King Island Wrap
The 42nd running of the ORCV Melbourne to King Island Yacht Race looked like it was going to be fast from the moment the weather forecasts started to firm up. As the time approached for the start, the forecast showed the wind swinging to the east earlier and earlier until the race became a beam reach from start to finish.
And so it turned out. Primitive Cool, skippered by John Newbold, made its intentions clear from the outset with impressive speeds of 11.5 knots building later to 12.5 and more, straight down the rhumbline to Grassy on picturesque King Island.
The remainder of the field followed, each doing its own blistering pace. The result was a very fast race that was enjoyed by all the entrants.
Finishing as it had started, Primitive Cool stormed across the finish line to set a new race record of 9 hours, 50 minutes and 21 seconds, beating the old record by 17 minutes and 43 seconds.
The old record was set in 2002 by Cadibarra VIII and had stood for 12 years. Interestingly enough, the ORCV Commodore Simon Dryden had been on Cadibarra VIII with Nigel Jones the day they had set that record and he was on Primitive Cool this time.
Primitive Cool not only took out Line Honours but also won on the IRC and PHS handicaps. Seduction, skippered by Richard Nichols, took out the AMS handicap.
As usual, Commodore Duncan Porter and his team at the King Island Boat Club made everyone very welcome and fed and watered a lot of thirsty sailors as they arrived in Grassy Harbour. Deputy Mayor Royce Conley came down to present the trophies, responding magnificently to a last minute change of schedule due to the early arrival of the fleet.
