Westward – A Brief History
Initially intended as a recreational fishing yacht, Westward was converted into a racing yacht after the initial buyer fell through, and George Gibson became its new owner.
Gibson entered Westward in the inaugural Maria Island race in 1947, then in the 1947 and 1948 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races – and won all three.
Until 2023, Westward was the only Tasmanian-built vessel to win the Sydney to Hobart twice and the only yacht with a fishing well to win the race! In 2023, Alive became the second Tasmanian yacht to win dual Tattersalls Cups, joining Westward, which won back-to-back Sydney to Hobart races in 1947 and 1948. Alive crossed the finish line in 2023 with a time of 2 days, 2 hours, 19 minutes and 4 seconds.
Following its racing career, Westward was used as a cruising vessel in the Pacific until returning to Tasmanian waters as a donation to the Museum in 2010.
Now, Westward can be viewed in Constitution Dock, where it has been restored and maintained by Museum volunteers as a floating exhibit and a key part of Tasmania’s sailing history.
The presentation of Westward in Constitution Dock is generously supported by Nanni Diesel and TasPorts.
Information from Westward | Maritime Museum Tasmania (maritimetas.org)