The summer sailing gods were certainly smiling over Portsea Pier yesterday as the 2025 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race fleet lined up under azure skies for the start of the race down the West Coast of Tasmania to Hobart.
The fleet began the 53rd Westcoaster in a southerly breeze of 10 knots, enjoying ideal conditions for sailing. In contrast to the challenging wave state experienced by the Cock of the Bay fleet on Boxing Day, Saturday’s conditions were a welcome relief for the sailors, with weather models aligning to forecast stable patterns for the race duration.
As anticipated, The Jackal, a Ker 11.3 skippered by Matt Setton from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, set the pace early by being first across the line, boosting Setton’s confidence in his first race as skipper. Hot on its heels were Justin Brenan’s Lidgard 36, Alien, and Andrew McConchie’s Beneteau First 47.7, Vagabond, as the fleet headed toward the first mark.
Matt Fahey’s Sydney 38, Faster Forward, incurred an individual recall for being overly energetic at the start line but quickly made up ground after setting their Code Zero. Joan Lorraine, the Beneteau Oceanis 46 skippered by Peter Garner from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, was closely trailing.
The Jackal held off Faster Forward at the first mark, claiming the Port Phillip Sea Pilot’s Trophy for being first through Port Phillip Heads, indicating a tough duel predicted between these two boats throughout the race.
The Forecast
The race day weather forecast was encouraging for skippers and newcomers alike, featuring a high-pressure system promising a stable weather pattern versus earlier predictions of a low-pressure system which could have led to challenging conditions. Forecasts suggested prevailing winds of 10 to 20 knots, with no more than 30 knots and 2-metre swells, promising relatively smooth sailing down the West Coast and into the Southern Ocean.
Tactics will play a key role as skippers navigate the Westcoaster, where decision-making under stable weather conditions could prove crucial. A wind transition zone is anticipated off Strahan, near Hell’s Gates, where lighter patches may require tactical choices between seeking stronger winds offshore or katabatic breezes closer to shore.
The fleet is vying for the prestigious Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy awarded to the handicap winner on AMS. Additional prizes include the Zeehan Trophy for the navigator of the Heemskerk Trophy winner, the Wrest Point Abel Tasman Trophy for line honours, and the City of Melbourne Perpetual Trophy for the first on corrected time using performance handicap.
The Westcoaster
The Westcoaster is renowned as one of the world’s great ocean races, covering 435 nautical miles from Port Phillip to the finish line in the River Derwent in Hobart. The race commences with a 125 nautical mile passage across Bass Strait, followed by 200 nautical miles down the West Coast of Tasmania, past Maatsuyker Island, east to South East Cape, then turning northeast through the challenging waters of Storm Bay and on to the unpredictable River Derwent.
The monohull race record currently stands at 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes 59 seconds, set by Shortwave in 2008.
To follow the fleet in the 2025 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, go to Blue Water Tracks via: https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-hobart-westcoaster
Website www.orcv.org.au
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.
The Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster” Yacht Race is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania
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