Ocean Racing Club of Victoria - Racing Calendar
Every year during Summer, the ORCV conducts regular offshore racing, with the major events being the two Melbourne to Hobart (via both the West and East coasts of Tasmania) and the Melbourne to Launceston yacht races. The latter is Australia's oldest ocean race.
ORCV races are held at the same time of year, every year. Please see the Victorian Government website, HERE, for details of the dates of each race, based on the Public Holidays listed in the Time of Year, below. The starting times will reflect the time of slack water at Port Phillip Heads, which you can see HERE.
In Winter, the focus is on Melbourne's Port Phillip, where the ORCV's Melbourne Winter Series has been conducted since 1971. Each July, at the start of this event, crews get their only authorised chance to practice firing hand-held rocket flares.
Australia's longest Category One race is the ORCV's 1885nm Melbourne to Vanuatu event. This is held every four years from 2006.
Australia's only Category Zero event is the famed, two-handed, 5500nm Melbourne to Osaka race. It has been held every four years since 1987, with just the one exception. This Sister City event is co-hosted by the Sandringham Yacht Club and the Osaka Hokko Yacht Club. The ORCV manages all the on-water elements.
The table starts with the Melbourne to Stanley event, as this marks our annual return to Bass Strait and beyond.
|
Name and Code |
Time of Year |
Start |
Finish |
Distance |
Category |
|
Melbourne to Stanley - M2S |
Derby Day of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
Queenscliff |
Stanley |
152nm |
2+ |
|
Melbourne Latitude Series - the MLS is designed to get skippers and crew out into the ocean for the first time.
Bay Stern Chaser |
2nd last Saturday in November - Bass Strait
Following Day |
Queenscliff
Blairgowrie |
A specified 'Latitude' in Bass Strait, which is determined for each boat in the event Sandringham |
Variable
34nm |
3
4 |
| Boxing Day Dash (Le Coq de la Baie) - BDD | December 26 | Port Melbourne | Blairgowrie | 34nm | 4+ |
|
Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster - M2HW |
December 27 |
Portsea |
Hobart |
450nm |
2+ |
|
Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster - M2HE |
December 27 |
Portsea |
Hobart |
470nm |
2+ |
|
Melbourne to Launceston - M2L |
December 27 |
Portsea |
Low Head |
198nm |
2+ |
|
Melbourne to King Island - M2KI |
Labour Day |
Queenscliff |
Grassy |
114nm |
2+ |
| Melbourne to Port Fairy - M2PF |
Good Friday of Easter |
Queenscliff |
Port Fairy |
135nm |
2+ |
|
Melbourne to Apollo Bay - M2AB |
May 18th & 19th |
Queenscliff |
Apollo Bay |
52nm |
3 |
| Melbourne Two Handed - MTH | First Sunday in May | Around fixed marks in Port Phillip | Melbourne | 24nm approx. | 4 |
| Melbourne Winter Series - MWS |
Every fortnight from the last Sunday in June for 6 events |
Around laid marks in Port Phillip | NB. MWS Day 4, is for Race #5 and is usually a longer race inside Port Phillip around various navigation marks. | Variable | 4 |
| Melbourne to Geelong - M2G | This is the seventh event of the MWS and is held on the 1st Saturday in September | Melbourne | Geelong | 35 to 58nm (depending on wind direction and division) | 4 |
| Melbourne to Vanuatu - M2V | Starts on the first Sunday in July, every four years from 2006 | Portsea | Port Vila, Vanuatu | 1885nm | 1+ |
| Melbourne to Osaka - M2O |
Starts in the first weeks of March, with 2013 being the eighth edition of the classic. | Portsea |
Osaka, Japan | 5500nm | 0+ |
Other Events and Series:
The ORCV also conducts or is associated with the following series and events and is very appreciative of the assistance provided by the host clubs at all of our destinations. These are the Derwent Sailing Squadron, Tamar Yacht Club, Lions Club of Stanley, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Port Fairy Yacht Club, King Island Boat Club and the Vanuatu Cruising Yacht Club.
The Sovereign Series: consisting of the Boxing Day Dash, the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster and the King of the Derwent, which is held on January 2nd and conducted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron. The Salamanca Series: consisting of the Boxing Day Dash, the Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster and the King of the Derwent, which is held on January 2nd and conducted by the Derwent Sailing Squadron.
