2026 Melbourne to King Island | Race Updates
Follow the Melbourne to King Island fleet on Blue Water Tracks and via our social media channels (Facebook & Instagram) or check back in here during the race.
17.21 Line Honour - 7 March 2026
Phoenix 49, skippered by Brenton and Jennifer Carnell, has taken out Line Honours in the 2026 King Island race. Their first ocean race as new owners of this boat (previously known as Carrera S). Congratulations. The evening will be filled with boats arriving and crews coming in to enjoy the King Island delights.
1:00pm Race Update – 7 March 2026
After 20 hours of racing and with around 30 nautical miles to the finish, less than one nautical mile separates the leading boats Phoenix 49 and Cadibarra in the battle for line honours, with The Jackal also firmly in the mix.
The stronger southerly breeze has now begun to reach the leaders and boat speeds are starting to increase. On handicap, Cadibarra currently holds the advantage, with How Bizarre, skippered by previous winner Scott Robinson, and the youthful crew aboard Voodoo Child, skippered by Jason Farnell, also well placed.
As the fleet approaches King Island, tides and currents may yet play a role, with the leaders facing an adverse tide until around 6pm, potentially giving the chasing boats an opportunity to close the gap.
Keep an eye on the race tracker as the fleet begins to reach the stronger winds, with the first arrivals expected later this afternoon.
Race Update – 7:00am, 7 March 2026
Fourteen hours into the race and fifty-eight nautical miles from the start, two clear strategies are emerging, with less than one nautical mile separating the line honours leaders approaching from different directions.
Cadibarra, the Sydney 41 skippered by Paul Roberts, has held a much more westerly track, picking up stronger winds and 3–4 knots more boat speed. Meanwhile, Phoenix 49, along with the balance of the fleet, is sailing east of the rhumb line and holds a narrow line honours lead of less than a nautical mile over Cadibarra.
As the fleet approaches King Island, the question now is whether Cadibarra will find enough wind to be pulled clear of the top of the island and hold its advantage.
Newcomers to Category 2 racing, Belle and Godzilla, are also in strong contention on handicap. At this stage, there is very little separation across the fleet, with positions continuing to shift.
With the southerly winds expected to build in the coming hours, the handicap picture may soon become clearer so keep an eye on the tracker https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2026-melbourne-to-king-island-race
One thing is certain: before long, the crews will be swapping their onboard meals for King Island’s legendary hospitality and a well-earned steak sandwich, later this afternoon.
9:00pm Race Update, 6 March 2026
Just under four hours into the race to King Island, the fleet is settling into the night.
On the AMS leaderboard, Phoenix 49, skippered by Brenton and Jennifer Carnell, currently leads Voodoo Child, while Vagabond holds third. Not far behind, Quixotic and Cadibarra remain well within striking distance.
The next eight hours will be critical, with the fleet expected to encounter a developing light wind patch. Strategic decisions on how far to sail west before tacking could help decide the winners. Belle’s earlier tack may prove decisive in the contest for line honours with Phoenix 49, while The Jackal, despite starting fifteen minutes late, has put itself right back in the mix after an early move to the east.
As the fleet works its way across Bass Strait, attention now turns to how each boat navigates the approaching lighter conditions overnight, and whose strategy will see them slip through the patch first and into the stronger winds.
Keep an eye on the tracker here https://race.bluewatertracks.com/2026-melbourne-to-king-island-race
5.30 Just after the Race Start 6 March 2026
Phoenix49 leading the fleet Photo David Schuller
Right on time in near-perfect conditions of 13 knots from the south and less than 2m swell, the 2026 Race to King Island is underway. A fleet of 22 yachts and 150 crew are now racing across Bass Strait, with the famous King Island steak sandwiches and legendary volunteer hospitality awaiting them at the finish.
As expected, the larger yachts Belle and Phoenix were first to round virtual mark ORCV1, with Phoenix stretching the lead by the time they reached virtual mark ORCV2.
Close behind and off to a strong start are Shimmer, How Bizarre, Jac Hoi and Cadibarra, keeping the pressure on the leaders. As the fleet exits the Heads, all boats have been instructed to remain west of the Pilot Boarding Ground due to shipping traffic.
Follow the fleet live on the tracker for your favourites and check out the leaderboard:
