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Bunbury and Return Ocean Race

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BUNBURY AND RETURN OCEAN RACE - SINCE 1948

The 77th Bunbury and Return Ocean Race is scheduled to start at 9am off Port Beach in North Fremantle on Saturday 8 February 2025. The race will take the fleet out to sea before heading south to Bunbury and return.

Passage race – 170 nautical miles of blue water racing from Fremantle to Bunbury and Return.
In partner with Koombana Bay Sailing Club, Bunbury.
The race is part of the Farrawa Cup Series, Ocean Racing WA Blue Water Series and Ocean Racing WA Siska Series.

The Bunbury and Return Ocean Race is not the longest race in Western Australia but it is the oldest and holds a special place on the ocean racing calendar in the State.

It began in 1948 with a bold venture to sail for 100 ocean miles, overnight down a featureless unlit coast.

An idea by Keith Stevenson, owner of the beautiful Sunset Class yacht Maid Marion, spurred on by the enthusiasm of Cyril Sampson (then Commodore) and Roland Smith who were both motivated by the 1945 inauguration of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Club resolved that an ocean race to Bunbury be organised. An open invitation to all Clubs was sent.

Fifteen yachts entered in the inaugural race which began on 24 February 1948. The start line was inside Fremantle Harbour, opposite ‘B’ Shed on Victoria Quay with the race to begin anytime after sunset when officials decided weather conditions were favourable (that is when the land based easterly had begun). Well wishes cheered as the race started at 1am on the 25th. The course was to Bell and Fairway Buoys, around Rottnest Island to Port, lit by its two lighthouses, then south to Bunbury. Maid Marion was the first to arrive in 23 hrs, 29 mins. From 1949 onwards it became the Bunbury and Return Ocean Race.

The 2016 record which was held by Indian (C.Carter) – 17h 42m 09s was broken in the 2023 race by David Davenport's Crush who completed the race in 16h 26m 21s.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, email [email protected]
or phone 9286 8200
 

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2025 RACE INFORMATION

RACE SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2025
  • 1700 – Race entry closes.

THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2025
  • 1830 – Welcome, Race and Weather Briefing.
  • To be held at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Keane's Point Peppermint Grove.

SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2025
  • 0900 Boat Start off Port Beach in North Fremantle.
  • Blue Water Race, one start for all divisions.
  • Spectator boats welcome
SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY TO FINISH
  • Follow the race online with YB Races. All yachts will carry tracking devices.
  • On a smartphone or tablet, download the app ‘YB Races’ and seach for Bunbury and Return 2025. It’s free to watch

OFFICIAL NOTICE BOARD

All notices to competitors will be published here.
  • Supplementary Sailing Instructions will be posted one week prior to the race commencement.
  • Tracking units will be distributed at the race briefing.
  • Tracker Instructions

PRELIMINARY NOTICE

Preliminary notice for the 2025 race coming soon.

NOTICE OF RACE AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions will be available to view here on publication of the Ocean Racing WA Handbook for the 2024-25 Season.

SUPPLEMENTARY SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Supplementary Sailing Instructions will be issued to all competitors and available to view here one week prior to the race.

RACE ENTRY

Coming Soon

ENTRY LIST

A link to the race entries will be published here once entry opens.

RACE TRACKING

The 2025 race will feature live tracking via a Yellow Brick race track viewer.

Prior to the race, on a smartphone or tablet, download the 'YB Races app' from your store and search for Bunbury and Return 2025.

Direct link to the race viewer will be provided here when available.

 

RESULTS

All results for the 2025 event will be available here on completion of the race.

RACE HISTORY

RESULTS YELLOW BRICK TRACING RACE REPLAY  
2024 Race Replay  
2023 2023 Race Replay  
2022 2022 Race Replay  
2021 2021 Race Replay  
2020 2020 Race Replay  
2019 2019 Race Replay  
2018 2018 Race Replay not available  
2017 2017 Race Replay  
2016 2016 Race Replay  
2015 2015 Race Replay  
2014 2014 Race Replay  



 

OCEAN RACING WA SEASON HANDBOOK

A link to the Ocean Racing WA (ORWA)  "Yellow Book" will be available here once published.