Ocean Racing Club of Victoria

King Island Ocean Yacht Race

Ocean Race distance:  114 nautical miles 
Safety Category: 2
Start Location: Queenscliff
Start Time:  9pm AEDT
Start Date: 7th March 2025
Race Record: 09h 50m 21s by PRIMITIVE COOL in 2014


The ORCV ocean yacht race to Grassy, King Island, is conducted on the Labour Day weekend in March every year.

This is a Category 2 race that starts at Queenscliff, Victoria, inside Port Phillip Bay, proceeds across the Bass Strait to the finish off at Grassy Harbour, King Island, Tasmania.

While the race to King Island is one of the shorter ocean races at a mere 114 miles, it presents some unique navigational challenges. Far from being a pushover, this race is one of the hardest to get right, given the currents around King Island.

The race is often won or lost in the concluding stages, depending on where yachts land. Significant gains and losses can occur due to wind and tidal influences on the approach to Grassy Harbour.

The Grassy Harbour offers a safe anchorage in all weather and the legendary hospitality of the King Island Boat Club. The steak sandwiches alone are worth the trip.

This race is part of the Offshore Championship.

 

Race History & Past Winners

Donated by the Municipality of King Island, the Queenscliff to Grassy 1st Overall Trophy is awarded to the measurement category with the most significant number of entries. 

YearBoatSkipper
1973 Four Winds SW Gibson
1974 Destiny II GF Chapman
1975 Pajen FW Short
1976 Apollo II RK Thurston
1977 Aquila BW Edmunds
1978 Apollo II R&I Thurston
1979 Apollo II R&I Thurston
1980 Pirra  S Shield
1981 - (No Race Held) -
1982 Audacious L Massoni
1983 Morning After  
1984 Predator D Milliran
1985 Damel Chas Jacobsen
1986 Indian Pacific Chas Jacobsen
1987 Indian Pacific Chas Jacobsen
1988 Bacardi Bacardi Syndicate
1989 Prime Suspect R Kenyon
1990 Daffra Sunscreens H Hertzberg
1991 Scorpion N Sedawie
1992 Cotton Blossom II E Barron
1993 Shenandoah II R White
1994 Prime Example C McSorley
1995 Stampede  
1996 Bacardi G Ainley/ J Williams
1997 JLW Chutzpah B Taylor
1998 Hi Jack J Parkinson
1999 Bacardi G Ainley/ J Williams
2000 By Order of the Secretary       R Billings/ J Porter
2001 Bacardi G Ainley/ J Williams
2002 Cadibarra N Jones
2003 Bacardi G Ainley/ J Williams
2004 Bacardi G Ainley/ J Williams
2005 Rough Red Robinson/Schenk
2006 Living Doll M Hiatt
2007 Spirit of Downunder L Ford
2008 Georgia G Ainley/ J Williams
2009 Extasea P Buchholz
2010 Magic Carpet D Coates
2011 Scarlet Runner R Date
2012 Calm J van Derslot
2013 Scarlet Runner R Date
2014 Primitive Cool J Newbold
2015 Scarlet Runner R Date
2016 A Cunning Plan M Chew
2017 Hartbreaker T Walton
2018 Hartbreaker T Walton
2019 Under Capricorn B Carreto
2020 White Noise D Edwards
2021 White Noise D Edwards.
2022 Rozinante A Middleton
2023 Another Chapter N Sargeant
2024 Ginan C McKenzie / N Jones

 

Municipality of King Island Perpetual 1st Overall

King Island News

Ginan wins prestigious King Island Trophy Turquoise blue skies and seas, local cheeses, freshly caught crayfish and sizzling rib-eye steak greeted the nearly...

2024 King Island Winners are.... Congratulations to all the crews who raced in the 2024 King Island race. A race that offered many challenges where the...

2024 King Island Race Updates Watch the fleet on the tracker here https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2024-melbourne-to-king-island-race Check back here...

Ocean Racers Set Course for Destination King Island On 9th March 2024, the 114 nautical mile race across Bass Strait, organised by the Ocean Racing Club...

Final Reminders – 2024 King Island Race   Best Photo Competition Join the Whatsapp Media Group here Get in on the action! Enter our Best Photo...

Manage your waste and protect King Island’s Penguins We love our race destinations and the unique natural beauty that King Island offers. Its ruggedness and...

orcv logo reversed

3 Aquatic Drive, Albert Park VIC 3206 Ph. 0493 102 744 E. orcv@orcv.org.au