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50th ORCV Westcoaster Melbourne to Hobart RMYS Results

The ORCV “Westcoaster” is a legendary yacht race where tactics and sailing well can crown you as the race champion, no matter the size of boat.

Across the 435nm passage, yachts contend first with Bass Strait before taking on the wilderness and ruggedness of the West Coast of Tasmania and the long ocean swell of the Southern Ocean before turning towards the finish line and the shifting winds of the Derwent.

Congratulations to How Bizarre for winning Division 2 PHS. How Bizarre is skippered by Scott Robinson and was crewed by Glenn Bailey, Leigh Brennan-Smith, Mark Geyle, Peter Amarant and Stephen Reddish. What a great achievement!

Our very own Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert, co-skippers of Ryujin, were awarded the Double-Handed Perpetual Trophy for their win in that category. Congratulations to you both!

Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert joyous after finishing the 50th Melbourne to Hobart, Photo by Jane Austin ORCV Media

Our own member, Janet Wilks, was also interviewed by Jane Austin about her perspective of her first ever Melbourne to Hobart.

Janet Wilks, a nurse-turned-yacht rigger originally from Alabama in the United States who sailed on Tony Walton’s Reichel/Pugh 46 Hartbreaker, wore a smile from ear to ear as she recounted her experiences after a restful night. “It was a fantastic race – we had a great start and sail across Bass Strait and were in the top six boats, but then it got absolutely hectic – we had storms all the way down the West Coast, we had 50 to 60 knots gusts, we blew a couple of sails, but we managed to bring them down and repair them and get our storm jibs up and keep sailing. “Our team was fantastic – me and Leah Hunter got the sails down and started repairing as quickly as we could – we got the main back up and just kept going – I think that’s what really did it for us.” Wilks has only been sailing for three years after a major career shift from nurse to yacht rigger and reflected upon her experience sailing on Hartbreaker. “Leah is a good friend of mind – she saw some potential in me and got me onboard, and when it came to joining the crew, well, you have to ‘ask to get’ so I asked, and I when I got invited to join the Melbourne to Hobart race, I was chuffed. It’s my first Westcoaster and my first big race – it was absolutely amazing,” said Wilks. A highlight for Wilks was the camaraderie and commitment when all hands were called on deck in the middle of the night and the sail repair. “It just got really hectic – we all came up on deck and got on with every job – we tied everything down, got everything up, got everything down and we worked really well as a good team.” And will Wilks be back for the 2023 race? “Oh yes, that was amazing, I would do it again in a heartbeat,” said Wilks.

Yacht rigger Janet Wilks, a very happy crew member from Hartbreaker after finishing the 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2022, Photo by Jane Austin ORCV Media

RMYS had six boats competing in this challenging race. Here’s how they went.

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Stories from the 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2022

Champagne sailing, storms, repairs and smiles – stories from the 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2022

As the Hobart docks fill with the 50th Melbourne to Hobart fleet and families hug and reunite, stories are beginning to emerge of the importance of crew work, communication and resilience, atop the pure exhilaration of ocean racing.

The 50th anniversary race, hosted by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV), has proved to be more than a tick off a bucket list for the many race debutantes, a vibe more than evident after a short stroll around the waterfront in Hobart.

Skippers and crews alike have been drawn to the event for various reasons – to sail with family, to celebrate the 25th and 50th races, in memory of sailors close to the event, and as simply the next sailing challenge for many teams who are regular club sailors.

What is certain is that the smiles of achievement and relief are everywhere, and there’s a warm blanket of pride enveloping the close-knit fleet as they reflect on the testing times and the highlights of the race.

To William (Bill) Newman, skipper of Goggo, entering the race was a no-brainer.

“It’s a wonderful event, I managed to do the 50th Sydney to Hobart so I knew I had to get the boat down here for the 50th Melbourne to Hobart.”

Newman described how the champagne sailing from the start of the race was a distant memory when the intense front of 40 to 50 knot winds hit the fleet.

“It was a scramble – we knew the front was coming but it’s still a shock when it hits you. The boat handled well and luckily, we had re-rigged prior to the start so we were ready. We didn’t break anything until the second day when the brace broke and the spinnaker pole, but we still didn’t tear anything,” said Newman.

Reflecting upon the race, Newman recalled his highlights.

“My highlights were three-fold – sailing with the crew, who I’ve known since they were kids, finishing the race, and receiving the warm reception on the dock when we arrived – it’s just magic,” said Newman.

Steve Twentyman, skipper of the Hanse 505, Shimmer, described the event as totally awesome and one he wouldn’t have missed.

“One of the main reasons for me doing the race was that we had done the 25th race with my old man so we are very excited to be here to celebrate the 50th,” said Twentyman.

Twentyman was happy with how the race unfolded and was one of a small number of yachts looking forward to the heavier weather.

“Our boat is big and fat and heavy, and we go along probably better than some of the other boats in the heavy weather, so we were looking forward to that day which worked out well for us.

“We had a terrific sail through the day yesterday and into the night. We came across from Maatsuyker Island in the morning and got here into Hobart at 1am the next morning, but through the whole day and that night, it was just terrific sailing,” said Twentyman.

Twentyman was impressed with the quality and size of the fleet for the anniversary race and hopes this continues into 2023.

“It’s a terrific race, I think that the number of boats this year has just made it so exciting, and with the interstate boats coming in, even if they do come and take the trophy, its alright with us – it’s just great to have so many good boats and people doing the race – new boats, old boats, mums and dads, it’s just awesome.”

Janet Wilks, a nurse-turned-yacht rigger originally from Alabama in the United States who sailed on Tony Walton’s Reichel/Pugh 46 Hartbreaker, wore a smile from ear to ear as she recounted her experiences after a restful night.

It was a fantastic race – we had a great start and sail across Bass Strait and were in the top six boats, but then it got absolutely hectic – we had storms all the way down the West Coast, we had 50 to 60 knots gusts, we blew a couple of sails, but we managed to bring them down and repair them and get our storm jibs up and keep sailing.

“Our team was fantastic – me and Leah Hunter got the sails down and started repairing as quickly as we could – we got the main back up and just kept going – I think that’s what really did it for us.”

Wilks has only been sailing for three years after a major career shift from nurse to yacht rigger and reflected upon her experience sailing on Hartbreaker.

“Leah is a good friend of mind – she saw some potential in me and got me onboard, and when it came to joining the crew, well, you have to ‘ask to get’ so I asked, and I when I got invited to join the Melbourne to Hobart race, I was chuffed. It’s my first Westcoaster and my first big race – it was absolutely amazing,” said Wilks.

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Melbourne to Hobart Fleet Ready to Set a Cracking Pace to Hobart 

• Post author By Boating Manager
• Post date 20/12/2022

Media Release 19 December 2022

Melbourne to Hobart Fleet Ready to Set a Cracking Pace to Hobart Skippers and crews from the near 50 boat fleet are counting down the days to the start of the 50th anniversary of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and as final preparations are made, several boats are in contention for line honours. One of the top performing boats to watch is Damien King’s Frers 61, Margaret Rintoul V (MRV). King, from the Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC), is certainly in form, taking line honours in the short coastal Apollo Bay Race earlier in the year, sailing the classic beauty to victory in a close race. King, a multiple world and national champion sailor, boasts one of the classiest and most experienced sailing crews in the fleet who are not only hot shot sailors but also lifetime friends of the popular skipper. Mark Byrne is the navigator on MRV and is an accomplished yachtsman in his own right. King will be sharing the helming duties with close friend Grant Allen, and will be looking to America’s Cup campaigner, Ben Morrison-Jack, to give MRV the drive and tactical advantage on the trip to Hobart. “I’ve never competed in this race before, but if it’s anything like the Sydney to Hobart, the race can be won or lost in the River Derwent. Luckily for us we have international sailor Tim Burnell on board. Tim is a local and has sailed on the Derwent for the past 35 years,” said King. Burnell will be hoping for a touch of family luck as he tries to repeat the previous success of his father, Rob Burnell, who won the race on two occasions. Sailing with close friends is important to King. “Apart from Nick [Sayer], we have all grown up sailing together from 14 years of age, and while we are lifelong competitors, we are all the best of mates, so we have plenty of laughs among the serious competition”, said King. Launched in 1996, MRV is widely regarded as one of the finest and most luxurious cruising yachts ever built in Australia. The yacht was built for then Sydney-based sailor, Stan Edward, under the experienced eye of the late international yachtsman Tasmania’s Graeme (“Frizzle”) Freeman, who was appointed to oversee the build and fit out, a task he performed for many successful campaigns. Previous winner and champion offshore sailor Paul Buchholz will push his Cookson 50, Extasea, hard and fast to Hobart with an eye on the 2022 line honours prize while fending off Gerry Cantwell’s Marten 49, Carrera S, and Antony Walton’s Reichel/Pugh 46, Hartbreaker which could also be in contention for first home if the conditions suit them. The prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual trophy will go to the handicap winner on AMS and the field for this is wide open. Rob Date’s Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, also from the SYC is in hot contention for the handicap win and, if the conditions are right, could also push the larger boats for line honours. Launched in 2022, she is designed to the Fast 40+ class rule and has achieved outstanding results on the competitive European circuit. Challenging Scarlet Runner will be Victorian entry, Ginan. While an unknown quantity in the Westcoaster, skippers Nigel Jones and Cam McKenzie bought the J111 specifically to campaign her for the 50th race. The skippers have engaged the expertise of a J111 expert who will be onboard for the race and driving the crew for peak performance. Jones is no stranger to success, skippering Paladin to an overall win in the 1990 race and Cadibarra 7 in 1999. Not to be underestimated is Andrew Jones’s Inglis 47, AdvantEDGE from the Port Dalrymple Yacht Club and Brent McKay’s Bakewell/White Z39, Jazz Player, which took line honours in 2009 under the guidance of skipper Andrew Lawrence. McKay has his sights set on a hard and fast sail to Hobart. “To win the race, we need to be smart about how we sail – making the right choice around King Island and making the most of the conditions when we sail up the Derwent. We will be working the boat hard, but one thing we know, when she’s off the wind, she’ll get up and boogie,” said McKay. (In the 2021 race, 80 percent of the fleet went west of King Island including eventual winner, Faster Forward, a rare feat in the race’s history books). The 435 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, organised by the ORCV with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron, starts off Portsea Pier at 12pm on 27 December.

For more about the race and list of entries, please visit: www.melbournehobart.com

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16 December 2022

Sailonline is delighted to announce that this year we will also be partnering with Ocean Racing Club of Victoria , for the running of the Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster” Race 2022 , a 435nm blue water ocean classic, which starts in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday, December 27, at 12:00AEDT (01:00UTC). The “Westcoaster” is a thinker's race offering an alternative blue water classic and tactical challenges for those looking to join in the Hobart celebrations in the lead up to New Year's Eve. The race celebrates its 50th anniversary with more than 50 IRL entries vying for the race's Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy. The race starts inside Port Phillip (a relatively shallow 35x35nm bay), progresses out through The Heads (a dangerous bar) and then it's across Bass Strait quite the notorious stretch of shallow tidal waters, and down the west coast of Tasmania known for its rugged coastline and pristine wilderness AND almost nowhere to hide from the winds and seas of the Southern Ocean. Online, you will be sailing a Class 40 which should love the prevailing reaching conditions along the west coast and the penultimate sleighride round the southern coast of Tasi (pronounced Tazie). But beware, the race is often won or more often lost in the last leg up the Derwent River to Hobart! The Sailonline virtual race will open for practice on 23 December at 01:00UTC, allowing everyone some time to learn the ropes to be competitive.

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Ryujin first double handed sailed boat to arrive Photo Michael Currie

Half of the fleet still at sea in 50th Melbourne to Hobart Race

7:30am 30 December 2022

While the crew of line honours winner Maritimo 11 is celebrating their win and have their fingers crossed for a clean sweep of all handicap divisions, half of the fleet is still at sea in the 50th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

In a race that has delivered stunning summer sailing conditions under blue skies on turquoise seas to strong westerly winds and testing conditions down the West Coast of Tasmania, the biggest challenge is proving to be the final few nautical miles of the race up the Derwent Estuary to Hobart.

With the race record a distant memory, Maritimo 11, the Schumacher 54 skippered by Michael Spies, was almost becalmed on the Derwent River yesterday as she desperately raced to a line honours win, and several other boats were struggling, sailing at speeds of under two knots until a south easterly breeze kicked in.

One of the top performers overnight was the doublehanded team of Ryujin.

Co-skippered by Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert, the Sayer 12 was originally built for the 2007 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race which proved a successful race with the boat winning the Open C division.

Following a refresh in 2020, Ryujin races out of Victoria with the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.

Ryujin finished the race in tenth placed across the line, just ten minutes after Carrera S, the Marten 49 skippered by Gerry Cantwell from the Sandringham Yacht Club and is currently leading the double-handed division.

The Hobart docks will be busy over the day as most of the fleet currently sitting south and east of Bruny Island complete the anniversary race, but it might be a longer wait for the tail enders that are still coming down the West Coast.

Fika, a Najad 1490 skippered by Annette Hesselmans, is currently doing just 2.6 knots as she sails across the southern coast of Tasmania.

Tai Tam, the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 skippered by Jeremy Cooper from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club and sailing his first big ocean race with wife Jemma in the four plus autohelm division, is sailing alongside Fika at a speed of 2.1 knots with 88 nautical miles left to sail.

The race within the race between the two Tasmanian Farr 1104s, Invincible, skippered by Bryan Walpole and Rumbeat, skippered by Justin Barr and Stewart Geeves is proving fruitful for Invincible with the boat now racing across the southern coast of Tasmania, with Rumbeat some miles back off Port Davey.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting north to northeasterly winds of about 10 knots tending east to northeasterly to 10 to 15 knots in the middle of the day, which should give the back end of the fleet some reassurance.

Follow the race live on https://race.bluewatertracks.com/50th-melbourne-to-hobart-westcoaster-2022

The 435 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, is organised by the ORCV with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

For further info, please visit: www.orcv.org.au

Jane Austin/ORCV media

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Westcoaster line-up

Interest and variety are the flavour of the 2023 melbourne to hobart yacht race..

22 December 2023

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Following the successful 50th anniversary race, Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race skippers and crews are finalising preparations for this year’s event which will once again see several boats in contention for line honours, and the return of the first multihull in 30 years.

While the 15-boat fleet is somewhat smaller than last year’s 50th anniversary race, the competition will be no less intense with a diverse fleet and both new and experienced skippers testing their sailing prowess in this tactical, exhilarating and challenging race.

The race is organised by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) which has the enviable reputation as the pioneer of short-handed racing in Australia, and this year’s fleet will see some stiff competition across these and the fully crewed divisions.

Early predictions for line honours have focused on Nigel Jones and Cam McKenzie’s J111, Ginan , from the Mornington Yacht Club, who will co-skipper the boat on the journey south to Hobart. Purchased in 2022 for the 50th-anniversary race, this boat has unfinished business after finishing second on AMS last year.

The boat has been campaigned successfully over the last 12 months, winning several ORCV races and took out the ORCV Coastal Championship last season. Ginan boasts a very experienced crew and with favourable conditions, could see the team take line honours and a handicap win.

Ginan’s quest for AMS victory after last year’s near miss. Photo by Michael Currie

But pressing Ginan all the way to Hobart will be Alex Toomey’s Sayer 12, Ryujin , from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Ryujin will also be fully crewed in the 2023 race and will be seeking another podium finish after winning the double-handed division with co-skipper Andrew Hibbert, in the 50th anniversary race.

Toomey and his team are also in sharp sailing form, winning the ORCV Offshore Championship for 2022/23. Toomey will be hoping for moderate to stronger breezes to give Ryujin the opportunity to spread her wings in conditions that she relishes and fly to Hobart for a line honours win.

“The 50th was a flagship event. It’s nice to be part of something that only happens once. This year, with a full crew of experienced sailors, I have got my eye on line honours and think we can do it,” said Toomey. And if things go the way of Ginan , a handicap win is also on the cards.

Ryujin sets sights on Melbourne to Hobart victory. Photo by Steb Fisher

Other monohulls in contention for line honours include ORCV Sail Captain Paul Roberts’ Sydney 41, Cadibarra , from Sandringham Yacht Club. Roberts is an experienced ‘Westcoaster’ skipper with eight races under his belt including two races in the double-handed division.

Cadibarra will certainly be a threat with Roberts hoping to repeat his 2016 success in the previous Cadibarra 8 which won line honours and all handicap divisions.

Joker x2 , a J133 design and the bigger brother of Ginan, is highly fancied to take out line honours in the double-handed division. Co-skippers Grant Chipperfield and Peter Dowdney from the Martha Cove Yacht Squadron purchased the boat this year to prepare and campaign it for the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka and are getting to know her more and more each race.

Dowdney, Australasian Sales Manager for Ronstan, and Chipperfield are great advocates for double-handed sailing, always looking for innovative ways to get the boat moving quicker, and are passionate ambassadors for the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

“We’ve done the Melbourne to Devonport and Sydney Hobart races two up. Grant and I have done enough miles to work our systems out and throw the boat around in any conditions.”

“We enjoy each other’s company and sail well together, and there’s plenty of Ronstan on the boat for whacky ideas during the race.”

“The other reason we’re doing it is the magnificent and dramatic scenery. It feels like there is no more isolated place in the world,” said Dowdney.

The 2023 race will see only the first multihull to contest the event in the last 30 years.

Peccadillo , a Chris White 46 Mk li multihull will be skippered by Charles Meredith, past commodore of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Meredith, sailing his first Westcoaster, is a very experienced multihull sailor who has been racing with the ORCV for about ten years, completing four Melbourne to Devonport and several Apollo Bay races. Meredith is highly regarded in sailing circles for his work in improving the standards and suitability of catamarans for offshore races.

Meredith’s ocean racing pedigree is well-established with the skipper competing in five Australian Three Peaks Races, winning it once and holding race records for several legs. Meredith and his seasoned crew will be on the hunt to break Lindsay Cumming’s race record set on Bagatelle in 1988 in a time of 3d 03h 35m 32sec.

Peccadillo, the 1st multihull in 30 years, aims for Westcoaster record. Photo by Steph McDonald

This year’s race welcomes back father and daughter co-skippers, Tim and Clare Olding sailing Vertigo , their Summit 35, while newcomer Tobias Swanson, will be skippering Dark & Stormy , a Murray- Burns-Dovell 37 on the trip to Hobart.

Vertigo will again be in contention for handicap honours with this race missing from the family’s extensive trophy cabinet, while Andrew Neeson’s Runnalls 39, Jaffa , has been refitted with the crew quietly confident for this year’s race.

Justin Brenan and his Lidgard 36, Alien , will also be one to watch with the skipper having notched 14 Westcoaster races on his belt, winning the Heemskirk Trophy for overall winner [on AMS] of the Westcoaster three times and featuring on the race podium in several more races.

The race leaves Portsea on the outgoing tide on Wednesday at 12 noon with the fleet making the dash to Port Philip Heads before taking on the 125 nautical mile Bass Strait crossing.

There are lots of gains to be made from the right call around King Island with the tidal flows between the top of King Island and Northwest Tasmania always a challenge for new and top-notch navigators alike.

The fleet will carry trackers enabling race followers to track the action from start to finish. Follow the fleet here .

The race record of 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes 59 seconds was set by Shortwave in 2008, winning the race with an average speed over the course of 10.49 knots.

The race is run with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron .

Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries available online .

orcv.org.au facebook.com/OceanRacingClub  

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Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

Thick sea fog hits the 2023 melbourne to hobart yacht race.

The 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race started in sunny conditions on Port Philip Bay today with competitors set for a quick race to Hobart.

The fleet started the 51st race in a steady 13 knot southerly breeze under blue skies but an eerie sea fog rolling over Point Nepean enveloped the boats soon after the start, reducing visibility for competitors and crews alike, as they made their way to the first turning mark near Shortland Bluff.

Double-handed entrant Joker x2, co-skippered by Peter Dowdney and Grant Chipperfield, representing the Mornington and Sandringham Yacht Clubs (MYC/SYC), had a fantastic start choosing the committee boat end of the start line and relished the benefits of the clear air.

The multihull Peccadillo, skippered by experienced campaigner Charles Meredith from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, opted for the middle of the line but despite being way back on the start gun, soon found the front of the fleet.

Alien, skippered by Justin Brenan from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV), was the first boat to hoist a kite, with the yellow spinnaker adding some colour to the fleet, but they struggled to carry it at times on the shy reach while other crews opted for code zeros and were able to make a higher course.

As the boats approached Quarantine Station at Point Nepean, Peccadillo maintained her lead and was revelling in the reaching conditions, but an intense battle was under way behind her between last year’s runner-up and handicap favourite for this year’s event, Ginan, co-skippered by Cam McKenzie and Nigel Jones from MYC, Alex Toomey’s Sayer 12, Ryujin and Joker x2, with Ryujin in front at the end of Point Nepean.

Peccadillo was the first boat out of Port Philip Bay Heads followed by the monohulls, Ryujin, Ginan, Joker x2 and Andrew Neeson’s Runnalls 39, Jaffa, from the Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

ORCV Race Director David Schuller was happy with the clear race start and anticipates an exciting race ahead.

“The weather is going to throw a little bit of everything at our competitors in this race which promises to be very exciting with possibilities for a fast race,” said Schuller.

Assistant Race Director, Ray Shaw, also predicts solid sailing conditions across Bass Strait to King Island and a quick trip south to Hobart.

“All weather models indicate that east of King Island is the preferred path for the fleet.

“The fleet can expect a 15 to 20 knot southerly breeze as they cross Bass Strait.

“The winds will pick up on Friday evening as a strong low compresses below Tasmania which will provide more challenging conditions for the crews with strong west to south westerly winds of 30 knots, gusting to 40 knots,” said Shaw.

Cyrus Allen, skipper of White Spirit and Commodore of the ORCV, broadcasting from onboard his boat in amongst the thick pea soup that descended over the fleet, expects the wind to build overnight.

“Tonight, as we go down towards King Island, we expect the conditions to freshen a little bit before we face some pretty decently lumpy winds on the South West Coast [of Tasmania],” said Allen.

Several boats are in contention for line honours with monohulls Ginan, Ryujin, Joker x2 and Lord Jiminy, skippered by Jimmy Oosterweghel from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, the boats to watch.

The prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual trophy will go to the handicap winner on AMS.

Handicap predictions for the 2023 race include Ginan, Jaffa, Alien and Vertigo, skippered by father and daughter combination Tim and Clare Olding from the RYCV.

Other prizes on offer include the Zeehan Trophy for the Navigator of the Heemskirk Trophy winner, the Wrest Point Abel Tasman Trophy for the winner on line honours, and the City of Melbourne Perpetual Trophy for first on corrected time on the performance handicap.

The Westcoaster, as the race is affectionately known, is one of the world’s great ocean races, covering 435 nautical miles from the start in Port Philip Bay to the finish line in the River Derwent in Hobart.

The race starts with a 125 nm passage across Bass Strait before the fleet sails 200 nm south down the West Coast of Tasmania, past Maatsuyker Island, east to South East Cape then turning northeast towards the more sheltered, but equally challenging waters of Storm Bay and the River Derwent.

Line honours contenders are expected to arrive in Hobart in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The fleet is carrying trackers enabling race followers to track the action from start to finish. To follow the fleet, go to  race.bluewatertracks.com/2023-melbourne-to-hobart-westcoaster

The monohull race record of 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes 59 seconds was set by Shortwave in 2008, winning the race with an average speed over the course of 10.49 knots.

The race is run with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

For Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit:  www.orcv.org.au/hobart

by Jane Austin/ORCV media

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2023 ORCV Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Westcoaster – Wrap-up and Results

Main photo: Alien competing in the 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. Photo Michael Currie

Skippers, sailors, supporters and plenty of locals finally got to soak up some Tasmanian summer sun in the Willie Smith Race Village in Hobart on Sunday afternoon for the presentation of trophies for the 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (the Westcoaster).

This year’s fleet had a quick but intense race to Hobart, battling wind gusts of up to 50 knots, five to six metre seas, with close rivalry on the race course, but the overall winner of the event was sailing itself, with the exhaustion, smiles, relief and enormous satisfaction etched on the faces of this close-knit group.   

Cyrus Allen, Commodore of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV), and David Schuller, Race Director, officiated proceedings and awarded the prizes.

Alex Toomey, skipper of Ryujin from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, accepted the Wrest Point Abel Tasman Trophy as line honours winner for monohulls from the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Anna Reynolds. 

Justin Brenan, skipper of Alien and twice-crowned the ORCV Offshore Champion, graciously accepted the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy awarded to first place overall on corrected time on AMS handicap.

Brenan, from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, and his crew of Allison Wilson, Andrew Vincent, Glen Cowan, Benjamin Tyrrell, Katrina Hartman, Michael Noy and Paul Neilson now have the enviable record of four Westcoaster titles along with a win in the Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster Race in 2008.   

Brenan’s experienced crew includes long-term Westcoaster sailors with over 75 races between them.

Brenan credited the race win to his ‘evergreen yacht’, a Lidgard 36 design, his loyal, skilful and seasoned ocean racing crew, and his onshore support team.

The Edward Henty Perpetual Trophy was awarded to Ginan, skippered by Cameron McKenzie and Nigel Jones from the Mornington Yacht Club, for second place overall on AMS, with the team also winning on ORC handicap.

The double-handed entry, Maverick, co-skippered by Rod Smallman and Leeton Hulley, received the Batman Perpetual Trophy for third place overall on AMS.

Maverick had more trophies than hands by the end of the presentation with the team winning the City of Melbourne Perpetual Trophy for first on corrected time on performance handicap as well as the Double-Handed Perpetual Trophy.

Charles Meredith and the crew from the multihull, Peccadillo, sailing in their first Westcoaster, won the Port Phillip Sea Pilots Trophy for the first yacht to exit Port Phillip Heads and won line honours for the first multihull home, setting a new race record for multihulls along the way.

Michael Graham, skipper of Santana from Newcastle, New South Wales, received the Alan Collins “Rookie Skipper” prize which is selected by the Race Director for the best performing ‘first-time’ skipper.

Graham and his crew sailed from Newcastle in NSW – a distance greater than the Sydney to Hobart course – to get to the start line just in time for the race. They then sailed their Swan 43 safely and steadily to Hobart in the first Westcoaster for the boat and skipper and were a popular choice for the Rookie award. 

The Zeehan Trophy was awarded to Andrew Vincent and Katrina Hartman as co-navigators on Alien, the boat first on corrected time in the premier AMS division.

ORCV Commodore Allen also presented the Robin Hewitt trophy and the coveted yellow 10+ Westcoaster cap to Chris Webster, an award for sailors who have achieved the milestone of competing in ten Westcoaster races.

Commodore Allen noted how tough this year’s race was.

“Like many of you, in the deep of the night with the wind howling through the rig and seas tumbling over the deck, I wondered about ocean sailors who keep coming back year after year to race offshore.

“The answer I came to was that we do this for the adventure and the challenge”.

“But mostly we do this because of the camaraderie that develops between people racing in an offshore race.  

“Existing friendships grow stronger, and new friendships are forged.

“Each skipper and crew who made it to Hobart this year – including those who tactically withdrew for safety reasons – displayed seamanship and determination in line with the very best of Ocean Racing Club standards,” said Allen.  

The 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race was one of intensity and diversity, and of personal and team achievements.

This year saw the return of the first multihull in 35 years and continued representation in the double-handed division, a division the ORCV has been promoting for over 20 years.

The exhausted but relaxed award-winning co-skippers of Maverick talked with ORCV Media about the tough conditions experienced on the last night of the race.

“The last night was a cracker, an absolute blinder – it was the most frightening, and the most fun at the same time, that I have ever had.

“This year we had access to the BOM [Bureau of Meteorology] access models and they were unbelievably accurate which helped us go in the right spot, because there is no use being the best sailor if you aren’t in the right wind,” said Smallman.   

And on sailing down the West Coast of Tasmania double-handed?

“One word, its just awesome. When things are running smooth then it’s a lot less hectic on a two-handed boat.

“What makes us work is that we think the same,” said Smallman.

“When you are two-handed, you are solo sailing while the other person is having a sleep.

“You have to know every job on the boat. you’ve got to be a good steerer, you’ve got to be a good main trimmer, you’ve got to be a good bowman,” said Hulley, although both agreed they needed to do some work on their diesel mechanic skills.

Dark and Stormy, skippered by Tobias Swanson of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, welcomed three Italian sailors to his crew for this year’s race bringing skill and enthusiasm to the team – and an antipasto platter to the onboard pantry.

Tommaso Mattia Pretto is a recent graduate of Monash University with a Master of Environment and Sustainability degree and works at the Climateworks Centre in Victoria. He sailed this year’s race with his father Giolio Pretto and Paolo La Face who had flown to Australia in September from their home in Ancona, Marche, on the East Coast of Italy.

“Since I came to Australia a few years ago, I did a fair bit of ocean racing with ORCV. It’s really different sailing [to the Mediterranean].

“I would say it’s not as easy at all…the swell and the way that it pushes you is a completely different experience,” said Pretto.

And on sailing with his father?

“We were looking after each other all the time. I was the youngest onboard and he [Giulio] was the oldest.

“We’ve never had an experience like this before. I grew up sailing with my Dad since I was in the womb of my Mum…going to Croatia, so more cruising then, but having him here with me was just fantastic,” said Pretto.

The Dark and Stormy crew is a close crew with affection across the team on show.

“We experienced gusts of 50 knots of wind, and as they predicted, five to six metre seas, and it was heavy. We struggled to gybe and struggled to put up all the other sails…and we tried not to have any accidental gybes.

“I’m really proud of my crew…a couple of key crew, Rob [Newman], Bart [Archbold] and Tommaso (Pretto] did an amazing job last night …with high speed downhill runs down waves, we had a great time, we really enjoyed it,” said Swanson.

This year’s race also had a focus on environmental sustainability with crews provided advice on what to take onboard, on local endangered marine life such as the spotted handfish, and on ways to recycle used or damaged sails.

Melissa Warren, ORCV Committee member and on the bow on Jaffa, sailed her first Westcoaster and was beaming from ear to ear after the race.

“Honestly, I feel great. This was my first Hobart race, I’m so glad that I had a really supportive team to do it with.   

“I like to get the sport of sailing out there as much as possible, to put on lots of different events, talking to kids, and making sure we start from the ground up,” said Warren.

And Warren’s final words of encouragement for sailors on the edge, contemplating sailing in a Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

“Don’t be on the edge. You want to be involved. It’s [the Southern Ocean] one of the hardest seas to sail and is just a privilege,” said Warren. 

Next year’s event is shaping up to be another great race with interest growing from the multihull contingent in Europe and across the double-handed fleet.

In the words of Maverick skipper, Rod Smallman, “Give it a go!”

The race was run with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron.

Race results here

Jane Austin ORCV media

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