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