Wrap-up of the 2025 Melbourne to Hobart ‘Westcoaster’ Yacht Race.
Justin Brenan and his team from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria have achieved a remarkable feat aboard their Lidgard 36 yacht, Alien, by sweeping all handicap divisions in the 2025 Melbourne to Hobart ‘Westcoaster’ Yacht Race.
The most notable victory came from securing first place on corrected time in the AMS handicap, which determines the overall winner and is awarded the Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy.
On board Alien were Brenan’s son Calum, Glen Cowan, Ben Tyrrell, Michael Noy, Andrew Vincent, Allison Wetzels, and navigator Katrina Hartman.
Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Commodore Cyrus Allen led the awards ceremony at the Derwent Sailing Squadron, where sailors, families, and friends enjoyed a luncheon before the trophy presentations.
Having competed in 16 Westcoasters, Brenan has claimed six wins, including one during the centenary Rudder Cup celebration when the race was sailed down the East Coast of Tasmania.
Brenan also triumphed on ORC handicap, earning the City of Melbourne Perpetual Trophy for his PHS win.
Katrina Hartman received the Zeehan Perpetual Trophy for her navigation expertise aboard the overall winning yacht.
Brenan completed the race with a corrected time of 2 days, 21 hours, 33 minutes, and six seconds, praising his team’s efforts and particularly highlighting advice from Calum at a crucial moment.
“We had a brief disagreement about the approach at Macquarie Harbour with that weather shift, but he made the right call, and we sailed straight through when others went offshore,” reported Brenan.
Matt Fahey’s Sydney 38, Faster Forward, secured second place on AMS handicap, winning the Edward Henty Trophy, while Matt Setton’s Ker 11.3, The Jackal, claimed line honours in 3 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes and 23 seconds, beating Alien by 20 minutes.
Setton was awarded the Wrest Point Abel Tasman Trophy for line honours and the Port Phillip Sea Pilot’s Trophy for being the first boat through Port Phillip Heads, along with the Alan Collins ‘Rookie Skipper’ prize.
Defending champion Brenan noted, “The Jackal maintained a strong lead at one point, 20 nautical miles ahead, but our team closed the gap to just four nautical miles.”
Setton credited their downwind speed as a key factor for their success during the race, and remarked, “The tactical intricacies of this race are comparable to that of a Sydney to Hobart.”
In recognition of his 30th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, Simon Dryden, sailing with Faster Forward, received applause from the sailing community. Fahey praised Dryden’s influence on the race, expressing gratitude for their longstanding partnership.
“The camaraderie and teamwork are exceptional, especially among our new members who have integrated swiftly,” stated Fahey.
The Westcoaster, stretching 435 nautical miles from Port Phillip to the River Derwent, includes a challenging 125 nautical mile crossing of Bass Strait followed by another 200 nautical mile southward journey down Tasmania’s West Coast.
The race holds the monohull record of 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes 59 seconds, set by Shortwave in 2008.
Read the full race results here: https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2025-26/2025M2H/series.htm?ty=83018
The Kevin Behrens Shield for Outstanding Crew Member was awarded to Robert Brown, known as Spiderman, for his remarkable efforts, particularly at age 70, being the first to climb the mast twice this year.
Words: Jane Austin/ORCV Media
Follow us on social media for more updates:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OceanRacingClub
Instagram: @orcv_racing
#MelbourneToHobart #ORCV #SailingAustralia #TheJackal #YachtRace #OceanRacing
More Offshore Sailing stories: Click here
