Commonly known as the Westcoaster, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race also known as M2H commences from Port Phillip, Victoria and concludes in Hobart, Tasmania. It is run by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.
in 2007, for the 50th anniversary of the Rudder Cup (Melbourne to Launcenton), the ORCV decided to abandon the "West Coaster" for the year and instead run an "East Coaster", which would follow the Melbourne to Launceston course then allow Melbourne to Hobart yachts to cross the line of that race, then continue on to Hobart via the notorious "Banks Strait" between Flinders Island and the Tasmanian main land. Banks Strait has a horrid reputation for dangerous sea conditions caused by the Bass Strait westerlies going against a very strong tidal flow.
The "East Coaster" was such a success, with around 50 or so boats contesting the race, that organisers could not ignore it. It was then decided that both an East Coaster and West Coaster would be run and this occurred in both 2008 and 2009. It has been less successful that the special event, but has nonetheless attracted a good number of boats.
The "West Coaster" however is still considered to be the real race.
Line Honours Winners
- 1990 Wild Thing (Vic)
- 1991 Ronstan Wild Thing (Vic)
- 1998 Longitude (Vic)
- 1999 Cadibarra 7 (Sole Finisher)
- 2000 Wild One
- 2001 Kontrol (Vic)
- 2002 Kontrol (Vic)
- 2003 Indec Merit
- 2004 Quetzalcoatl (Tas)
- 2005 Helsal II (Vic)
- 2006 No Fearr (Vic)
- 2007 Not run - East Cost race run instead
- 2008 Shortwave (NSW)
- 2009 Jazz Player (Vic)
Handicap Honours Winners (IRC)
- 2000 Anaconda (Vic)
- 2007 Not run - East Cost race run instead
- 2008 Shortwave
- 2009 Jazz Player
Handicap Honours Winners (AMS)
- 1990 Paladin (Vic)
- 1997 Island Trader (Vic)
- 1998 Longitude (Vic)
- 1999 Cadibarra 7 (Vic)
- 2000 Tevake (Vic, Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, Angus Fletcher)
- 2001 Island Trader (Vic)
- 2002 Deja Blue (Vic)
- 2003 Wavelength (Vic)
- 2004 Under Capricorn (Vic)
- 2005 Quetzalcoatl (Tas)
- 2006 A Crewed Interest (Vic)
- 2007 Not run - East Cost race run instead
- 2008 Tevake II (Vic, Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, Angus Fletcher)
- 2009 Alien (Vic)
Handicap Honours Winners (PHD)
- 1997 Granny Apple (Vic)
- 1998 Tevake (Vic, Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, Angus Fletcher)
- 2000 Sea Eagle (Vic)
- 2001 San Miguel (Vic)
- 2002 Deja Blue (Vic)
- 2003 Rum Beat (Vic)
- 2004 Under Capricorn (Vic)
- 2005 By Order Of The Secretary (BOOTS) (Vic)
- 2006 A Crewed Interest (Vic)
- 2007 Not run - East Cost race run instead
- 2008 Spirit of Downunder (Vic)
- 2009 Jazz Player (Vic)
Famous quotes containing the words yacht and/or race:
“I’ve given parties that have made Indian rajahs green with envy. I’ve had prima donnas break $10,000 engagements to come to my smallest dinners. When you were still playing button back in Ohio, I entertained on a cruising trip that was so much fun that I had to sink my yacht to make my guests go home.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
“This seems to be advanced as the surest basis for our belief in the existence of gods, that there is no race so uncivilized, no one in the world so barbarous that his mind has no inkling of a belief in gods.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)