Race Organizer

Osaka has been always playing an important role as Japan's gateway to foreign countries since ancient times. The 21st century close at hand, the City of Osaka is energetically promoting various projects aiming at becoming a truly international city.
The Double-Handed Yacht Race between Osaka and Melbourne, our sister city and sister port, is one such project. Thanks to the great support from the parties concerned, the previous three races saw many participants from around the world, and proved highly successful.
It is with great pleasure that the City of Osaka announces the holding of the OSAKA CUP Melbourne/Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race 1999 in continuation to the three races held so far.
The year of 1999 marks the 25th anniversary of the Osaka-Melbourne sister port relationship. I am convinced that this race will promote friendly exchanges between the citizens and race participants as well as contribute to further strengthening the friendly relations between Osaka and Melbourne.
I hope that many yacht enthusiasts from all over the world will join the race to experience three different seasons over the 5,500 nautical miles longitudinal crossing of the Pacific Ocean in a race that promises to be as exciting as the previous ones, if not more so.

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Organizing Structure

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Planner:City of Osaka

Organizer:
Melbourne/Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race 1999 Promotion Council
Honorary Chairman: Takafumi Isomura, Mayor of Osaka
Chairman: Hideo Onishi, President, Osaka Port Promotion Association
Members: Kuniji Toda, Commodore, Nippon Ocean Racing Club
Hiromsa Akita, President, Japan Yachting Association
Keisuke Morita, President, Osaka Port Development and
Engineering Corporation
Akira Sakata, Director General, Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Osaka

Race Management:
Japan Sailing Federation, Naikai Branch
OSAKA CUP Melbourne/Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race
Executive Committee
Chairman: Akira Yamamura
Members: Prof. Satoru Matsuki
               Ken Hayashi
               Masahiko Otani
               Hideo Igarashi

Race Committee
Chairman: Akira Yamamura
Vice Chairman: Tadahiko Ikami
                     Les Black
Members:    Noboru Kobayashi
                 Hiroshi Hamanaga
                 Koji Ito
                 Ken Hayashi
                 Tateo Sumiyoshi

Melbourne Race Committee
Chairman: Les Black
Members: Jeff Henderson
             Graeme Watt
             Bruce Edmunds

International Jury
Chairman: Masayuki Ishii
Members: Hal Wagstaff
            Fredrick David Linacre
             Noel Allen
             Koichi Kashima
             Kazuko Akimoto


OSAKA CUP 1999 Secretariat
Secretary General: Masayoshi Kohara
Cooperation:
Kansai Yacht Association
Osaka Hokko Yacht Club
Sandringham Yacht Club
Melbourne Port Corporation
City of Melbourne

Welcome Committee:
SAIL 'O'
STS "Akogare" Winds Club
Osaka SGG Club
Osaka City Yacht Club