About

Join us for an inspiring event featuring the mother-daughter sailing duo Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders as they prepare for the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Double Handed Yacht Race.

Meet Fika and their boat

Fika, a Najad 1490 built in Sweden in 2001, is the vessel of choice for this remarkable duo. Named after the Swedish concept of savoring life's moments, Fika combines comfort and capability, making it ideal for long offshore races like the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup.

Annette Hesselmans, owner and co-skipper of Fika, brings a wealth of experience to this adventure. She completed the 2018 Melbourne Osaka Cup, finishing seventh overall, and has been ORCV's KISS resident navigation expert for the past two years. Annette's company, Paper Sailors Rock, offers sail training, charters, and sailing adventures, embodying her mission to promote inclusion in sailing.

Sophie Snijders, Annette's daughter and co-skipper, has already made waves in the sailing world. She's sailed double-handed around Australia and is currently based in Tasmania, where she's completing her university degree and building a YouTube channel, 'Slim and Soph – Sailing Nakama.'

Together, Annette and Sophie will form the first mother-daughter crew to compete in the Melbourne Osaka Cup, following in each other's wakes and inspiring women in sailing.

An Evening of Inspiration

• Our special guest interviewer, ORCV member Kate Hyde, who sails double-handed on Liberator, will guide us through:
• Annette's journey from nursing to founding Paper Sailors Rock
• Sophie's growing passion for offshore racing
• Their experiences in previous races, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Melbourne to Osaka
• The story of Fika and its recent upgrades for upcoming challenges
• Their preparation for the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Double Handed Yacht Race

Location

Get directions

Royal Brighton Yacht Club, upstairs in the Bayview Room
253 Esplanade, Middle Brighton VIC 3186

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