Melbourne Osaka Cup: Settling in – The Secretary
by Melbourne Osaka Cup media 23 Mar 21:34 PDT
24 March 2025
Another day on The Secretary on the M2O race - Melbourne Osaka Cup © Paul Schulz
So here we are, one week into the 2025 M2O on the good ship The Secretary. It's been great for Dave and me to reflect on the past week—not just this edition of the race, but also the last one in 2018 when we were on such a different boat but the same incredible journey.
To say the lead-up to this year's race was ideal would be a massive understatement. There were plenty of challenges for both of us—not just in our busy lives (yes, we all have them!) but also in the logistics of preparing the boat. With The Secretary based in Melbourne, Dave working in Dampier, Perth, and me in Sydney, our prep time and on-water training have been minimal.
We've only had about 12 days of sailing her—seven of which have been during this last week and the 2024 ORCV Melbourne Hobart race. What could possibly go wrong?!
Fortunately, we do have a few things going for us. Firstly, Dave and I have sailed well over 10,000 nautical miles together, so our day-to-day routine onboard slots into place naturally. For us, it's all about learning how to sail this beautiful yacht as fast and efficiently as possible.
Secondly, the old saying "Getting to the start line is the hardest part" holds true. We've been incredibly lucky to receive amazing help along the way—without it, I honestly don't think we would have made it. It's a strong reminder of the wonderful community that exists within the sailing world.
Speaking of community, one of the great joys of this journey—and I use the word journey intentionally because, while it is a race, it's also so much more—is meeting fellow competitors and hearing their stories of what it took to get here. The race itself lasts about a month, but the preparation takes years, and the friendships made along the way last a lifetime.
One major difference in this edition of the race is the advancement in communication. Many boats are now using Starlink, which is an absolute game changer compared to last time. Being able to communicate with other boats for updates (and a bit of good old-fashioned ribbing) while also being able to "phone home" to loved ones is just incredible.
Part of the beauty of doing this race is the ability to disconnect from the world for a while—but when you're having a tough day, being able to reach out to family is absolute gold. Last time, we had a few text messages and a brief sat phone call—that was it.
The first week and finding our stride.
We had a slow start—okay, we actually missed the gun by 15 minutes—but hey, it was a long slog from Sandringham to the start, and we may have misjudged it a bit. But this is a marathon, not a sprint, or so we keep telling ourselves!
Getting out of Melbourne's heads was as joyful as always—sunshine, a gentle breeze, and slack tide... yeah, right. Back to reality! Once we cleared the heads, it was all about getting to know the boat.
Our plan was never to go out hard, but to ease into the race, given our limited time on board. So far, The Secretary has been an absolute gem to sail. It's been a steep learning curve—figuring out which sails work best when getting used to the creaks and groans of a new boat—but we're pretty happy with everything so far.
Both of us came into this race extremely tired, which is far from ideal, and we made some early mistakes. But now, we're settling into our rhythm, finding our stride, and starting to see our position improve. Hopefully, that trend continues!
The first few days brought some bumpy, unsettled conditions, but recently, we've had pure joy—moderate breezes in the right direction and not much water over the deck. This has allowed our master chef, Dave, to truly shine.
Last time, we ate well—but having a bigger boat has its perks. This time, we have an oven! We also have hot water, a shower, and a water maker that produces more than enough to meet our needs. So bring on those hot showers, baby!
As I write this, we're heading north towards the Queensland border, which means a time change is coming up. Hopefully, we'll soon be sailing in some beautiful trade winds.
I'll share more updates on life aboard soon, but for now, the sun is shining, the wind is kind, and we're taking the time to embrace this moment. No doubt, challenges lie ahead—but today is today, and we're going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Follow Paul and Dave on The Secretary via the race tracker.
See who started when on the staggered starts: melbourneosakacup.com/en/2025-race-start-times.
Learn about the Competitors and boats melbourneosakacup.com/en/2025-competitors.
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