Ginan 50th entry for 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race    

Expectations and entries are running high as the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) prepares to host its 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, with Cam McKenzie and Nigel Jones’ recently purchased J/111, Ginan, marking the occasion by being the 50th entry. 

McKenzie and Jones can boast a long and prosperous association with the 440 nautical mile race. It was the first ocean race for both and one they have won multiple times. It has culminated in their buying a yacht together in time for the 50th ‘Westcoaster’, as the race is familiarly known to yachties. 

Jones’ first was in 1985 on Peter Sajet and Charles Mehrmann’s Farr 11.6 Freelance. He raced with the pair again on their Farr 40, Paladin, in 1989 and placed second overall. At 26 in the 1990 race, Jones skippered Paladin to an overall win. McKenzie, 21 at the time, was aboard for his first offshore race, forging a friendship and sailing bond between the two. 

Paladin 1990 Melbourne to Hobart

Their next Westcoaster was the 25th in 1996, when Jones skippered Cadibarra 7, owned and designed by his famous yacht designer father, Don Jones. They placed third overall in the record 65-boat fleet. 

Nigel (centre holding the sign) and Cameron in the white cap behind, 25th Westcoaster in 1996

Jones and McKenzie next competed together in the gale-swept 1999 race, again on Cadibarra 7. 

“Based on the forecast, we made a tactical decision to go west of King Island to seek an improved sea state and wind conditions, compared to the forecast for the conventional rhumbline course to the east of King Island,” Jones remembers. 

This decision ultimately paid off. Cadibarra 7 was the sole finisher and therefore the winner of that race. 

Cadibarra 7 - 1999 Melbourne to Hobart

In between Melbourne to Hobarts, Jones and McKenzie kept busy sailing 10 Sydney Hobarts together. They now return to the Westcoaster with their own yacht Ginan. And continuing the legacy, McKenzie’s 18-year-old-son, Will, is to be aboard for his first Westcoaster. 

“He is very much looking forward to the challenge and fulfilling an ambition of competing in the Melbourne to Hobart with his dad and his godfather Nigel,” McKenzie explains.

As to Ginan, Jones says, “We sought a boat that could be successfully campaigned offshore, inshore and fleet raced. What attracted us to the J/111, is that while it’s a relatively light boat, it’s designed and built for offshore racing. 

“It’s a fun boat to sail, carrying large asymmetrical kites. It’s fast for its size, very well balanced and has the essentials and comfort below for overnight stays and short cruises. The design also has a successful track record in ocean races and regattas around the world,” Jones enthuses. 

McKenzie, who says they are looking forward to the 50th, adds, “We are coming up to speed with the boat. We’re enjoying racing on Port Phillip against the other local J/111’s: Joust, Veloce and Playlist.”

The two will face stiff competition from an eclectic range of boats come the Westcoaster, John Newbold’s Primitive Cool and Robert Date’s latest Scarlet Runner among them. 

Newbold’s Reichel/Pugh 51 has been successfully campaigned in Melbourne and Sydney over many years. Her claim to fame was winning the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart as Secret Mens Business 3.5.  

The name Scarlet Runner is known far and wide. The latest of Date’s boats by that name is a Carkeek 43 launched in January. Fresh out of the wrapping, she placed fourth in the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race and third in the subsequent Lincoln Week Regatta. 

Distinguished by a menacing black hull, Date says the yacht was specifically designed as a Fast 40+ and her sisterships have delivered outstanding results on the super-competitive European circuit.

"We want to get ready to win the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster. We think this is the boat to do it in,” Date says.

Rob Date's new Scarlet Runner Photo Salty Dingo Media

Other contenders include Wicked (Mike and Mark Welsh, which finished second overall in the 2009 Sydney Hobart and Arcadia, owned by 2021 Victorian Offshore Sailor of the Year, Peter Davison, which speaks for itself.

To start on 27 December at 12pm, the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race is organised by ORCV with the cooperating of the Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS). The race typically offers tactical challenges and exposure to the Southern Ocean. 

The course takes yachts from the start at Queenscliff,  through Port Phillip Heads, into Bass Strait, down the west coast of Tasmania, up the River Derwent and to the finish line at Battery Point in Hobart, providing some of the most gruelling racing in Australia. 

The Category 2 race is open to monohull fully crewed, double-handed and 4 + Autohelm yachts with the winner to be determined under the AMS rule.

Enter the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster here : https://www.orcv.org.au/westcoatster-about-the-race

Cam & Nigel have a great passion for ocean racing and have had lots of amazing sailing experiences and opportunities provided to them through the generosity of owners of the boats they have raced on and feel that now is their time to give back and provide such opportunities to others to experience the thrill and joys of ocean racing.

Nigel, Cam and their crew are very much looking forward to taking part in the 50th running of this great race, the Melbourne To Hobart.

So Nigel & Cam, what's behind the name Ginan?

A regular question we are being asked is what does Ginan mean and why did you give the boat this name? The name Ginan comes from the Wardaman people, traditionally living in the region south-west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Ginan is a Wardaman word for a red dilly-bag filled with songs of knowledge and Ginan is the fifth brightest star of the Southern Cross constellation formerly called Epsilon Crucis. The Southern Cross helped the First Australians to navigate this land and has been used by navigators for centuries to find the location of the south celestial pole.  All of Don Jones’ boats were named Cadibarra after Lake Cadibarrawirracanna in South Australia, the meaning of Cadibarrawirracanna is “the stars were dancing”, hence we feel there is a nice synergy between the names.

Top Photo Ginan at Sail Peninsula

Enter the Westcoaster Here  https://www.orcv.org.au/westcoatster-about-the-race

Sydney 38 ‘Faster Forward’ takes handicap win in ORCV Melbourne to Hobart

 One of the smallest yachts in the fleet, a Sydney 38, has won the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Melbourne to Hobart ‘West Coaster’ Race on handicap.

Matt Fahey and his crew of six sailed Faster Forward across the Derwent River finish line in Hobart at two minutes past three this morning, after more than three days at sea. For a race traditionally won by bigger boats, Faster Forward’s victory is a dream come true for Fahey and proof that experienced crew, very good light wind sailing and making the right course decisions, pay off.

Faster Forward crew before the Hobart race Photo Michael Currie

A race winning decision for Fahey was by picking the right wind at the right time and sailing a course west of King Island, a course west of King Island has only been sailed very rarely before in a Melbourne to Hobart race.

“The race was dominated by light winds and our smaller boat responds well in these conditions. The crew understands how to keep the boat moving in light winds. To our surprise, we were surrounded by much bigger boats for much of the race. I love this boat, it challenges us, and we learn so much every mile we sail,” said Fahey.

Guillaume Leroux from line honours and performance handicap winner, Lord Jiminy said “I’d planned the race to keep it simple, since we were shorthanded with only four crew onboard. Sailing west of King Island was the right decision. We covered more distance, but it gave us a better angle and kept us out of the light air. Keeping it simple when sailing short-handed was our success,”

This year’s 485 nautical mile race was one of the slowest in its 49-year history with the race record set by Shortwave of 1d 17h 28m 59s never under threat.

Race Director Jeremy Walton commented at today’s trophy presentations, “The best feeling for a race director is to get all your fleet home safely, and that’s what we have done. These crews will enjoy a fantastic New Year in Hobart and they will be back next year to do it all again for the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart “

Race Results:

Overall Winner 1st AMS Faster Forward, 2nd AMS Alien, 3rd AMS Audere
ORC 1st Audere 2nd Alien 3rd Vagabond
PHS: 1st Lord Jiminy 2nd Faster Forward 3rd Vagabond
Double Handed 1st Blue Water Tracks
Line Honours Lord Jiminy

Lord Jiminy Takes Line Honours for the Second Time

At one o’clock yesterday afternoon skipper of Lord Jiminy, Guillaume Leroux, set his Class 40 to round Bruny Island. As he set course for Hobart’s finish line, he had sealed the fate of the rest of the fleet.

Good timing, great sailing and a dedicated crew of just four had achieved a dream with a second Line Honours win in the tough Westocoaster having won in 2019, (cancelled in 2020).

This 485 nautical mile race has been one of the slowest in its 49-year history. The race record set by Shortwave in 2008 was never under threat. It was however one of the most unusual and challenging of Westcoaster races. This year, for the first time ever, the fleet split in its decision of how to pass King Island with most of the fleet taking the route to the west.

Lord Jiminy crossed the line at 18:20, an elapsed time of three days, three hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds.

‘I’d planned the race to keep it simple since there were only four onboard. For us going west of King Island was the right decision as the east side was at more risk of light wind. Also, it meant we didn’t need to be close hauled for a long time. We probably covered more distance, but it gave us a better angle and kept us out of the light air. We managed for the whole race to only have about two hours of no wind and we only did two tacks and five gybes. Keeping it simple. The boat sails well in 20 knots of breeze and can beat any boat. Under five knots we are a very slow boat.’ Leroux stated. Leroux was pleased to find that they have also won the Performance Handicap trophy.

Lord Jiminy starting out Photo Steb Fisher

It wasn’t until the early hours of the next morning that they sighted second place getters, Joshua Thring in his Beneteau First 45, Audere finishing at 02:48. Followed at 03:02 by Faster Forward, Matt Fahey’s Sydney 38.

The most important trophy for all yachties is the handicap trophy, in this race the Heemskerk Perpetual Trophy.

This year that trophy will belong to Matt Fahey skipper of Faster Forward.

Fahey was delighted when he said today, ‘I had no concept that in only my second year of sailing my own boat in this race we could win.’

Fahey won the Rookie Skipper award in this boat in 2018. ‘The critical thing was we picked the right angle and the right point of sail, going west, (of King Island) made sense. Importantly the race was light, and our little boat responds well in the light, we understand

how to keep it moving in the light, to our surprise we were surrounded by much bigger boats for much of the race. We love this boat; it challenges us, and we can learn so much’.

The first of the double handed fleet Alex-Team Macadie crossed the line in daylight at 07:04.

Faster Forward Crew take the overall win Photo ORCV Media

Grant Dunoon’s Blue Water Tracks will take the double-handed handicap prize completing a long and tiring journey for just two crew and conveniently arriving in time for the trophy presentations.

Race Director Jeremy Walton commented this afternoon, ‘The best feeling for a race director is to get all your fleet home safely, and that’s what we have done. These crews will enjoy a fantastic New Year here in Hobart and they will be back next year to do it all again for the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster.’

ORCV media

Melbourne to Hobart Line Honours goes to Lord Jiminy

 Guillaume Leroux’s Class 40 Lord Jiminy has claimed line honours in a challenging Melbourne to Hobart yacht race that was beset by range of strong and light winds, before ending with a perfect afternoon sea breeze in Hobart’s Derwent River.

Lord Jiminy is Class 40 design and 13m in length and held a comfortable lead throughout the later stages of the race. Lord Jiminy has claimed back to back line honours wins.

Lord Jiminy crew after the race

Lord Jiminy crossed the line shortly after 6:20 pm in a time of three days, 3 hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds, more than 34 hours slower than race record. Current provision standings see Lord Jiminy first AMS and PHS divisions and winning the prized HeemskerkPerpetual Trophy.

Having completed his 15th Melbourne to Hobart race as crew on Lord Jiminy, Ian Lyall said “This race is like the K2 of races, technically harderand then sailing in the Southern Ocean we had today is what all sailors find exhilarating.”

What a truly magnificent effort to get through the tactical challenges of Bass Strait and then get through the calms to the finishing line," Jeremy Walton ORCV Race Director said.

“An absolutely fabulous effort, and wonderful reward to Lord Jiminy’s crew who prepared the boat and trained so hard to take the Line Honours prize”

This year's 435 nautical mile race has been one of the slower races in the 49-year history, and long way behind Shortwave 2008 race record of 1d 17h 28m 59s and will go down as one of the more difficult, with unprecedented periods of calms and strong winds. Ocean racers expect to be challenged by the Melbourne to Hobart conditions and all entrants are considering doing it again next year making next year's race the 50th Anniversary a very special race.

ORCV media