2010 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race winner Gusto sails into Hobart (Image: Sail World)

The annual Westcoaster and Eastcoaster yacht races set off from Melbourne today.

Also known as the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, the event began life more than forty years ago as a race from Port Phillip down the treacherous west coast of Tasmania to the state capital of Hobart.

Billing itself as one of Australia’s most challenging ocean race, the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s biggest event added the ‘Eastcoaster’ in 2007 with a race towards Launceston, then to Hobart via the island state’s east coast.

The current record holder is Shortwave, which with its crew in 2008 reached Hobart in one day, seventeen hours, twenty-eight minutes and fifty-nine seconds.

Maatsuyker Island off Tasmania’s rugged south coast. The Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race is noted as one of Australia’s most challenging (Image: Sail World)

The race is often seen as a lower-key version of the much more famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race which began yesterday. ORCV’s website calls it “a race run for yachties by yachties.” The website cheekily boasts that “there are no fat wallet boats here, just great sailors working hard.”

The 41st Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, Eastcoaster and Melbourne to Launceston Yacht Races will begin from Portsea Pier on the Mornington Peninsula at 12:30pm local time. For more information go to ORCV’s website.