Boxing Day Bonanza on Port Phillip Bay

Over 500 yachties will take to the water for the 2024 Ronstan Cock of the Bay Race and if the early weather forecast holds true, a new race record could be on the cards.

Port Phillip Bay will be a fiesta of colour and action, providing spectacular entertainment for the hundreds of spectators that support this traditional sailing event hosted by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV).

Colourful spinnakers will fill the skyline shortly after the start Photo Steb Fisher

The entry list for the Ronstan Cock of the Bay Race, a highly regarded fixture on Victoria’s sailing calendar, is likely to hit the one hundred mark well before Australia’s top order at the MCG, and sailors will enjoy the opportunity to have some fun and let their hair down after a busy Christmas Day.

For others it is another opportunity to fine tune their boat handling, crew work and tactics in preparation for upcoming ocean racing events.

ORCV Commodore and co-skipper of White Spirit, Cyrus Allen, regards the race as an important part of Australia’s Boxing Day traditions.

“The Cock of the Bay unites sailors from around the Bay in a challenging, but always fun, Melbourne classic.

“A welcome addition to Christmas celebrations, with typically over 100 boats competing, this race reflects the camaraderie of sailors from all clubs and is an important warm up race for those entered in the Melbourne to Hobart race the following day,” said Allen.   

Seven days out from the start of the race, Race Director Simon Dryden is forecasting a fast downwind race noting mainly strong winds from the north, likely turning westerly later in the day as the fleet takes on the sprint from Port Melbourne and heads to the Mornington Yacht Club.

“Early weather predictions may put the 24 year old race record into contention,” said Dryden.

The race record was set in 2000 by Sportscar in a time of 1 hour, 58 minutes and 28 seconds, and with nine Melbourne-based yacht clubs vying for the title, competition is expected to be intense.

Veloce will be looking to back again a Line Honours win at least Photo Michael Currie

While its early days, boats currently looking good for line honours include the light and speedy Scarlet Runner, skippered by Rob Date from Sandringham Yacht Club, while Phil Simpfendorfer will be hoping for a repeat of his 2023 line honours win on the Melges 40, Veloce 4.

While these boats will be quick, race followers should keep an eye on the beautifully appointed and well-sailed Frers 61, MRV, skippered by the experienced Damien King, while Trigger (Rowan Keast) and Fargo (Ari Abrahams), will also be in contention.

A handicap winner is hard to pick at this stage, but those in the know are pointing to Unprecedented as an early favourite with the boat in top form after winning the recent West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint in similar conditions to those forecast for race day.

Her pace downwind coupled with the advantage of an intimate understanding of sailing conditions around the Mornington coastline will make this boat hard to beat.  

The ever reliable J111, Ginan, skippered by Cameron McKenzie and Nigel Jones, will be pushing for the handicap win and will also have the benefit of local knowledge of the often fickle winds experienced in the area as the land warms up and the boats get closer to the Mornington cliffs.

Garry Anderson has already bagged a hat-trick of previous wins with his Beneteau 47.7 Esprit, but with the current forecast, might struggle to net a fourth win.

The Beneteau First 40s, Wicked (Mark Welsh) and Bandit (Ashley Trebilcock) are part of the mid-sized fleet contesting the race with seasoned crew who will run their boats well under the forecast weather conditions.

While it’s a quick race around the coastline of Port Phillip Bay, the Ronstan Cock of the Bay Race is not without its challenges with skippers often ‘rolling the dice’ when choosing whether to stay in close to the shore, hoping for a lift from the hills around Mornington, or to go further out in the Bay to find stronger winds.

“People think the Ronstan Cock of the Bay is an easy race, but it can be quite tactical as the boats move further down the [Port Phillip] Bay if the winds are shifting.” said Dryden.

The 21 nautical mile race starts at 10.30am on Thursday the 26th of December 2024.

Locals and holiday makers can watch the colourful spectacle from several major Bay locations including Port Melbourne, St Kilda Pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham and Hampton foreshore as the fleet heads towards the Mornington finish.

Crowds will enjoy the spectacle from the shoreline Photo Michael Currie

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

Line honours pending after closest race for years

Under grey skies and light rain falling, 84 yachts with more than 600 crew onboard, set sail from Port Melbourne in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s annual Cock of the Bay race to Blairgowrie.

New arrival to the Victorian racing fleet, Leigh Dorrington’s Reichel Pugh Ccr 50 Original Sin has taken provisional line honours, ahead of John Paterson's Farr 45 Rush, which led the fleet across the start line off Port Melbourne at 10.30am. Original Sin crossed the finishing line at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron on Mornington Peninsula five hours and twenty-two minutes later and is now awaiting review of a protest.

Rush and Original Sin dual all the way to Blairgowrie Photo Michael Currie

With a strong southerly blowing during the day most of the fleet tacked continuously across the rhumbline to the Mornington mark before easing sheets and enjoying a fast reach to the finish line.

Media boats and news helicopters followed the fleet as they started and with a strong southerly and choppy sea it was time for the crews to work off their Christmas lunch.

At the first mark it was Bryan Dorman’s 60-footer Journey leading the fleet closely followed by Robert Green’s Pacific 50 Dream with Original Sin nipping at their heels.

Rounding the Sandringham mark navigators were put to work plotting the best southerly course to the finish. As they passed the Mornington mark, Race Director Jeremy Walton commented, “I could not see any gaps between the first four yachts. Original Sin, Dream, Journey and Rush. It's going to be close, very close race to the line”

Walton added “the Beneteau First forties have had a magnificent run down the bay” and are nipping at the heels of the bigger boats. As they passed the last mark it was a drag race to the finish. This is one of the best Cock of the Bay races we have seen for years”

For 5 hours the fleet tacked all the way to Blairgowrie Photo Michael Currie.

Race results when finalised will be posted at https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2021-22/2021COB/series.htm?ty=33173

 Provisional Race Result are:

AMS Divison 1:  1st Espirit  2nd Niche, 3rd BKT Jamhu
AMS Division 2: 1st Alibi, 2nd Bacardi 3rd Expresso
AMS Division 3: 1st Mr Bojangles, 2nd Sundowner, 3rd E'toile

ORC Division 1: 1st Espirit, 2nd Wicked, 3rd Niche
ORC Divison 2: 1st Alibi, 2nd Arch De Triomphe 3rd Expresso
ORC Division 3:  1st Sundowner

PHS Division 1:  Espirit  2nd Oobleck  3rd Dream
PHS Division 2:  1st Vixen, 2nd Bacardi 3rd Alibi
PHS Division 3:  1st Sundowner 2nd E'Toile

DH:  1st Team - Alex Macadie 2nd Gusto Solo

Cruising Division 1:  1st Stampede
Cruising Division 2: 1st  Bushranger, 2nd Xpresso, 3rd True Colours (SM444)
Cruising Divison 3:  1st Razzle Dazzle, 2nd Sundowner, 3rd E'Toile

OMR:  1st It's a Privilege

Line Honours:  To be confirmed