Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)
A Toyota Hilux…
May well be unbreakable, but there was plenty of carnage going on during racing on Sunday, August 30. All right then and back to CSI: Port Phillip. Now it seems the varying breeze and significant speed humps all over the course added to the day’s activities for most crews in some way from “Yikes” to “Now what do we do?”
Unfortunately there is no more photographic evidence to this one. It could have been fine, got ugly or at the very least given the foil and headsail luff a real working over. Comments anyone?
Many thanks to Scott Nunn and Peter Austin aboard the RBYCs ‘Blue Gum’, who provided us with these images and also ferried a sick crewmember from ‘Clockwork’ back to shore. No stress, it was all legal and done in between races.
Coming down to the shortened course finish of Race Five - 'Siren' in front and likely to be 'Pretty Woman' behind (and probably Robin Hewitt with his head down on 'Thorsen').
‘Just A Minor Hick Up 2’ had a great day and performed well in the stiff breeze. She’s certainly one to keep your eye on, as her results have her gaining a decent foothold on the scoreboard, yet despite her name being in reflective media on the hull, she’s in just enough camo to go a little unnoticed. ‘JAHMU 2’ was one boat thankful for a bit of time in between races as they broke their kite pole on the start of the final run in Race Five. With the added impetus of adrenalin, they made a hasty retreat stage left and off to the RBYC marina, where a couple of the club’s crash boats contributed their boat hooks to join their own in “stronger than the original, but none too pretty” repair. A roll of world-renowned gaffer tape and a smattering of cable ties added to the embellishment. In a brilliant display of workmanship, this was all done by the time the postponement flag came down. Now just as the sails went back up, the jib halyard broke, so a new one was sent up. All in all, it was a pretty expensive day, not quite as bad as for others, but a great test for them and owner/driver, Peter Coleman, is still smiling. Accordingly, it cannot have been that painful.
Good effort from 'JAHMU2' to control it without the pole. 'Jazz Player' also kept it tidy, but needed the pole.
Aboard ‘Ninety Seven’, the always busy and getting a lot done, Neville “Nifty” Rose, tells me that he crashed Sunday night and that all the crew would have earned their kip. Understandable, as it sounds like everyone had a bit on in yesterday’s conditions. As the breeze was moving between 15 to 25knots, they chose to make their sail size calls as late as possible, to avoid getting to many reactions from their FDU members as they moved from and then back to their Medium (#2) and Heavy (#3). 2 and 3Ss were used downhill, so the packers would have had something to say as well.
Aparently, 'Ninety Seven' had time for this - however...
Nifty had spotted the flick to the right just before the race got underway and recalls being surprised that the mark was at 300, when they had 285. A good start and correct side of the course to work on had them fifth to the top mark and sprung sheets out to the wing. The mark had been moved for the next work, but they had a huge, shiraz-style bucket wineglass around the forestay, that saw them loose two places and they were happy to see the course shortened to finish on the downhill leg. “Being a little late for the second start saw us play catch up as a result and that really sealed the day for us”, Nifty added succinctly of Race Six.
OK. We have not see much of 'Icefire' on these pages yet, but this is a "Straight to the Pool Room", if ever I saw one... 25knots and still manages to get a dart in the mouth, steer and have a bit of string in the hand. Just awesome! That's gotta be old school, right there.
Hanging on to that kite pole and given the three MOB for the day, it's a good policy. Good stern wave in the picture below and some focus too - must have been looking at Stephen Hill's pic previously...
Love these two shots of 'Bombora'. Might have been only up to 25knots, but it was sloppy and difficult and stepping off kind of weather...
And as Newton said....
'Cerebus' did the same thing too.
Now speaking of officials. Thank you as always... Race Director, Simon Dryden, must have been looking to see if the weather mark had been re-laid... (one hand for you and one for the boat - good to see risk minimisation in practice)
And still with the Officials theme, Robin Hewitt gave 'Cougar II' the "fautless" call - good work when you can get it!
Last official act is to thank Nick McGuigan, pictured here, who you may not know, but he does all the NOR's for the ORCV...
Moving on, my Mum always said it was important to floss. Not much of that here with 'Addiction'...
And it looks like the bum cleats caused a problem too...
No issue with flossing on 'Clockwork'
And this looks like it was about to go feral, when in actual fact, they do a complete Malcolm McLaren (Buffalo Girls go 'round the outside, 'round the outside...) A very Borat-esque "Niiiice!"
The RBYC Commodore, John Spencer, was on the bow of 'Pretty Woman' and then very smartly back behind the Dodger, which would have been my call too. Hopefully the onboard roast went down well...
Love a good start. Here's 'Icefire', '38 South' and Lozza with 'Spirit of Downunder'.
This is Lozza's (Laurie Ford) pink kite and then very safety conscious with a letterbox drop in under the one slab. Good crew work.
It's all serene on 'Siren' and looking up the course at Div1.
The Doyen and his 'Challenge', Bet he's seen the view a few times before.
And finally then, is this more Avian Public Relations being conducted by 'Audacious'???? Email your response to
Bags, Bungles and Toyota Hiluxes (think of the ad that used only the one "B" word...), yesterdays MWS article and the originator of the “Oh what a feeling theme”, can be read by clicking HERE.
CSI: Melbourne can be read by clicking HERE.
Details of the M2G, which is Race Seven of the MWS, can be read by clicking HERE.
OK now all you Demtel shoppers. There is more CSI to be had, where the real carnage will be shown, you blood thirsty villains. So stay tuned...
By John Curnow
