Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS)

11 Away...

... at the designated 0730 time slot, on what it must be said sounds like truly sensational conditions - dead flat and a genuine 5kn from the East'sou'east under a beaming blue sky.

This is the 1300 PredictWind chart from yesterday and it would seem that it has arrived about six hours early...

Yep the seabreeze would seem to be early... Originally aiming for Latitude Set Number Three, the 0835 sked revealed just how far the fleet had progressed and they are now off to set #6. It is a good thing that this year there was this very early sked added in to the equation, as if they had waited until the normal 0935hrs version, the fleet would have been radioing in at their turning latitudes and be heading back. Alas, there is significant shipping traffic at about 1030hrs, for an hour, so having the yachts near the Yankee Foxtrots gathering near the Heads is not terribly prudent. As a handicapped drag race, it's very much all on, right up to the Portsea Pier finishing mark, so any deviations could cost you significantly!

Gusto leads from Ninety Seven, then Team Beyond Outrageous with Chikara Outlaw next. Deliverance, the S&S 30 is last, five nm astern of the leader.

Administration of the race and the 79 crew members aboard the 11 vessels is being conducted from the ORCV Van, which is perched up on top of Arthurs Seat at Chapmans Point. The Brass had their consideration set previously determined and "after detailed assessment of current weather observations and forecasts, from various sources, the debate amongst The Brass settled on sending the fleet to Latitude Set #3. The course length for Set #3 ranged from 14.75nm for Deliverance and 27.82nm for Gusto. A change of course was advised to the fleet at the 0835 sked to Latitude Set #6, which is 24.47nm (Deliverance) to 46.17nm (Gusto). This was a good move, as the fleet made respectable progress in the very light breeze, which is even more commendable as they were working against a slight Flood tide whose slack water was 0812hrs."

At the 0935 sked, Addiction reported 3knots from ENE and Gusto 8knots from almost due East. This is good news in these light winds as winds from these directions will offer the best chances for the fleet to move along as vessels travel fastest across the breeze, which is the case here as they first head South to their respective marks and then North again, back to the Mornington Peninsula. Winds from thses sorts of directions are almost perpendicular to their desired courses, which means they do not have to tack or gybe to get to where they are going. This in turn means they travel the least possible distance, which with minimal breeze, is a good thing indeed. 

Escapade is the current leader having been first to turn at 1032hrs. Tilting at Windmills is lying in second with third place being held by both Ninety Seven and Team BO.

Up in town, the breeze is struggling to fill in at all, so we are blessed to be getting racing in at all! Nice one, Huey (who is the God of Wind, BTW)....

This is Vladimir's Escapde, which took out the new Cruising Division at the 2010 M2G and then backed it up with an AMS win in the 2010 M2S. Below; the happy clan celebrate, post-win.

This is Gusto tied to the quay at Stanley after taking Line Honours, which is what they want today, as well. Below; checking out one of her kites in her first sortie - the 2010 M2G.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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