2023 Ronstan Cock of the Bay popularity reigns

The 2023 Ronstan Cock of the Bay yacht race is brimming with a magnificent mix of classic and cutting-edge boats in the near 100 boat fleet, which will take to the waters of Port Philip Bay on Boxing Day to compete in this iconic race.

The beloved Boxing Day race is a favourite race of the Victorian sailing community, offering the perfect opportunity to share some post-Christmas cheer while sailing on the expansive waterway which offers spectacular coastlines, world-class swimming beaches, challenging waters and unique marine life.

The return of the beautifully designed classic yacht Mercedes III to the colourful and diverse fleet will infuse this year’s race with a healthy shot of nostalgia with the yacht holding a special place in the nation's hearts.

Built in 1966, Mercedes III is to this day one of Australia's best-known ocean racing yachts and was part of the three-boat Australian team that won the prestigious Admiral’s Cup series in 1967, the first victory for Australia in the event.

Mercedes III, a Kaufman-designed boat, will be skippered by Martin Ryan from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.

Mercedes III: A living legend and timeless beauty is returning to the Bay, evoking glorious maritime nostalgia. Photo supplied by Martin Ryan

While the ethos of the race is fun and friendship across competitors and clubs alike, the event is not without its challenges, with skippers often rolling the dice on whether to stay close to the shore to get a lift from the hills of Mornington or to head out into the Bay to find more breeze.

There will be plenty of interest and action across the fleet, with the 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race crews having a last hit out before the big race down the West Coast of Tasmania to Hobart, while skippers from nine Melbourne-based clubs will be looking for bragging rights in the clubhouse at the end of the day.

ORCV Race Director Martin Vaughan is counting down the days until the start of the race, noting a big fleet can present some additional pressure for the Race Committee.

“It’s great to see close on 100 boats on the start line - it makes the Ronstan Cock of the Bay one of Melbourne’s largest yacht races in terms of numbers.

“It’s going to be exciting on the start line with such a large fleet, and our handicapper will have their work cut out for them given the breadth of boats entered.

“If the wind comes in from the north, it will be a fast race and the record could be under threat,” said Vaughan. 

The current race record was set in 2000 by Sportscar in 1 hour, 58 minutes and 28 seconds.

The weather will certainly be a critical factor in determining line honours.

If northerly breezes dominate, then the high-performance, cutting-edge boats like Melges IC37 Fargo, skippered by Ari Abrahams and Veloce 4, the Melges 40, skippered by Phil Simpfendorfer will be favourites for line honours while southerly breezes should see boats such as Greg Clinnick’s Another Chapter and Mike And Mark Welsh’s Wicked fighting for the win.

The favourite for AMS handicap would have to be Garry Anderson, skipper of Esprit, who will be aiming for a hat trick after winning the previous two races along with strong results in the ORC and PHS categories.

Esprit: Garry Anderson's silent force aims for a hat trick triumph. Photo: Dave Hewison

Abrahams is impressed with the performance of his new boat, Fargo, which was brought out from the UK in April and performed well in the 2023 Hamilton Island Race Week a few months ago.

“We are excited to be sailing our first passage race on the new boat. If the winds are in our favour, we expect to be in the first few boats across the line. If we stay in touch with the Melges 40, which is a faster boat, we will do well as we have a ratings advantage,” said Abrahams.

Fargo: New, swift, unstoppable. Ari Abrahams commands the winds for victory. Photo: Dave Hewison

The 2023 Ronstan Cock of the Bay is the first race of the three-race Sovereign Series, which includes the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race and the King of the Derwent.

The 21 nautical mile Ronstan Cock of the Bay Race starts at 10:30 am on Boxing Day near Station Pier in Port Melbourne.

The race offers sailing fans several vantage points to witness the wonderful spectacle of this most popular race, including Port Melbourne, St Kilda Pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham, and the Hampton foreshore.

Jane Austin/ORCV media

Further information: Steph McDonald 0431 286 745 /  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

MRV SETS NEW RACE RECORD IN THE COCK OF THE BAY YACHT RACE AND FIRMS AS FAVOURITE FOR THE 50^TH MELBOURNE TO HOBART  

The city of Melbourne is a sports mecca in summer and fans were treated to a sporting spectacle today with a 100-boat fleet competing in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Cock of the Bay Yacht Race. 

MRV on the way to victory and a race_record_in_the_2022_Cock_of_the_Bay_Yacht_Race_Image_Michael_Currie

The stunning summer sunshine provided a picturesque backdrop for the race which started in a 5 to 10 knot building breeze on Port Phillip in Victoria.  

Alex Toomey and Andrew Hibbert’s Sayer 12, Ryujin, sailing in the double-handed division, had a brilliant start, showing the class of the proven performers from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. 

Ryujin set a cracking pace in the 2022 Cock of the Bay Yacht Race on Port Philip Bay today Image Michael Currie

Chris Jackson’s Sydney 38, Shining Sea and Damian Thomas’s Cape 31 OD, PP1 sportsboat gave the bigger boats a run for their money off the start line, taking advantage of the light conditions on the Bay.  

But as predicted, the day belonged to Damien King, with his Frers 61 MRV, setting a new record finishing the race in under three hours, shaving 1 hour and 13 mins off the race record. Seasoned sailor, King and his internationally renowned crew, picked the conditions from the start, taking the pin end, and led the fleet for most of the race. 

Gerry Cantwell’s Marten 49, Carrera S, finished in second place across the line, followed by Rob Date’s Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner. 

Rob Dates Scarlet Runner looks deadly on the race track in the 2022 Cock of the Bay Yacht Race Image Michael Currie

The Cock of the Bay Yacht Race serves as a lead-in for the 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race which starts on Tuesday 27 December at 12 noon from Portsea Pier.  

After today’s result, MRV is shaping up as the firm favourite to take line honours in the anniversary race, despite strong competition from a quality fleet. 

The updated forecast for the 50^th anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race is for light northerly winds for the start building for a fast spinnaker run to King Island, before a strong westerly comes in.  

The fleet will hunker down for the run down the West Coast of Tasmania before encountering light airs rounding Maatsuyker Island and then into a head wind for the finish. 

Close to 50 boats are expected on the start line of the anniversary race to Hobart tomorrow.

Top 3 Results being:

AMS Division 1 - 1st MRV (Syd 5), 2nd Niche (SM4000) 3rd Shining Sea (6338)
AMS Division 2 - 1st Esprit (SM477), 2nd Xpresso (SM6737) 3rd Alibi (SM178)
AMS Divison 3 - 1st Maximum Limit, 2nd Young Bears, 3rd Windsong of Mton

NEAR RECORD FLEET FOR 2022 COCK OF THE BAY YACHT RACE

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) Cock of the Bay Yacht Race, or Boxing Day Dash, is living up to its reputation as a hugely popular 21 nautical mile post-Christmas race with over 100 boats entered in this year’s event, in what could be a near record fleet for the classic race.

Port Philip Bay will be awash with colour as the 100-strong fleet race past major bayside locations, putting on a magnificent show for spectators and sailors alike.

The race starts at 10:30 on Boxing Day (Monday 26 December) near Station Pier in Port Melbourne and will pass close to St Kilda Pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham, and the Hampton foreshore, finishing at Mornington Yacht Club, providing plenty of vantage points for spectators relaxing along the shoreline.

It will be hectic on the water from the get-go with plenty of pressure piled on the long start line. Winning the start in such a large fleet will be tough so expect skippers to claim and defend a lane well before the gun, while a few of the adventurous ones might try a port tack approach to find a hole on the line.

Ari Abrahams will be hoping for a late Christmas gift and a clean start in his pursuit of a third overall race win on the trot for his X yacht, Xpresso, however, he will be facing fierce competition from the large and diverse fleet.

Xpresso competing in the 2019 Cock of the Bay Yacht Race Photo credit Bruno Cocozza

Favourites for line honours include Antony Walton’s Reichel/Pugh 46, Hartbreaker, Gerry Cantwell’s Marten 49, Carrera S, Kevin Curtis and Jimmy Oosterweghel’s Class 40 yacht, Lord Jiminy, and Rob Date’s sleek racing boat, the Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner.

The Cock of the Bay Yacht Race serves as a feeder race for this year’s 50^th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race which starts at 12 noon the following day, so Abrahams can expect some tough competition from the anniversary fleet which will be consolidating boat procedures and refining their crew work before their run down to Hobart.

The race includes divisions for monohulls, multihulls, double handed and cruising non-spinnaker boats under AMS, ORCc, IRC and PHS handicaps.

The weather forecast is for a light southerly breeze of around six knots at the start of the race, which is likely to favour the lighter sports boats, building to 15 to 20 knots as the race progresses. Particular interest will focus on various races within the race such as the five Beneteau First 40s fighting tooth and nail: Mark Welsh’s Wicked, Jim Leckey’s Oobleck, Nick Foa’s Protagonist, David Morrell’s Just Chillin’ and Ashley Trebilock’s Bandit.

Lord Jiminy will be a boat to watch in the 2022 Cock of the Bay Yacht Race Photo credit Michael Currie

The fleet will include several Melbourne to Hobart contenders from Tasmania with top performances expected from Brent McKay’s Bakewell-White Z39, Jazz Player, which has good form against the mostly Victorian fleet, and Richard Grant’s Knoop 39, Cromarty Magellan.

While the Tasmanian sailors may be in good form, there’s nothing like the benefit of local knowledge, so watch out for the street smarts of Mark Nicholson and his crew on the J121, Javelin, while Steve Twentyman’s Hanse 505, Shimmer, will give the race a good shake especially as the wind builds.

Contenders in the double-handed division include ORCV Past Commodore, Grant Dunoon sailing the Moody 54 Ds, Blue Water Tracks, also a Melbourne to Hobart contender, Dan Morrow’s 11 Metre One Design, Affirmative Action, which placed second in the Festival of Sails in both 2021 and 2022, and Greg Laing’s Beneteau Oceanis 43, Letoile.

The race record for monohulls was set in 2020 by Paul Buchholz's Cookson 50, Extasea in a time of time of 4 hours, 2 minutes and 9 seconds.

The race is also a favourite for sailors and their families, with many using the event as a sailing sendoff prior to the start of the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race.

Damien King, skipper of the Frers 61, Margaret Rintoul V, says the boat will be chock a block with family and friends for the race. “We will be taking every family member that’s in Melbourne out for the race – it’s so much fun and it will be great to sail in such a big fleet,” said King.

For Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: https://www.orcv.org.au/sailing/races/boxingday-dash-cock-of-the-bay