’re doing larger than one knot, we’re usually hooning alongside.

Sophie and I work arduous to maintain Fika shifting with our restricted sail wardrobe. We use the radar to observe squalls, timing every reef to inside a nautical mile of being hit. We’re relieved each time a storm cell and rain squall passes to the north or south of us.

Annette at Fika’s wheel. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

Sadly there are occasions when there’s no escape. Squalls torment us, every bringing a minute of wind earlier than it adjustments its thoughts in course and power. Then they get bored, toss us out like a play toy and transfer on. We’re inevitably left wallowing, often pointing within the fallacious course. The bigger storm cells deliver torrential rain, 30-plus knots of wind and scary electrical storms. One evening, Sophie and I cower within the cockpit with bolts of lightning and deafening thunder overhead. It lasts for an hour.

Mirror calm

There are, nonetheless, moments of sheer magnificence. Durations of no wind typically deliver a glassy sea. We drop the sails and marvel on the stars and planets reflecting on the mirror-like ocean. I cease wanting on the race tracker, as I find yourself berating myself for every mile misplaced to the opponents.

I really feel powerless when our progress is poor, and provides myself pep talks to sail our personal race. I really feel myself studying the present of endurance and perseverance. Sophie is far more at peace with our scenario, she calmly listens to my moaning and places all of it in perspective. I attempt to mimic the tranquillity surrounding us.

It’s arduous to know the place the doldrums begin and end, however we proceed to expertise calms and squalls till roughly 2°S. The Code 0 is a godsend and retains Fika shifting within the slightest breeze, till it tears from luff to leech. Our wings are clipped and we drift westwards with the equatorial present, making an attempt to combat it each time there’s wind.

Thunderstorm cells and squalls had been a continuing menace within the Solomon Sea. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

We’re hit by squalls, spat out, and spun round. I cease combating the tide and attempt to be at peace with the doldrums. The nights are magnificent and when there isn’t a swell, we drop the sails and drift whereas the ocean and sky develop into one.

The pressure on Fika from the fixed slatting is noticeable, and at occasions distressing, with halyard chafe, mainsail automobiles coming aside and the principle traveller loosening and leaking. We reef or drop the mainsail to forestall injury, use the preventer to carry the increase when the principle is up. It’s a by no means ending battle.

Flocks of small cumulus puffs herald the arrival of the north-east trades. Our spirits rise with our newfound motion and we enjoy making progress as soon as once more. Fika glides alongside on an in depth attain below full sail and staysail. We’re as soon as once more gaining on Magellan.

Pacific desires

With our newfound freedom from fixed sail adjustments, we watch the world go by from the cockpit, awestruck on the magnificence surrounding us. The ocean is a powerful blue. It’s alive and dancing, seducing us with its vibrancy. Flying fish, false killer whales, booby birds and big tuna grace Fika’s presence. I’m spellbound by the clouds and realise I can predict the day forward by their behaviour and dimension. Time is marked by the phases of the moon, its gentle and reflection on the darkish ocean bringing consolation to our evening watches.

Fika’s big overlapping headsail was a handful in tacks. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

We cross the equator and mark the milestone with an providing of rum to King Neptune. I make us Turks Head bracelets to mark the event, and we have a good time with pancakes. That is Sophie’s second crossing and my third.

All of the whereas there’s unending navigation and ways to decode. Sophie and I spend every morning importing GRIB information and figuring out the perfect technique for passing by means of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marianna Islands. Having decided, I then doubt myself once I see the opposite yachts taking completely different routes by means of the islands. We go for the rhumb line, and I remind myself, once more, to sail our personal race. Sophie is steadfastly unfazed.

Osaka Wan

With 1,000 miles to go we really feel like we’re virtually there, however know that our best problem is but to return. We go away the tradewinds and sail into the variables. As we inch nearer to Japan transport will increase and we plan our closing leg weaving our method by means of the Kuroshio Present to use its northbound stream.

The climate is moody and we put together for low strain techniques sweeping throughout the course. Following a gale warning we make our closing method in the direction of the doorway to Kii Suido, the doorway to Osaka Bay. With no moon, and constructing wind and seas, we sail blindly by means of the evening. The phosphorescence outlines the breaking waves behind us. Fika is goosewinged with reefed sails, browsing down waves at 14-15 knots. It’s a black evening with a cacophony of ships flashing on our AIS and radar. We’re again to chasing Magellan arduous, now 12 miles forward.

Crusing by means of the seasons from autumn to summer time requires a full complement of foul climate gear. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

I hope that our luck holds and we don’t entangle the multitude of fishing floats and matted nylon rope ‘islands’ we’ve seen throughout daytime. With Fika’s skeg-hung rudder we’re prone to snagging flotsam.

By daybreak, we’re in fog with ships surrounding us. Horns sound each couple of minutes. We’ve got simply 70 miles to go and Sophie and I are drained. I do know these final miles might take us 24 hours because the winds are fickle within the Osaka Wan. I remind us each that we have to keep secure and affected person – in 2018 5 yachts completed inside hours of one another. All of us misplaced sense and lots of yachts did extra injury within the closing 50 miles than the entire race.

Sophie tackles every ship and its impending collision one after the other. The wind eases and we favour the western facet of Kii Suido which is predicted to have extra wind. We’re gaining on Magellan, painstakingly near the end. Inch by inch we shut in. By nightfall we ghost by means of the Yura Seto, the neck between the Kii Suido and Osaka Wan. There’s a Site visitors Separation Scheme with ships funnelling by means of. With luck, a spot opens between ships and we cross by means of it with out being run down.

Sophie watches telltales. Picture: Sophie Snijders/Crusing Nakama

The ultimate hours of our race are extremely tense as we move Magellan, just for them to overhaul us once more. We fall again right into a tacking duel up Osaka Wan. By necessity quite than technique we tack facet by facet, avoiding unlit seaweed farms, anchored barges, ships, tugs and lumps of reclaimed land.

The wind will increase from the north. In 20 knots, we’re tacking Fika like a dinghy, Sophie on the helm. With Fika’s big overlapping headsail, in every tack the headsail threatens to entangle with the staysail earlier than breaking free. I heave on the sheet with all my would possibly. Fika is pointing excessive, barely overpowered and we feather her up with the gusts.

Fika crosses the end line. Picture: Kazuyoshi Yamano

There’s gentle air pollution and obstacles all over the place as Magellan and Fika blindly wrestle their method in the direction of the end. We’re so amazed that after 5,500 miles we could be inside metres of our opponents, a father and daughter group – this race actually is a household affair. We cross the road in chaos, not sure the place the digital mark is. The VHF booms to life because the Japanese volunteers inform us we’ve completed. Magellan had snuck throughout 9 minutes forward having favoured the windward finish. Regardless, we’re blown away with pleasure.

Sophie and I are in disbelief at what we’ve achieved. We spent 38 days at sea collectively and sailed over 5,500 miles racing our beloved cruising yacht. We sailed by means of equatorial warmth, emotional highs and lows; magnificence and pleasure. I’m immensely happy with my daughter, her functionality, empathy, resilience and power, and honoured to be a part of this nice race.

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