ORCV Melbourne to Stanley (M2S)

The return to Bass Strait.

Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival begins in earnest this Saturday. However, well before the horses have had their morning workout, maybe about the time some of the human revelers will have hit their stride partying the night before, the crews in Melbourne to Stanley yacht race will begin making their way to the charming fishing port on Tasmania’s North West coast.

The annual return to Stanley is important, as it is a qualifying race for the larger ones at Christmas time. The crews also make their return to Bass Strait proper, after having the Winter in the relatively more stable and just slightly warmer waters of Port Phillip.

A significant fleet of 32 Vessels will depart the Heads in the dark of Saturday morning at 1230hrs. Amongst them will be the Swan 65 ketch called Independent Endeavour, reigning Melbourne Offshore Champion, Extasea, last year’s Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster winner, Jazz Player and a big warm welcome to Addiction, back after a makeover, as a result of running aground out the front of Apollo Bay.

Another important vessel returning to Bass Strait is Slinky Malinky. Eric Marsh and the crew took part in the Melbourne to Vanuatu race back in July and valiantly stood by Ingénue when she was in trouble just past Gabo Island. In the process, they earned an awesome amount of respect from peers all over the globe and became the Seamanship Poster Crew, in the process.

Robin Hewitt’s venerable sloop, Yoko, is sticking her nose out in to the blue once more, as they have some very serious business to attend to at Christmas time and are keen to ensure they can take their place on the start line. All going to plan, Robin and the crew will set Yoko off on her 29^th consecutive Westcoaster race on December 27, 2010 and for long standing crewmember, Trevor Huggard, it will actually be his 30^th time down this challenging piece of coastline.

Before all of that can take place however, the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s race to Stanley has to be completed. Returning for 2010, to see if they can once again take Line Honours and the coveted IRC Handicap double is the TP52, Calm. Also returning and from second place last year, is Peter Blake and Kate Mitchell’s Farr52, Goldfinger. If the forecast holds true, with winds squarely on the nose, then their chances of going after the IRC crown improve dramatically.

Gusto, the Open66 and longest vessel in the fleet, will not relish the hard drive South all that well, but her crew may well be eyeing off the return voyage, when the ‘skiff-on-steroids’, as she is affectionately known, will be able to release some of her mighty spinnakers from the hold and take flight. The return voyage is set to become a definitive feature of the ORCV’s offshore races this season, with Dash Backs also being made available. Yachts have up to 24 hours to get underway again and simply notify officials of start and finish times, with the latter line located just outside Port Phillip Heads.

So seeing as most of the racing starts in the dark, I thought it would be good to show it again, so you could show all the ones staying behind and waiting for your return... This is Point Nepean and even though it is a mostly benign day, there's that standing wave over near Corsair Rock.

On the other side is Point Lonsdale, the lighthouse of which the Port Of Melbourne use to house Lonsdale VTS who govern the Heads.

Calm is one of the boats doing the dash back and one of her co-owners, Jason Van Der Slot, said “.... we currently have our navigators running models each day. Last week the trip looked like a potential record, with great breezes from the North, but as the data firms up, it looks like we will have to make hay will the sun shines and get as far South as we can before the breeze swings. This is great news for us, as we will be going straight through the finish line and then heading back for the dash. We’re hoping to be back through the Heads by Sunday afternoon, and squared away in our pen, all in time to watch MasterChef, later that night."

The weather is a crucial component of any ocean race in Bass Strait, where things can change as dramatically as they do quickly. As a magnificent science, forecasting is always evolving and delivering more information for review and appraisal. Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden said, "Looking at the long-range forecast, it seems that spinnakers will only be required for the Dash Back race. So for the boats that love going to windward, well, this is your weekend. And yes, I know the crews don’t love it. With the winds starting West of South and then moving further South as time marches on, being West of the rhumbline is the place to be. The big 'but' here though, is the currents around the top of Tassie have to be seen to be believed and can easily put paid, to what was once a winning strategy. So sailors keep working at the gym, pack warm clothes and make it an alcohol free week. Search the Internet for Seal socks if you like warm, dry feet and hands. Wind strength 10-15 strengthening 20 to 30 in the evening..."

So with that tremendous segue just provided, we can say that ORCV supporter, Tidetech have the Bass Strait tides available on regular subscription for $49 a month, $37 for a week or $19 for a weekend. The six-month subscription is $249 and Tidetech very kindly provide a 10% discount for all ORCV Members on this particular option, to ensure they have the best information available to them at all times. Please contact the ORCV office for the code.

Please wander throughout the site here to find out more about the ORCV’s Melbourne to Stanley race and follow the yachts and you can return just as many times as you like.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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