2025 Melbourne to Hobart | Race Updates
Follow the Melbourne to Hobart fleet on Blue Water Tracks.
Race Update December 30, 7.30am
View around Maatsuyker Photo Matt Setton
One lesson from this third evening is pretty clear, it pays to keep pushing after dark. For the second night in a row, Vagabond and Joan Lorraine have struggled to find speed overnight, while Alien has once again used the evening hours to close the gap on leading boats.
Throughout the night, The Jackal charted a course closer to shore. But with weaker and more fickle winds there, it hasn't paid off.
Faster Forwards Matt Fahey commented this morning abeam of SE Cape, "It has been a frustratingly slow night across the bottom with very fickle breeze, but there are some promising signs of the breeze filling in this morning"
It's opened the door for Faster Forward, who’s chipped away at the lead and closed the gap down to 8 nautical miles. Alien had an even bigger gain, cutting their deficit to The Jackal in half, sitting now just 15 miles behind.
Those overnight moves have shaken up the standings on the AMS handicap: Alien is now in a very strong leading position, and The Jackal has slipped from second to third, at least for now!
Later today on the Southern coastline, the breeze is expected to build to around 25 knots. With wind coming from behind the boats, this should set up for a fast, exciting run toward the finish, likely with the big downwind sails flying.
Next up is the final test: the run into the Derwent River, where things can change quickly and winds can once again challenge.
Conditions in the Derwent look like a steady 7 to 10 knots with the wind direction oscillating between the south-east and south-west. The first boat currently predicted to arrive late afternoon.
With the leaderboard constantly changing with tacks and different strategies put into play and winds building, it's not a clear win as yet, so keep an eye on the tracker during today https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-hobart-westcoaster
Race Update December 29, 8pm (<100nm to go)
The Jackal, the Ker 11.3 skippered by Matt Setton, has done a great job to stay out in front and is the first boat to pass Maatsuyker Island. They’re currently 14nm ahead of the Sydney 38 Faster Forward, who in turn are 13nm ahead of Alien.
Earlier today, Alien looked very strong, at one point sitting just half a mile behind Faster Forward, with Alien struggling to find wind in the middle part of the day. That lull has opened the door for Faster Forward, and The Jackal has been quick to take advantage and extend the lead.
Further back, the heavier boats, Joan Lorraine and Vagabond, have found it tough to keep the speed up in these lighter conditions. Vagabond even headed west, away from the rhumb line, hunting for extra breeze, a gamble that so far doesn’t appear to have paid off.
All boats have spent the day beating into 7–10 knots of wind with winds predicted to lighten further tonight west of South East Cape.
As they pass South East Cape, they should find more stable conditions, setting up a more consistent beat around Bruny Island.
With The Jackal looking to pass South East Cape in the early hours of tomorrow, it's starting to look increasingly likely that they will take line honours with fewer chances left for boats behind to strike back.
As the race enters the final phase, attention now turns to the handicap battle. Based on race management data, current forecasts and past team performance, Alien is indicating a narrow lead with Faster Forward and The Jackal separated by a predicted three minutes on corrected time. With tired crews, any margin could quickly vanish depending on how they manage the deteriorating conditions.
One thing is clear: it’s still anyone’s race, and this last phase could be the most exciting yet. With the first boat predicted to finish tomorrow afternoon, stay tuned for our update tomorrow morning as we review the fleet’s overnight progress and keep an eye on the tracker https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-hobart...
Race Update December 28, 9 am (44 hours in and 160+ nm to the finish)
Overnight, the fleet has slowed as lighter conditions take hold, with the heavier boats feeling it most in recent hours. The Jackal continues to lead, although the gap has tightened to only a seven nautical mile advantage on Faster Forward.
With the breeze now swung to the east and south-east, the fleet is beating into light winds which are expected to build modestly through the afternoon. Navigation and crew work will be critical as they approach South West Cape, with The Jackal currently forecast to arrive in Hobart early hours of December 30th.
Alien has closed the gap between Faster Forward from 14 to 9 nautical miles. It's a well-oiled crew onboard Alien, this four-time overall winning yacht. Never to be underestimated, Brenan relishes the light air, where the less experienced crews may get tired and can make mistakes.
With a low to the East of Tasmania, a high down south of the fleet, and the Tasmanian landmass, microclimate wind shifts will occur, with Faster Forward geographically placed well to take full advantage of them.
With seventy-six Westcoasters between the Alien crew, could it be their superpower to finish the race strong? Keep an eye on the tracker! https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-hobart-westcoaster
RACE UPDATE December 28, 8 pm
Boats have been in good breeze all day, but now they face what could be their greatest challenge of the race. Navigating a weak and at times confused wind for the next 12 hours.
The Jackal is entering the dying breeze as we write, which gives trailing boats a brief chance to catch up before they too succumb to the change.
While the wind has remained reliably from the north to north-east throughout the day, providing running angles of around 150 degrees, a rapid shift is now forecast. The breeze is expected to swing east, before rotating further south-east, putting the fleet into oscillating headwinds directly between their current position and their next waypoint.
The race could be won and lost in how well each crew can navigate these complexities, with big gains possible for those who can get in phase with wind shifts and stay in phase into the late morning.
Whilst winds are predicted to die out. They should still have enough to sail with ranges between 3kt and 7kt. It's a debate whether these particular light conditions will favour the lighter, more nimble boats able to stay moving in light winds, or whether the momentum that larger boats can carry through temporary lighter patches will then.
At this stage, the first boat is expected to cross the finish line late afternoon tomorrow.
Keep an eye on the tracker as they approach Hobart https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-hobart...
Race Update | Sunday 28 December 9am
There’s very little separating the fleet on corrected time as they make their way through the “slot” between King Island and the Tasmanian mainland.
Late yesterday, both Vagabond and Joan Lorraine opted for a more westerly route after clearing Port Phillip Heads.
With unfinished business in this race, Peter Garner, skipper of Joan Lorraine, a Beneteau Oceanis 46, is enjoying a strong run, averaging 7+ knots. “The smooth seas and light breeze overnight made it very comfortable,” Garner said . “The increasing breeze this morning has given us a better pace as it’s backed onto the beam.”
Up front, positions remain unchanged, with Faster Forward still in pursuit of The Jackal, the leader finding a little extra speed overnight to extend a slender five-nautical-mile advantage. Further back, the western gamble taken by Vagabond, the Beneteau First 47.7 skippered by Andrew McConchie, appears to be paying off, with the gap closing to the experienced crew of Alien, now firmly in their sights.
With winds averaging 17 knots from the NNE, tactics will be critical later today as the breeze is forecast to swing more northerly before easing this evening.
In these early stages, it's anyone's race, so keep an eye on the tracker https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2025-melbourne-hobart-westcoaster
Race Start Update | Saturday 27 December 1500hours
The Jackal / Photo by Neville Rose
The 53rd Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster is officially underway, with an exciting and competitive start unfolding on Port Phillip.
At the gun, Faster Forward was slightly early to the line and was recalled to complete a turn, opening the door for The Jackal to surge through and establish an early lead. Quick to recover, Faster Forward hoisted their Code Zero and rapidly closed the gap as the fleet charged toward the first mark. Approaching the rounding, The Jackal, holding a narrow advantage, successfully called for buoy room and led the fleet around the mark, setting the tone for what promises to be a closely fought competition.
The early duel continued as the fleet headed south, with The Jackal—a Kerr 11.3 skippered by Matt Setton—maintaining momentum to become first through the Heads, claiming the Port Phillip Sea Pilots Trophy, just ahead of Faster Forward. With the two rivals closely matched, the battle at the front is shaping up to be one of the highlights of this year’s race.
