Spirit of Downunder, a 12 metre yacht designed by Cameron Delange, will participate in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) 2025 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race (M2H). Skippered by Rick Whitehouse and sailing alongside Marty Bennett, this will be their first M2H, navigating the challenging Bass Strait and the West Coast of Tasmania.
Whitehouse, a member of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, purchased the yacht from Laurie Ford in 2022. The team is currently preparing for the Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’ qualifying race, having last sailed the boat in 2023.
Whitehouse expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming race, stating, “It could be that I just end up doing the Melbourne to Hobart double-handed with Marty Bennett, as well as some other ORCV Coastal races.” The duo has worked on upgrading the boat’s electronics and has added an electric motor to enhance performance.
With a background in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Whitehouse is keen to leverage his experience in ocean racing and advanced sea safety training to tackle the challenges of the Southern Ocean. The design of Spirit of Downunder, inspired by a blend of Indigenous and Aztec artwork, aims to perform optimally in downwind conditions, although they are still fine-tuning its upwind capabilities.
The team’s primary goals for the race are straightforward: “make it to the start line, finish and have fun.” Whitehouse anticipates favourable conditions, ideally aiming for a north-west breeze of 15-20 knots to maximise their speed.
Joining them in the double-handed category are other notable entries, including Foggy Dew, sailed by Robert Darcy and Janet Wilks, and Alex-Team Macadie, skippered by Jock Macadie. Last year’s Westcoaster champions, Richard Grant and his daughter Megan, co-sailed Magellan, achieving victory in the double-handed division. Grant, who has had significant success including a second place in the Melbourne to Osaka Race, shared insights on the importance of familiarity with the boat and efficient reefing systems for safety and speed.
The M2H will commence off Portsea at 1:30pm on Saturday, 27 December 2025, guiding the fleet through Port Phillip Heads, across Bass Strait, and down the West Coast, culminating at Battery Point in the River Derwent, Hobart. The Westcoaster is part of the ORCV Offshore and Double Handed Championship, welcoming monohull and multihull entries.
Early bird entries close on 10 November, with final entries due by 24 November 2025. To enter the 2025 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, visit here.
About ORCV: A leading authority on ocean sailing, racing, and training in Australia, the Club was formed so that ocean races in Victorian waters could be efficiently developed and run by an organisation focusing specifically on the needs of ocean racers.
Website: www.orcv.org.au
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