ENTIRE Group Cock of the Bay
(Le coq de la baie, as part of the MMOC)
Cock of the bay - 103 away!
The Entire Group Cock of the Bay on Melbourne’s Port Phillip got 103 boats away at 10.30 this morning, into a 10 to 15 knot Southeasterly. Three boats were, in fact, a little too eager to get into and were the subject of individual recall.
Chopper was ideally positioned over the pin end of the start.
Very quickly, race favourite, ‘Scarlet Runner’ made her mark and at this time is set to take the record of 5:13:10. She just has to get here to Blairgowrie, on the wonderfully sunny Mornington Peninsula, by around a quarter to four this afternoon and that looks to be well in her command.
Race favourite is a good thing to be and 'Scarlet Runner' may well get that record today...
With her at the top of the fleet are ‘Belle’ in second and ‘XLR8’. Others like ‘Ocean Skins’ and ‘Just a Minor Hick Up’ are also featuring well. It was also marvelous to see The Doyen, Lou Abrahams, at the helm of his ‘Challenge’ in the pre-start manoeuvres this morning.
Lou Abrahams was on the wheel this morning and with a race to windward, I would expect them to do well.
As the mid-range 15 knot Sou’easters stay, the fleet will all make it in for the delightful dinner and presentations as the sun goes down – and what could be better than that.
Like good little children, they all headed South after the start...
'Magazan 53' is damaged and returning to Brighton, also retired is 'Oasis' - heading back to Sandringham.
By John Curnow
