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ORCV Heemskirk Consolidated Westcoaster (from 27/12/2011).

Emphatic win.

eXtasea, skippered by ORCV Committee Member, Paul Buchholz, has taken Line Honours in the 40th running of the mighty Westcoaster - The race they said could not be run, all those years ago!

Crossing the Battery Point finish line at 07:37:08 this morning, the reigning Offshore Champion also holds IRC and AMS, provisionally. Performance Handicap was also part of that equation until earlier this morning, so it will be interesting to see if the fickle breezes return that particular title back to eXtasea and allow them the complete sweep to really stamp their mark on this historic event.

Paul said of his boat and crew's great win, "A lot of us have been together for 20 years doing these wonderful races, so it is marvellous to take out the 40th Westcoaster. We had a wonderful trip and it certainly was hard yards early on. It was our plan to go East and come out behind Three Hummock Island, which we did and had around 2.5knots of current going with us. Think we got a bit of a boost there, which we grabbed and we marched on from that point. It is an amazing race down the West coast and the scenery is terrific, with plenty of tides, rocks and wind changes to keep you all very much thinking as you go. Many thanks to the sensational crew, who make it such a joy to be out there."

Alex McKinnon climbed the mast to deliver this © crew shot whilst she was on board
with all the family and friends, once eXtasea arrived at the dock.

Cheers and greetings, as eXtasea tied up at the Elizabeth Street Pier.

As eXtasea crossed the line, Paul 'Bucky' Buchholz let his happiness be known.

We'll be back with more...

Ultimately, whether the 40^th Westcoaster is your first or your tenth, you can look forward to many things. The challenges and unbelievable scenery, which you just won’t comprehend until you get there, but most importantly, a cold case of beer at the Elizabeth Street pier in Hobart.

If you want to join Yoko and be a part of the 40th Westcoaster, then the NoR and details are available, HERE. Yoko certainly were the first to put their name down, and then they were joined ever so quickly by Hot August Night from Hobart, Slinky Malinky - former Sovereign Series winner (three races - BDD, M2HW, KoD), eXtasea, reigning Offshore Champion (last three years running), Magazan 53, Nick is sure he will get the right mix of boat,  preparations and conditions, Spirit of Downunder, Laurie 'Handbrake' Ford is allowed back on by son,  Tim, for this run, There is Alien,  who had a spectacular departure through the Heads in 2010, then there was Matrix and Addiction, both of whom are from Royal Melbourne, 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu winner, Tevake II showed up. Look out for them if the Radford can get a good solid reach going, The Cavalier 350, Barinya, from Sandy is in, and the final entrant is Phil and The Cappers aboard, Under Capricorn.  You can join them - the NoR and details are available, HERE.

ORCV Land also extends on to the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 330 Souls already have and thank you to each and every one of you.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

		Heemskirk are proud sponsors of the ORCV's pair of races heading to Hobart just after Christmas. Their name has strong links to Tassie with it originating from Abel Tasman's Flagship, as well as the mountain on the West coast that also shares the name.

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ORCV Heemskirk Consolidated Westcoaster (from 10:00 on 27/12/2011).

If 40+30=70...

Then this lot is priceless!!!

Over the last few months, we've talked about how 2011 will be Yoko's 30th consecutive trip to Hobart town, in the same year the race itself turns 40. Add those two together and you get 70, which is how old Robin Hewitt, Yoko's owner, turned a few weeks ago now.

Popping out of the woodwork have been many things. Trevor Huggard, who is doing his 31st Westcoaster this year, has been regaling of tales almost forgotten and we've had all manner of pics, some from the era in question, like the © Richard Bennett image, below.

The latest items to come my way are these two gems, that certainly speak of a different era. The 80's to be precise and circa 1982, to be a little more precise.

Robin and Val, with some silverware. This is actually the lawn at the front of the Portsea Hotel. In those days, the Publican used to really turn it on with a marquee and everything!!! Visors and funky graphics = good times!!! WooHooo.	Robin and Val down at Hobart's Elizabeth Street Pier now and there's more silverware, too. Potion drinking was apparently a cool thing to do in those dark times... Tiesha, under the white cap, is now in her late 30s, BTW...

Robin, Val, Jan and Trevor with a lot of the Yoko gang at the 2010 Westcoaster presentations.
Imagine how many souls have travelled aboard Yoko over the years.....

Ultimately, whether the 40^th Westcoaster is your first or your tenth, you can look forward to many things. The challenges and unbelievable scenery, which you just won’t comprehend until you get there, but most importantly, a cold case of beer at the Elizabeth Street pier in Hobart.

If you want to join Yoko and be a part of the 40th Westcoaster, then the NoR and details are available, HERE. Yoko certainly were the first to put their name down, and then they were joined ever so quickly by Hot August Night from Hobart, Slinky Malinky - former Sovereign Series winner (three races - BDD, M2HW, KoD), eXtasea, reigning Offshore Champion (last three years running), Magazan 53, Nick is sure he will get the right mix of boat,  preparations and conditions, Spirit of Downunder, Laurie 'Handbrake' Ford is allowed back on by son,  Tim, for this run, There is Alien,  who had a spectacular departure through the Heads in 2010, then there was Matrix and Addiction, both of whom are from Royal Melbourne, 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu winner, Tevake II showed up. Look out for them if the Radford can get a good solid reach going, The Cavalier 350, Barinya, from Sandy is in, and the final entrant is Phil and The Cappers aboard, Under Capricorn.  You can join them - the NoR and details are available, HERE.

ORCV Land also extends on to the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 284 Souls already have and thank you to each and every one of you.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

		Heemskirk are proud sponsors of the ORCV's pair of races heading to Hobart just after Christmas. Their name has strong links to Tassie with it originating from Abel Tasman's Flagship, as well as the mountain on the West coast that also shares the name.

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ORCV Heemskirk Consolidated Westcoaster (from 10:00 on 27/12/2011).

Good form.

As the start of racing in the Heemskirk 40th Westcoaster looms ever closer, the inevitable form guide begins, too.

There's one boat keen to do well and she's a bit of BP Player about it. She's well maintained, well sailed and had few tweaks and mods in the last 18 months or so. True, she won't have it all her own way and will be happier if the sheets are sprung or even better, the Bag gets an airing, but she's more than well credentialled for the gig. She's not a shoe-in and of course, in order to finish first, first you have to finish. Also, she's got other craft that'll be keen to have a piece of her, like say, Spirit of Downunder, but then she's seen it all before and still came out on top.

Worked it out?

It could only be Tevake II, which won the 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu race in demonstrable style. That year, Angus Fletcher was also the recipient of the 12-month subscription to Tidetech.

If they get Line Honours in the 40th Westcoaster, one man who'll be very happy is Graham Radford, who penned the boat's distinctive lines.
Image courtesy of and © to Teri Dodds.

Angus Fletcher behind the helm of Tevake II just after the start of the 2010 M2V. Image courtesy of and © to Teri Dodds.

So as it is all about form, here's the 21st Birthday trump card. Not only have Angus and the Tevake (I and II) crew been out for nine previous Westcoasters, they've also done 11 Melbourne to Devonport races, which was the previous location to Launceston. That is certainly one well travelled outfit, but the other part of the campaign is the shore crew and Holly Fletcher will be on the pier once more. "I will be more than happy  taking up my position on the Portsea Pier, as 'Madame Butterfly'. Since 1998, I've been there on December 27. This is our tenth Westcoaster and when you include the eleven Devonport races and the other event a tad further North, it is 23 years of continuous Christmas racing, which is not a bad record for both of us. I think we could now qualify as seasoned campaigners", said Holly.

The Portsea Pier awash with spectators in 2009, as indeed it is every year. In 2011 at 10am on December 27, it will be eight deep again, as usual...

Tevake II exits Port Phillip Heads and proceeds East past Point Nepean in the 2010 M2V. On December 27 however, it's all South as they begin their tenth Westcoaster. Image courtesy of © to Teri Dodds.

Oh yes! We have more...

Ultimately, whether the 40^th Westcoaster is your first or your tenth, you can look forward to many things. The challenges and unbelievable scenery, which you just won’t comprehend until you get there, but most importantly, a cold case of beer at the Elizabeth Street pier in Hobart.

If you want to join Yoko and be a part of the 40th Westcoaster, then the NoR and details are available, HERE. Yoko certainly were the first to put their name down, and then they were joined ever so quickly by Hot August Night from Hobart, Slinky Malinky - former Sovereign Series winner (three races - BDD, M2HW, KoD), eXtasea, reigning Offshore Champion (last three years running), Magazan 53, Nick is sure he will get the right mix of boat,  preparations and conditions, Spirit of Downunder, Laurie 'Handbrake' Ford is allowed back on by son,  Tim, for this run, There is Alien,  who had a spectacular departure through the Heads in 2010, then there was Matrix and Addiction, both of whom are from Royal Melbourne, 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu winner, Tevake II showed up. Look out for them if the Radford can get a good solid reach going, The Cavalier 350, Barinya, from Sandy is in, and the final entrant is Phil and The Cappers aboard, Under Capricorn.  You can join them - the NoR and details are available, HERE.

ORCV Land also extends on to the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 285 Souls already have and thank you to each and every one of you.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

		Heemskirk are proud sponsors of the ORCV's pair of races heading to Hobart just after Christmas. Their name has strong links to Tassie with it originating from Abel Tasman's Flagship, as well as the mountain on the West coast that also shares the name.

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ORCV Heemskirk Consolidated Westcoaster (from 10:00 on 27/12/2011).

108.2

In 108, we got to have a look the first of the trasure trove that is the archives of one Richard Bennett.

As Richard has delved deeper in to said treasure trove, most of which precedes the digital age, of course, he's found some proof shots of various boats that have had or are still having their moment in the sun. So, it is with many thanks to Richard Bennett that we have use of his © images and we very much look forward to seeing more of his treasure trove, in the next little while. If you're in Hobart after the racing, you'll be able to find him at his stall on Constitution Dock, just behind the Mures building...

Mary Blair won the very first Westcoaster in 1972, with one Bob Clifford on board as the local knowledge expert. Bob was fishing for crays in those days and in 2011, he is going to present one of the Westcoaster trophies... This image is from a few years later and is courtesy of and © to, Richard Bennett.

Hot Prospect was a pretty radical departure from the norm in her day and it had a string of wonderful results in the late 70's
and in to the early 80's. Image courtesy of and © to, Richard Bennett.

The venerable Yoko, minus the sugar scoop, from back in 1982. Image courtesy of and © to, Richard Bennett.

Quasimodo was an IOR Pocket Maxi who got a bigger stick as part of makeover, sometime around when this image was taken and she still holds the Melbourne to Port Fairy record. They then parked her on the bar outside the river for all to see as they arrived behind her, but she'd crossed the finish, so a win is a win.... Image courtesy of and © to, Richard Bennett.

The Bus, as Bacardi is most affectionately known. Image courtesy of and © to, Richard Bennett.

Huddled on the rail in one of the quarters is always a good look. Yeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
This one is of Spirit of Downunder during the 2010 Westcoaster. Image courtesy of and © to, Richard Bennett.

Ultimately, whether the 40^th Westcoaster is your first or your tenth, you can look forward to many things. The challenges and unbelievable scenery, which you just won’t comprehend until you get there, but most importantly, a cold case of beer at the Elizabeth Street pier in Hobart.

If you want to join Yoko and be a part of the 40th Westcoaster, then the NoR and details are available, HERE. Yoko certainly were the first to put their name down, and then they were joined ever so quickly by Hot August Night from Hobart, Slinky Malinky - former Sovereign Series winner (three races - BDD, M2HW, KoD), eXtasea, reigning Offshore Champion (last three years running), Magazan 53, Nick is sure he will get the right mix of boat,  preparations and conditions, Spirit of Downunder, Laurie 'Handbrake' Ford is allowed back on by son,  Tim, for this run, There is Alien,  who had a spectacular departure through the Heads in 2010, then there was Matrix and Addiction, both of whom are from Royal Melbourne, 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu winner, Tevake II showed up. Look out for them if the Radford can get a good solid reach going, The Cavalier 350, Barinya, from Sandy is in, and the final entrant is Phil and The Cappers aboard, Under Capricorn.  You can join them - the NoR and details are available, HERE.

ORCV Land also extends on to the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 284 Souls already have and thank you to each and every one of you.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

		Heemskirk are proud sponsors of the ORCV's pair of races heading to Hobart just after Christmas. Their name has strong links to Tassie with it originating from Abel Tasman's Flagship, as well as the mountain on the West coast that also shares the name.