Final Reminders – Hobart Fleet 

Briefing on December 27th 7.30 am 

• As per the NOR, this is a mandatory briefing for skipper and crew member will be online via this teams link  

To qualify you must register with your name and boat name when you login.

Sail Pass before the Race Start

To honour Sir Donald Trescowthick (age 94) as the founding Chairman (1972 to 1991) of the Melbourne to Hobart yacht race we are conducting a sail past, as tribute to his work in ensuring we reached this milestone of 50 races.
The sail past will be in the same format that is used by the clubs for the opening of the sail session. As each boat passes by Sir Donald’s boat they should take their hat off and shout “Three cheers for Sir Donald …..”
This sail past spectacle will attract media interest and give further coverage to our race.   Read more here

Sharing Images - Photo Competition

If the race permits, don’t forget to send us images of your journey to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via whatsapp to Delma 0419 388018 or via Facebook messenger.
Best images received by 3pm on December 31st will go in the running for some great Ronstan gear (watch and waterproof bags) with the draw being announced at the Presentation in Hobart. Don’t forget to also tag us on socials.

• Tag us
• Facebook @orcv
• Instagram @orcv_racing

 Help us create great memories of this race for you.

Will you join the 10+ Westcoaster Club this race?

Will this race be your 10th Westcoaster?  Robin Hewitt's trophy awaits your name (if it's not already there). Please drops us a note with the races and dates.  Get in contact with Delma to let us know please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Berthing at Blairgowrie (after the Cock of the Bay) - December 26th

If you are on this listing and WILL NOT be coming to BYS, please contact Delma immediately 0419 388 018 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• If you have booked for dinner, the buffet will commence at 6 pm.
• Marina passes are in the boxes at the end of your marina finger.
• Pop up your battleflag for Hobart upon arrival too please and check your tracker is working. 
• Please ensure you drop them back into this box BEFORE departure.
• Departure is 10 am on the 27th.

• Breakfast on the 27th – The BYS canteen will have Egg and Bacon rolls and coffees etc from 7.30 am for you. 

• Wifi Password, showers etc and all you need can be found here 

• Contact Details BYS Tower – VHF71 Sailing Office – 5925 9620 Marina Office – 5925 9611 BYS Reception – 5925 9600 + 5

Please DO NOT berth in empty pens as they could be members of BYS and this causes all sorts of issues. For those rafting, please bring fenders and follow directions upon arrival, you may be directed to a different rafting location on the day.

BYS Marina Map can be found here 

Boat Name	BYS  BERTH
ADVANTEDGE	RAFT PUBLIC JETTY
ALEX-TEAM MACADIE	D60
ANOTHER CHAPTER	C64
ARCADIA	C66
ARCHIE	B71
AUDACIOUS	RAFT E ROW
BLUE WATER TRACKS	E50
CADIBARRA	C60
CARRERA S	C/D T HEAD
CROMARTY MAGELLAN	C61
ENCHANTRESS	B68
FASTER FORWARD	C62
FIKA	A/B T head
GUSTO	D61
HARTBREAKER	E T HEAD
HOW BIZARRE	B66
JAFFA	C63
JAZZ PLAYER	RAFT PUBLIC JETTY
LORD JIMINY	D64
MARITIMO 54	E08
MAVERICK	B61
MOANA	E15
MORNING LASSIE	B64
MRV	RAFT
PROTAGONIST	C65
QUEST	D63
RUMBEAT	A71
RYUJIN	RAFT E ROW
SAILIENT	D52
SALTAIR	D62
SCARLETT RUNNER	E49
SOIREE BLEU	D59
TAI TAM	RAFT
TEVAKE II	RAFT Public Jetty
UNPRECEDENTED	A68
VAGABOND	E32
VERTIGO	B21
WEEKEND OPTION	C33
WHITE SPIRIT	D35
WICKED	C59

Hobart Berthing 

Please come prepared with fenders for some rafting. We ask that you follow exactly the directions given with where you will be berthed. It’s a well-thought-through plan and we need to fit in a lot of boats. The DSS have barge boards to sit against docks and the floating marina but has asked that you bring plenty of fenders.

• When you arrive, please be patient.  Listen to Radio Frequency – channel VHF 09
• Follow directions and berth where directed please.
• Prepare your declarations, work out if you will keep your trackers, tidy up if you need to wait.
• We will meet each boat with your gear and would like to take photos of your crew.
• Put up your battleflags (and the additional Willie Smith one to be supplied upon arrival)
• Quarantine bags – please ensure you place any fresh fruit and vegetables into the bags and seal them and pass them back to your race team.
• Rubbish Bins – there are rubbish bins on the dock, please ensure you use them and remove your rubbish from the float docks / condock.
• Presentation – 4pm on December 31st in the Orchard by the Sea Race Village at Elizabeth Street. All competitors and supporters are welcome.  Wear your race gear + participation medals.
• Have your photos in for the competition by 3pm on 31st December (see above)
• Berthing Procedure below – is an indicative and is subject to change 

From the DSS Team - Procedure for Berthing

There is a slight change of plan to what we outline in the recent briefing (due to weather and protection of boats), we will be rafting 3 deep (onto floating pontoons) at Elizabeth Street Pier or Rafted 3 deep in Constitution Dock. Please bring plenty of fenders. The DSS will have barge boards ready for each location and have stressed that to fit everyone in, they need you to follow instructions upon arrival.  
The below images outline the thinking.

DSS Support Boats.

1. DSS 1 - Guide boat from finish to ESP or Con Dock

2. DSS 2 - Guide boat inside Con Dock (or outside as per arrival demand).

Radio Frequency – channel VHF 09

Fundamentals

• The M2H fleet this year is magnificent but delivers significant challenges in order to accommodate every boat safely. We will all be doing our absolute best to make your arrival as stress free as possible – your assistance will be welcomed.

• Mooring allocations will need to be dynamic and evolve based on arrival order. We will have that plan as we understand finishing orders.

• Final positioning is not negotiable and will not be subject to debate.

• If we do not follow our plan, we definitely will not fit everyone

Process

1. Finish Race
2. Take your time and pack up
3. After finishing DSS1 or the Dockmaster will call you on VHF 09 and confirm mooring area or we will try to meet you and avoid the need for radio comms.
4. DSS1 will find you and escort you to your designated area.
   
   
5. If on Elizabeth Pier South

• Positioning is critical – follow dockmasters direction
• Bring plenty of fenders
• Outside boat of a 3-boat raft will need to provide x2 spring lines to put to the outer moorings in order to control the raft up.

6. If on the Pilot Dock

• Positioning is critical – follow dockmasters direction
• Bring plenty of fenders
• Outside boat of a 3-boat raft will need to provide x1 line to control the raft up.

7. If in Con Dock

• there may be a slight delay while we get the bridge opened
• traverse the Con Dock entrance by keeping to the South side of the channel – the bridge no longer fully opens so look up!
• Once in Con Dock we will have DSS2 to show you where to go.
• Positioning is critical – follow dockmasters direction
• Con Dock mooring will be alongside rafts + several bow in/alongside a large boat.
• Barge Board will be provided for alongside boats

Note: This outline below is subject to change and if you are under 2.4m depth please be prepared for change for a change between Elizabeth / Condock / Pilot 

BOAT NAME	Berth	Alternate
PROTAGONIST	Pilot
WICKED	Pilot
SAILIENT	Pilot
ARCADIA	Pilot
JAFFA	Pilot
JAZZ PLAYER	Pilot
AUDACIOUS	Pilot
FASTER FORWARD	Pilot
RYUJIN	Pilot
SOIREE BLEU	Pilot
MRV	EPSM	Due to size/weight
BLUE WATER TRACKS	EPSM	Due to size/weight
MARITIMO	EPSM	Due to size/weight
WHITE SPIRIT	EPS
EXTASEA	EPS
CARRERA S	EPS
SHIMMER	EPS
VAGABOND	EPS
ADVANTEDGE	EPS
HARTBREAKER	EPS
MOANA	EPS
ALEX - TEAM MACADIE	EPS
TEVAKE II	EPS
GUSTO	EPS
ANOTHER CHAPTER	EPS
SCARLET RUNNER	EPS
QUEST	EPS
JOKER ON TOURER	EPS
CADIBARRA	EPS
SALTAIR	EPS
LORD JIMINY	EPS
ALIEN	EPS
TAI TAM	Con	ESP if available
GOGGO	Con	ESP if available
FIKA	Con	ESP if available
PATRIOT	Con	ESP if available
SCARAMOUCHE	Con	ESP if available
CROMARTY MAGELLAN	Con
WEEKEND OPTION	Con
GINAN	Con
ENCHANTRESS	Con
HOW BIZARRE	Con
INVINCIBLE	Con
RUMBEAT	Con
MAVERICK	Con
ARCHIE	Con
VERTIGO	Con
MORNING LASSIE	Con
UNPRECEDENTED	Con

note - berth allocation is preliminary and subject to change. 

Draft - Plan of Elizabeth Street Pier

Draft - Condock - will be shared with the Launceston / S2H / Melbourne to Hobart

 

Fair winds and see you all in Hobart.

Glorious Mixed Weather Forecast for the 50^th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

Weather forecasters predict superb conditions for the start and the first half of the 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, however, the weather models are offering mixed messages to the 50-strong fleet as they approach Macquarie Harbour, before picking up again for a sleigh ride across the southern coast of Tasmania to the finish line on the River Derwent.

Race watchers and sailors alike will be delighted by the downwind colourful spinnaker start in a light east to north-east breeze of seven to ten knots, and as the yachts head into Bass Strait, they will welcome a consistent 15 knot easterly breeze, offering near perfect conditions for the fleet.

Port Philip Bay will be a sight to behold as the fleet sets their colourful kites for the start of the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Photo credit Steb Fisher

As they approach King Island the wind is expected to swing back to the nor’east and then to the nor’west giving the fleet a comfortable sea state and fast conditions as they start the run down the West Coast of Tasmania, with warm temperatures and sunny skies a treat for sailors after the cool weather Tasmania has experienced so far this summer.

The second half of the race will be dictated by a high-pressure system sitting over Western Australia which is moving south towards Tasmania. This will start testing the navigators and tacticians around Macquarie Harbour with one weather model predicting the winds staying with the fleet, while the other has the breeze softening off on Wednesday night in anticipation of a south-westerly wind shift. After that, the models merge again, predicting moderate following breezes from Maatsuyker Island for a fast run all the way to the River Derwent. 

Hartbreaker is all set for a good race to to Hobart in the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Photo credit Steb Fisher

The race record of 1 day 17 hours 28 minutes and 59 seconds, set by Shortwave in 2008, is not likely to be under threat at this early stage, however the hot moist air and predicted warm weather could create an interesting transition zone around Strahan while the fleet waits for the southerly change to kick in.

The sunny weather will be welcome news for race debutantes and those keen to observe the remarkable West Coast landscape and entertaining sea-life in all its glory.

The 435 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart Yacht 50^th milestone race, organised by the ORCV with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron, starts off Portsea Pier at 12pm on 27 December. 

For Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: www.orcv.org.au 

For all media contacts call Delma 0419 388018 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Sail the Virtual 50th Westcoaster with Sailonline

The above image of Lord Jiminy (the only Class 40 in the fleet)

So, you're a family member, a friend, or a supporter of one of the Westcoaster teams, or maybe you are a sailor who just wants to be a part of this amazing event.

Thanks to Sailonline (SOL) we we can offer you a brand new (virtual) Class 40 yacht to race in this year's online version of the race. And the best news is that it's totally free!

As a 'buddy-up' race all of the real-life yachts will be visible on the race-course which may allow you to claim bragging rights at the finish.

The SOL event opens for registrations at 12:00 Fri 23-Dec 2022 AEST via the following link: https://www.sailonline.org/races/1633/register/

Sailonline is a true simulation meaning that we are all sailing a virtual Class 40 we are all sailing in the same winds that the real fleet should be experiencing according to the GFS model predictions. There are lots of tutorials and guidance available via the sailonline.org site. The race chat is also a great place to ask questions and receive guidance.

Note that an hour before the start all virtual boats are towed back to the starting line and remain there until the start of the race.

Give it a go and challenge your mates whether they be sailing in real life or virtually via SOL.

 

MARITIMO’S COMPETITIVE SPIRIT OVERCOMES CHALLENGES AND WILL NOW COMPETE IN THE 50TH RUNNING OF THE 50TH MELBOURNE HOBART “WESTCOASTER” RACE

Friday 16 December at 7 pm, Maritimo TP52, struck horrific conditions on her journey south, cutting short the delivery trip to Sydney.  Battling these conditions, for a total of 18 hours and they pulled into Coffs Harbour.  Maritimo 11 was thoroughly inspected for damaged to her hull and instruments. When the floorboards were removed, some minor cracking of the secondary tabbing on the longitudinal frame in front of the mast was discovered.

For safety concerns Maritimo withdrew its TP52 entry and pursed the option of its Schumacher 54 yacht.

Maritimo 11, Photo Supplied from Maritimo

After all avenues were exhausted to enable Maritimo to enter a spare boat, Maritimo received the news yesterday that they will not compete in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, following the final determination of the International Jury last night.

The International Jury deliberated on the case between Maritimo, represented by skipper, Michael Spies, and the RSHYR Organising Authority (OA), and has made its decision: Maritimo 11 (USA 16), the Schumacher 54 will not be allowed to replace the damaged TP52, known as MEX 952.

Maritimo entered both its primary and spare yachts but withdrew its spare USA 16 on 1 December after suggestions from the OA.

When MEX 952 was damaged enroute to Sydney over the weekend, Maritimo sought to replace it with the original entry, the Schumacher 54 known as USA 16.

After consideration of the facts, the International Jury cited the conditions of the Notice of Race (NoR) which “makes a clear and unambiguous rule that a determination of the OA as to the eligibility criteria for entry is final and binding”.

“The OA holds the rights to the Race as well as a significant duty of care. The Jury recognises this duty of care of the OA and is guided by the NoR 5 in that the decision regarding eligibility should be at the sole discretion of the OA.

“The owner/person in charge decided to withdraw USA 16 from the Race. While this may have resulted from suggestions from the OA, the decision to withdraw the entry was made by the person in charge of USA 16 and this person was someone with significant ocean racing experience (including 44 times in this race). The decision to withdraw the initial entry was the fault of the owner/person in charge.”

The five-person International Jury of the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart comprised David Tillet AUS NJ - Chairman, Jamie Sutherland NZL IJ/NU, Richard Slater AUS IJ/IU, Russell Green NZL NJ/IU, and Phillip Mazard FRA IJ/NU.

Speaking in response to the decision, Maritimo founder, Bill Barry-Cotter said, “Of course we are disappointed, and Skipper Michael Spies and crew will be extremely disheartened given their preparation and anticipation of the 2022 edition of what is considered the world’s most challenging yacht races.

“Albeit a bitter pill to swallow, we accept the Jury’s decision and we will instead look to compete in the 50th Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster” race in USA16, whilst looking ahead to preparing the team’s TP52 for  a busy racing calendar in 2023, and challenging for the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Tattersall Cup . May this year’s Race be extremely competitive, and all yachts involved sail safely to Hobart.”

The Maritimo 11 (Schumacher 54) left Hope Island today at 10 am and head out on a 860 nautical mile sail to Portsea that will take 4-5 days.  This is a demonstration of the never say die attitude and belief in the competitiveness of their boat and the Maritimo highly experienced crew. There is a race record up for grabs of 1 day 17hours 28 minutes 59 seconds set in 2008. It is the 50th anniversary of the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster.

Jeremy Walton (Race Director on the 50^th Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster" said, ”It's the race to do, being our 50^th time down the Westcoast of Tasmania and we moving fast to work with Michael and his team to get the boat entered and all the compliance work done to make sure they are on the 50^th Melbourne to Hobart start line come December 27th."

"We have some strong boats in the fleet which will no doubt provide some great racing”

About the Melbourne to Hobart "Westcoaster"  - It is a tactical race that challenges not only the skipper and navigator but the whole crew.  The race (435 nautical miles) takes yachts across Bass Strait and race down the beautiful and remote west coast of Tasmania before rounding Australia's most southern point in the Southern ocean and heading to Derwent and Hobart. 

For information on the 50th Melbourne to Hobart “Westcoaster” contact Delma Dunoon - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   0419 388018

December 20, 2022