McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship
(COB as part of the MMOC)
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So anyway - Ding Ding! Here's Race One from Saturday morning. Pics by Steb Fisher, whom you can reach on mobile 0438 160 753, email
Divisions 1, 2 and 3, from the afternoon are following soon. See you then. ORCV Interstate, standing by...
Div Zero had interesting conditions in the morning. There was breeze, as you can see here, but it was far from consistent, moving around and up and down a little bit. It was also one of those most amazing days where you had to keep working, keep looking and change sails quickly and smoothly. Sensational stuff. Race was won by 'Cougar II' and then 'Living Doll', with 'Audi Centre Melbourne' third - IRC corrected.
Ding! Ding! Round One eh...
Now who said there was nothing artistic about sailing. This is like a ballet or synchronised swimming.
The morning's winner - as usual, they sailed the boat well... Peter Williams on the wheel.
Just an awesome way to see the city.
Like a ballet, all good crews just seem to float through their work. And no Peter, I am not telling you that you sail around in a tutu, OK.
Our hero pic for this article is Jonathon's cousin! Lovely effort Steb.
As I was preparing the images, a theme occurred to me. The faces of the drivers and crews, as they went around. So here we go with that theme.
John 'Willow' Williams aboard 'Calm'.
Just liked the composition with the crossing boats, the bowsprit aiming straight for the pin, like a giant lance.
Crossing boats again.
Up and off to positions aboard 'Calm'. Steve Campbell the bowman on 'Scarlet Runner' did not do his damaged shoulder any good by working up on the pointy end for the day.
Head out from under the fence and off you go...
More crossing boats.
Chris Dare aboard his 'Audi Centre Melbourne'.
Unmistakably 'The Doll' with al that freeboard.
When I saw this all I could think of was Little Red Riding Hood saying to the wolf, "My what a big Bag you have!"
'Living Doll' coming downhill and the crew all packed in to the windward quarter - gotta be Grand Prix racing!
Tactician's Day Out - Nigel Jones shows exactly where he wants to be on the course aboard 'Goldfinger' and Andrew Plympton surveys the fleet and conditions on 'Audi Centre Melbourne'.
Grand Prix racing - nice and tight on big boats. 'Calm', 'Shogun' and 'Cougar II'. Pic on the right is because I like the colours...
'Shogun' - all eyes forward. Good work team.
1, 2, 3 - looked cool - a bit like the huge dominoes they used in Berlin the other day...
Sandra aboard 'XLR8' is always telling me to be nice. So here's a nice pic of you at work and on the right I love this one because it shows the RP pencil off beautifully and why she sails on a very fine edge.
The stacks of the refinery at Altona accentuate the mast and it was a real Staysail day on the right - around 15kn - tremendous.
Once a staysail is deployed however, at some point it has to come back in... Here Scott Madden winds her in for the gybe.
Now the OH&S folk are gonna love a person keeping the work area clean, but perhaps it should have been done back at the quay. Bet you 'Veloce' don't get sprung with it again.
Someone must have alerted the media to come out and investigate the broom incident.... Wasn't me.
These pics are here, as I just loved the shape of the wave...
Rob Date driving and Mitch Batson flying, aboard 'Scarlet Runner'. Have a great Buck's turn next weekend Mitchy. Wish I was there. Make sure Webbo does not lead you too far astray and have an even better time married to the lovely Lisa.
By John Curnow
