Apollo Bay Race

The 52 mile Apollo Bay race, starting at 0330 this Saturday, has attracted a strong fleet of 23 yachts including a number recent additions to the ORCV fleet - Jason Close’s new J133 Patriot, John Chipps’ Beneteau 41.1, Nick Foa in Jinnot a Gibsea 372 and Michael Krutsch in Sagreed, a Beneteau 57.

With forecast 15 – 20kn south westerlies, Peter Bake’s 1999 race record of 5hrs 24min 04 seconds looks very safe but the Queenscliff – Apollo Bay – Queenscliff round trip should be fast. This year the approaches to the Apollo Bay harbour are difficult and environmental issues have resulted in the suspension of dredging in the inner entrance to the Harbour.     Hopefully the resultant draft problems will be resolved in the next few months but for the meantime ORCV has advised skippers against attempting an Apollo Bay stop over.

https://youtu.be/CIfKqM-Frc8

Alternative “post race arrangements” have been made with the Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC) including berthing and full club house facilities. Yachts intending to stop at Queenscliff after the race a requested to book their berth as soon as possible via service via the QCYC web page (QCYC.org.au) or direct at www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=314067&