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Melbourne to Hobart - Westcoaster

Race information, follow the 2023 fleet here .

• About the Race

The  ORCV “Westcoaster” is a legendary yacht race where tactics and sailing well can crown you as the race champion, regardless of boat size. 

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.

For 50 years, the Westcoaster has provided sailors with a unique race full of tactical challenges.

  "35 times but never been the same race,"   Robin Hewitt

 "It's a mind race, as much as it's a physical race," Rod Smallman 

"It's the K2 of ocean races, tactical and challenging,"  Ian Lyall 

Thank you to the following Race Partners Pre-Race - Royal Brighton Yacht Club / Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Pre-Race - Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron Post Race - Derwent Sailing Squadron Race Start - Sorrento Sailing Club

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2022 Willie Smith's Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race

Hosted By Derwent Sailing Squadron

Willie Smith's

Updated:  25/12/2022  9:39:24 PM

Race Officer Tom Bain | Start Boat Stolly

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TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race 2020

The 2020 TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race (L2H) has attracted the biggest fleet since 2016, with 33 contenders including one Victorian and 32 Tasmanian teams including four teams from the north of the state.

Derwent Sailing Squadron Race Director Ron Bugg is expecting a fierce battle for line honours from four boats. Victorian entry Dream (Robert Green), a

Pacific 50, finished second across the line by less than ten minutes to winner Fork in the Road (Gary Smith) in the 2019 race and will be looking to capitalise on every opportunity to make it to Hobart first. Greensees his strongest competition coming from Oskana (MikePritchard) while Tilt (Peter Cretan), is also a strong chance for line honours.

Green is looking forward to the delivery trip and the race after being locked down in Melbourne during the pandemic. “We feel at a significant disadvantage as we haven’t even stepped on the boat during the pandemic, but we will be watching the weather maps closely to make sure we are ready for the race,” said Green.

Bugg describes the L2H as a tactical, close-shore race in which the winner will be the boat that best navigates the tides and peculiar weather patterns of Banks Strait, the holes around Friendly Beaches should a strong westerly blow, the big swells and currents of Tasman Island, and the unpredictable River Derwent. “This is a homegrown Tassie race and the key to winning is being in the right place at the right time on the journey south,” said Bugg.

Several teams are using this year’s race as a starting point for more offshore sailing campaigns. John Dryden, sailing his modified Bakewell-White Z 39, Jazz Player, is looking to upskill new crew before entering the 2021 Sydney to Hobart Race (S2H), with his longer-term plan to sail in the re-scheduled Melbourne to Osaka Race in 2025. Mark Bayles and Andrew Sinclair, co-skippers of Kraken 42S , are taking the opportunity to build the experience of their crew before campaigning the Cookson 12 in the 2021 S2H as well as a future Hamilton Island Race Week.

Skippers are working hard to get their boats ready for the race including Launceston-based team, Advantedge, which is sailing for the first time since 2012. Skipper Andrew Jones has had the Inglis 47 completely revamped with the crew, including brother Michael and nephew Samuel, working around the clock to have the boat ready for the race.

The team at Salter Marine are relieved to have beaten the clock with Royce Salter launching his Hick 35, Prima Donna , only a few days ago after a complete makeover.

Matthew Keal’s Mumm 36, Heatwave, which finished second on IRC and third on AMS handicaps in 2019 will be a strong contender once again, while Richard Boult and Jean-Pierre Ravanat will be putting their Jeanneau Sunfast 3300 Hip-Nautic to the test, sailing the boat two-handed in their first race.

The race starts on Sunday 27 December and is expected to be decided in Hobart on Tuesday 29 December.

The 285 nautical mile race usually starts at Inspection Head at Beauty Point and tracks down the Tamar River to Low Head before heading into Banks Strait, however this year’s Notice of Race permits Tamar Yacht Club Race Officer Tom Bain to start the large fleet outside the Tamar River to ensure manoeuvrability for the 50-footers and to avoid boats running aground if there’s little wind and a strong tide.  

To review all race entries, results and follow the live trackers, go to  www.l2h-dssinc.org.au

Words / Images: Jane Austin

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Porco Rosso heading for sweep of victories in Launceston to Hobart

Porco Rosso is closing in on victories in all categories in the 17 th annual Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race .

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After an all-night drift-a-thon between Bridport and Swan Island, the fleet headed down the East Coast with Porco Rosso leading the way from Fork in the Road and Jazz Player.

Teams woke up to the second day of racing clocking numbers such Just Farr Love 's 2.1 knots.

During the day, it was Kraken 42S that led the second pack around the North-East tip of the state, but off St Helens they were chasing last year's overall winner Sundowner and Heatwave Fish Frenzy with The Dog House keeping the pressure on.

The Victorians on Yolla made a quantum leap, leaving their opening-day competition to join the third pack of Prion, Planet X and Wings Three.

In the fading breeze of the previous evening, Y and Lawless had dropped back but made a new break for it after turning the corner and are in the mix of the fourth pack with Invincible and Sassy.

Helsal 6 and Big Pup, who were in the mix in the early morning, pulled away in the afternoon as they passed Eddystone Point Lighthouse.

Just Farr Love, Mako and Footloose were the last to enter Bass Straight in a tight tussle of their own.

Porco Rosso was able to tuck inside Maria Island, a requirement of the 285-nautical mile race, just before the afternoon breeze began to swing further south, leaving Fork in the Road and Jazz Player tacking into a headwind off Freycinet.

The leaders are due to finish in the early hours on the third day of racing.

Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.

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• The L2H Race

Race History

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Inaugural year | Starters: 17

• Host Plus Executive – Mumm 36 – Jeff Cordell, BYC
• Asylum – Sydney 38 – Dianne Barkas, RYCT/DSS
• X-Rated – X-35 – David Creese, BYC
• Haphazard – Adams/Radford 49 – Nick Edmunds, TYC
• Lock on Wood – Dubois 9.5m – Peter Geeves, DSS

Line honours :  1 day 18 hrs 33 min 00 sec Host Plus Executive – Mumm 36 – Jeff Cordell, BYC

Sponsor:  Clive Peters  | Starters: 30

•  Creese Property – Sydney 38 – David Creese, BYC
• Archie – Archambault 35 – Sally Rattle, DSS
• Creese Property – Sydney 38 – David Creese, BYC

Line Honours: 1 day 09 hrs 33 min 58 sec

Crotty Legal & Dental  –  Bakewell-White 45 – Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT

Sponsor: Sargisons Jewellers | Starters:  33

• Pisces – Sydney 36 – David Taylor, RYCT/DSS
• Whistler – Dovell 38 – David Rees, RYCT

Fork in the Road – Bakewell-White 45 – Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT

• Blue Sky – Beneteau 40.7 – Richard Fisher, TYC
• 42 South – Stompcraft 38 – Mark Ballard, BYC

Multi-hull:

• Deguello – Crowther 14.6 – John Brierley, RYCT
• Storm Bay – Chamberlain 14.0 – Stephen Laird, RYCT

Line Honours: 1 day 22 hrs 10 min 51 sec * Mr Kite – Cape/Barrett 40 – Andrew Hunn, RYCT

Sponsor:  Sargisons Jewellers and Natuzzi |  Starters:  31

Footloose – Young 88 – Stewart Geeves & Kaye Roberts, GBBC

• 2 Unlimited – Melges 32 – Greg Prescott, RYCT
• Lock on Wood – Dubois 9.5 – Peter Geeves, DSS
• Wings Three – Northshore 38 – Peter Haros, DSS
• Intrigue – Castro 40 – David Calvert, RYCT
• Matangi – Frers 39 – David Stephenson, TYC
• 2 Unlimited – Melges 32 – Greg Prescott, RYCT

Line Honours:  1 day 16 hrs 44 min 13 sec

Mr Kite – Cape/Barrett 40 – Andrew Hunn, RYCT

Sponsor:  Optus |  Starters:  31

• Masquerade – Morgan 35 – Tony Harman, BYC

AMS:                 

• Footloose – Young 88 – Stewart Geeves, GBBC
• Pisces – Sydney 36 mod – David Taylor, RYCT
• Penfold Audi Sport – Archambault 31 – David Ellis, RYCV
• Allusive – Lyon 14 – John Joyce, TYC
• Ramrod – Kaufman 36 – Royce Salter, RYCT

Line Honours: 1 day 16 hrs 22 min 18 sec

Helsal III – Adams 20 – Rob Fisher, RYCT

Race record for longer 285 nautical mile course

Sponsor:  The Good Guys |  Starters:  27

• Hot Prospect – Farr 1104 – Ian Marshall, GBBC
• Moonshadow – Lotus 10.6 – Anthony Ellis, DSS
• The Fork in the Road – Bakewell-White 52 – Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT
• The Protagonist – Beneteau First 45 – Stuart Denney, BYC
• Obsession – Sydney 38 – David Allen, TYC

Line Honours: 1 day 17 hrs 53 min 0 sec

The Fork in the Road – Bakewell-White 45 – Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT

Sponsor:  National Pies |  Starters:  28

• Fish Frenzy – Modified Farr 50 – Stephen Keal, BYC
• CDC Development (TAS) – Farr 1104 – Ian Marshall, GBBC/BYC
• Fork in the Road – Bakewell-White 45 – Gary Smith/Geoff White, DSS/RYCT               
• Bellandean – Jarkan 38 – Andrew Scott, HYC

Line Honours: 1 day 19 hrs 44 min 59 sec

Sponsor:  National Pies |  Starters:  24

• Steelin Time – Knoop 32 – Allan Warren, GBBC
• Off-Piste – Beneteau Oceanis 34 – Paul Einoder, RYCT
• Silicon Ship – Knoop 32 – David Wyatt / Gordon Clark, BYC
• Kaiulani – Snook 30 – Malcolm Cooper, DSS

  PHS:

Line Honours: 1 day 12 hrs 48 min 35 sec

Sponsor:  National Pies |  Starters:  27

• Emotional Rescue – Hobie 33 – Michael Hutchinson, DSS
• Martela – IMX 38 – Anthony Williams, BYC
• Lawless – Green 31 – Stephen McElwee, PDYC
• Mistraal – Beneteau 57 – Jacinta and Brett Cooper, DSS/RYCT

Line Honours: 2 day 0 hrs 0 min 49 sec

Sponsor:  National Pies |  Starters: 44

• Emotional Rescue – Hobie 33 – Michael Hutchinson, DSS & Mr Burger – Northshore 38 – Peter Haros, DSS
• Young One – Young 88 – Gerard Smith, BYC
• Absolut – Achambault 35 – Richard Gates, RYCV
• Masquerade – Morgan 35 – Anthony Harman, BYC
• B&G Advantage – Mumm 36 – Jeff Cordell, BYC
• Mr Burger – Northshore 38 – Peter Haros, DSS
• Ubique of Hobart – Lyle Hess – Christopher Brearley, KYC

Line Honours: 2 day 7 hrs 43 min 59 sec

Tilt – Marten 49 – Peter Cretan, DSS/RYCT

Sponsor:  Riversdale Estate Wines |  Starters: 24

• Mako – Farr D#54 – Phil Soley, BYC
• Prion – Lyons Mount Gay 30 – John Dryden, KYC
• Footloose – Young 88 – Stewart Geeves, RYCT
• Team Whistler – Mbd36 – David Aplin, DSS
• Ultimate Challenge – Dubois 40 – Peter Jenkins, DSS

Line Honours: 2 day 6 hrs 33 min 11 sec

The Fork in the Road – Bakewell-White – Gary Smith / Geoff White, DSS

• Philosopher – Sydney 36cr FBYD modified – Shaun Tiedemann, DSS
• Crescendo – Dufour Gib-Sea 43 – Vaughan Lynch, BYC

Line Honours: 2 day 11 hrs 50 min 45 sec

Sponsor:  Riversdale Estate Wines |  Starters: 21

• Vertigo – Summit 35 – Tim Olding, RYCV
• Talofa – Northshore 38 – Rob Cawthorn, KYC
• Heatwave – Mumm 36 – Matthew Keal, BYC
• Ambition – Custom 32 – Michael Jones, PDYC
• Rad – Radford 35I – Brent McKay, DSS/KYC
• Frontline – Elan S4 – Ian Snape, DSS

Line Honours: 2 day 2 hrs 22 min 05 sec

Sponsor: TasPorts | Starters: 31

Detail First – Farr 1104 – Scott Broadby, BYC – Divisional Winner AMS, PHS & IRC – TasPorts Perpetual Trophy

AMS Division 1

• Jazz Player –Bakewell-White Z39 – John Dryden, DSS/KYC
• Kraken – Cookson 12 – Mark Bayles/Andrew Sinclair, DSS

AMS Division 2

• Detail First – Farr 1104 – Scott Broadby, BYC
• Talofa – Northshore 38 – Rob Cawthorn, KYC
• Mr Burger (Wings Three) – Northshore 38 – Peter Haros, DSS

IRC Division 1

• Hip-Hautic – Sunfast 33 – Jean-Pierre Ravanat

IRC Division 2

• The Dog House – Austral 30 – Ambrose Coad, KYC

PHS Division 1

• Dream – Pacific 50 – Robert Green, SYC

PHS Division 2

• Twitch – Eureka 31 – Twitch Syndicate, BYC

Kraken – Cookson 12 – Mark Bayles/Andrew Sinclair

Tasports First Female – 1st Female competitor on ICR standings

Charlotte Armstrong – Jazz Payer

TASPORTS NAVIGATOR OF WINNING BOAT – 1 st Navigator on winning yacht on IRC

John Ryan – Detail First, BYC

CITY OF HOBART TROPHY – 1 st yacht under 10 metres on PHS

Twitch – Twitch Syndicate, BYC

Line Honours: 1 day 19 hrs 30 min 52 sec (new record)

Alive – Reichel/Pugh 66 – Phillip Turner – Skipper, Duncan Hine, DSS

Sponsor: TasPorts | Starters: 24

Filepro – Lyons 40 – Tim Gadsby & Graham Watkins, DSS – TasPorts Perpetual Trophy and 1st place IRC

• Filepro – Lyons 40 – Tim Gadsby and Graham Watkins, DSS

Footloose – Young 88 – Stewart Geeves, RYCT

• Rumbeat – Farr 1104 – Justin Barr, DSS
• Invincible – Farr 1104 – Bryan Walpole – RYCT

Sam Dobie – Kraken 42s – DSS

Matthew Denholm – Filepro – DSS

Line Honours: 2 day 12 hrs 46 min 12 sec

AdvantEdge – Andrew and Michelle Jones – Inglis 47, PDYC

Sponsor: Willie Smith’s | Starters: 09

Sundowner – Adams 12 – Alice Grubb and Tom Stearnes, DSS – TasPorts Perpetual Trophy and 1st place IRC

• Sundowner – Adams 12 – Alice Grubb and Tom Stearnes, DSS
• Zephyr Insurance Masters – Farr 41 Mx – Ian Johnston, DSS
• Heatwave – Mumm 36 – Matthew Keal, BYC
• Big Pup – Swarbrick – Teresa Badrock and Anton Bezemer, PDYC
• Force 11 – – Adams119 – Force Eleven Cartel, BYC

WILLIE SMITH’S NAVIGATOR OF WINNING BOAT – 1 st Navigator on winning yacht on IRC

Patrick Hyman – Sundowner, DSS

Line Honours: 2 day 13 hrs 38 min 54 sec

Fork in the Road – Gary Smith, RYCT

Sponsor: Willie Smith’s | Starters: 20

Porco Rosso – Cookson 50 – Paul McCartney, DSS – Willie Smith’s Perpetual Trophy and 1st Place IRC

Porco Rosso – Cookson 50 – Paul McCartney, DSS

• Heatwave Fish Frenzy – Mumm 36 – Matt Keal, BYC
• Sundowner – Adams 10 – Alice Grubb & Tom Stearnes, DSS
• Jazz Player – Blakewell White Z39 – Brent Mckay, DSS, KYC
• Fork in the Road – Bakewell-White – Paul McCartney, DSS

WILLIE SMITH’S NAVIGATOR OF WINNING BOAT – 1 st Navigator on winning yacht on IRC

Luke Watkins – Porco Rosso, DSS

Line Honours: 1 day 23 hrs 55 min 41 sec

Yacht Clubs: BYC (Bellerive Yacht Club), RYCT (Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania), DSS (Derwent Sailing Squadron), TYC (Tamar Yacht Club), RYCV (Royal Yacht Club of Victoria), KYC (Kettering Yacht Club), PDYC (Port Dalrymple Yacht Club)

* Under L2H race rules, the Overall Winner is the yacht with the lowest corrected time under IRC handicaps. Previously, the Overall Winner has been eligible for only one trophy and, as a result, the next three boats moved up one place in the IRC and PHS handicap categories. The rules have were changed for the 2012 L2H to enable the Overall Winner to also receive the trophies for any Divisional first places on corrected time.

* 2009 race started from Inspection Head on the Tamar River at Beauty Point instead of at Low Head at the mouth of the river, increasing the length of the race to 285 nautical miles.

* 2022 race started from Lagoon Beach at Low Head due to tide and light weather conditions. There was no result awarded for the race from Beauty Point to Low Head for this year.

Updated: 11 January 2024

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2024

In the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Phillip Turner’s Alive was looking good to win the race for a second consecutive time, having claimed overall victory in 2018, but ultimately finished fourth overall to win Division 0. She took Line Honours in the 2020 TasPorts Launceston to Hobart Race and chopped just over an hour and a half off the race record in the hands of Turner’s regular skipper, Duncan Hine. Before the 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Alive , an RP66, finished second on line in the Transpac Race for second overall in Division 1.

Turner bought the former Stark Raving Mad/Black Jack in 2014 and finished 72 nd in the 2014 Hobart, then 17 th in 2016. He broke the 2014 Melbourne Vanuatu record, won IRC Division 0 in the 2015 Hong Kong Vietnam Race, and took line honours, broke the 16 year-old China Sea Race record and placed second overall. As Black Jack , the canting keeled yacht recorded the second fastest time in the 2012 Sydney Gold Coast race, behind Wild Oats XI . Always a good boat, Alive has lost none of her oomph. A well-honed crew includes Darren ‘Twirler’ Jones, who always brings something good to a boat with his offshore and one-design international expertise, including world championship wins. Sam Gilmour is also aboard and brings his first class experience in match racing and one-design classes.

Competitor Details

Official rolex sydney hobart merchandise.

Shop the official clothing range of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in person at the Club in New South Head Road, Darling Point or online below.  

From casual to technical clothing, there is something for all occasions. Be quick as stock is limited!