J/Teams take the podium in 50th Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster
by J/Boats 15 Jan 2023 22:43 PST
50th Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex
The 435.0nm "Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster" organized by Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) is a legendary blue water ocean racing classic of unusual challenges in which seamanship, navigation, and tactical skills drive the race outcome.
Skippers and crews face diverse conditions of sea state and tide uniquely associated with Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean, plus wind conditions which normally include all points of sailing.
The race starts at Portsea in Port Philip Bay (by Sorrento Sailing Club) on the last of the outgoing tide with yachts completing the dash to Port Philip Heads, past Lonsdale Reef, and clearing the potentially breaking seas at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay before the change of tide. This is the start of the 125.0nm Bass Strait crossing heading due south.
They then take on the wilderness and ruggedness of the West coast of Tasmania and the long ocean swell of the Southern Ocean down to 44 degrees South, before turning left (east) towards the finish line and the shifting winds of the Derwent River on approach to Hobart, to be finished by Derwent Sailing Club.
For the yachtsmen, the tidal flows between the top of King Island and North West Tasmania are crucial and may affect a yachts race time by as much as 4 hours. The gap is some 35 miles wide and lies diagonally across the shortest course. The navigational objective is to choose a course that maximizes speed over the ground, allowing for the tidal effects through the gap, and wind shifts if one passes close to the northwest corner of Tasmania. It's not an easy transit as it must be planned hours ahead with one or two reefs to consider.
This year, the 50th anniversary saw a fleet of 48 yachts, with J/133 PATRIOT and J/111 GINAN competing for the first time. Overall AMS (Australia Measurement System) was impressive with GINAN 2nd and PATRIOT 3rd.
Jason Close from the J/133 PATRIOT commented: "It was a strong fleet with PATRIOT finishing 2nd overall IRC, the J/111 GINAN 3rd overall IRC and in ORCi GINAN was 2nd overall and PATRIOT 3rd overall. GINAN, skippered by Cameron MacKenzie, had Peter Gustaffsen from J/111 BLUR from Sweden on board as a guest. Both J's punched well above their weight. We were both only beaten by pro-sailed Maritimo 11 (the Schumacher 54) in a big boat race."
Close continued, "we had a really good race and had good fun. The race had its challenges, but it wasn't as windy as forecast. I also don't think I've ever sailed an offshore race on one tack before. Amazingly, the wind just stayed with us from the same direction and followed us around the bottom of Tasmania; we two-sail reached up the coast and cracked sheets to the finish!"
Close was full of praise for Maritimo 11, which he described as a 'two-sail reaching-machine' and skipper Michael Spies. "Maritimo is narrow with a long waterline length, sailed by an extremely good yachtie. The two-sail reaching just suited them. If it had been a bit deeper angles, there would have been other boats in the play."
PATRIOT was also awarded the Batman Perpetual Trophy for third place overall on AMS, and Jason is keen to participate in another Westcoaster.
ORCV Commodore, Cyrus Allen, is delighted with this year's event. Said Allen, "the 50th Melbourne to Hobart has been a magnificent success, bringing together teams from across the country to compete in one of sailing's iconic events. From the excitement of the race start at Portsea Pier to the cheers of the crowds lining the dock in Hobart, the Westcoaster continues to be a race that both challenges and rewards those prepared to give it a go. And we're particularly happy on this 50th anniversary to see an increasing number of talented young women amongst the crews and skippers and look forward to attracting even more sailors to this unique event in future years."