After complex, deep and meaningful calculations by the Race Control Van, turning point eta’s for the fleet were established.  Deep thought gave way to mild panic as eta times passed and no turning calls were received – those sluggish conditions at work again!

Then the radio calls started and the Control Van was full of the “Spirit of Ocean Racing” as voiced by the Race Director whilst managing overlapping turning point calls.  Much to the delight of the same race director, 77% of the fleet radio’d in with 10 minutes of the scheduled 10am target time.   Spirt of Freya, No Fearr and Remedy all turning within a minute of each other.

At 10:20 however, fleet feedback indicated a freshing NE wind of 15kts and anticipated return times through the heads were around 11:30 (12:30 finish).  A quick review of observations showed 5-10 kts maximum around the bay and along the coast.  It would seem much of the fleet are currently sailing in their own private breeze.

Melbourne Latitude Series

Slugs in the Channel.

At 04:15 there was renewed optimism aboard ORCV Mobile, as the wind built outside, even though the weather forecast was for extremely light conditions. It was short lived however, as the wind then died, just as quickly as it had sprung up!

This is ORCV Mobile - an ex Ambo and ORCV Rear Commodore, Simon Dryden.

Multiple, Neville ‘Nifty’ Rose alarms started sounding at 04:30, which builds the excitement inside ORCV Mobile even further for Gillian Kearns and Annie Schaefer, who are assisting him with race management. Then at 04:35, the Crew Changes radio sked was conducted.

The Pre-Race Sign On Sked started at 05:35, with extra reminders from the Sailing Instructions concerning keeping clear of commercial shipping in Port Phillip, particularly while transiting the Heads, together with the latest weather forecast, as issued by the BOM at 05:15. The fleet was sent to Latitude Set No.3.

All entrants confirmed they were starters, however, ‘Spirit of Freya’ could not initially be heard by Ocean Racing Mobile, as they were in the Queenscliff cut, thereby restricting the line of site to the ORCV Race Control van, which is positioned at Chapman’s Point, Arthur’s Seat.

Apparently it was nearly a unanimous (remember there is only three of them in there) decision that stress balls be purchased for ORCV Mobile, in order to be able to offer an alternative to the irritating pen clicking by the radio operator. Right Oh! Remember kids, it is only a small place inside there, best you all get along now!!!

Nifty initially delayed the start by 20 minutes based on information from Lonsdale VTS (who govern Port Phillip Heads) regarding shipping traffic. You see there was a ship coming in and with the very light breeze that was present, they wanted to ensure there were no yachts around the area, tacking through the various channels, as they made their way out the Heads. The navigable part of the Rip between the Heads is just 0.6nm wide, by the way.

'Empress Pheonix', is "The Slug", as seen on Lonsdale VTS Webcam, with Point Nepean on the other side.

The inbound ship was the ‘Empress Pheonix’, which was described to Lonsdale VTS by the Port Phillip Sea Pilot onboard as “…a bit of a Slug and that they would be clear as soon as they could” - a direct quote from the airwaves. Accordingly, the start was delayed by a further 10 minutes to 07:00, so as to allow the inbound ‘Slug’ to meander its way in. If a Phoenix is indeed a mythical fast flying firebird, then I think we have a case for ACCC of false advertising...

Thanks to the Port Phillip Sea Pilots and Lonsdale VTS for their invaluable assistance once again.

 Refreshing the Lonsdale Web Cam every few minutes did not result in much movement of the yachts. Quelle surprise there! By 8am there was, in fact, more progress on the Arthurs Seat Road from the cycling race than there was from the fleet towards their turning latitudes in Bass Strait.

Image from Lonsdale VTS WebCam looking North West towards Shortland Bluff, Queenscliff and yachts racking up at the start line with less than 5 minutes to go before the 07:00 start.

More images from Lonsdale VTS WebCams of yachts existing Port Phillips Heads below :

Updated forecasts and weather observations around the race area were reviewed immediately prior to the 08:30 Routine radio sked.  At the 08:35 Routine radio sked, some of the fleet reported being becalmed.  Estimates from the fleet to reach their turning Latitude ranged from 11:45am to 11:45pm.  Code Flag Sierra was “hoisted” over the radio by Race Director to Shorten Course from Latitude Set 3 to Latitude Set 2.
Apparently two entrants receive “tone” from Race Director over their skeds.

Less than an hour later, having gone to the trouble of shortening the course, the breeze has now kicked in a little from the NE and the first of the fleet are looking to be back at the Heads around 11:30. Excellent, but around an hour too early (for slack water)!!! No problem though in these very mild conditions.

The first of the finishers are approaching the line off Portsea Pier as you read this at 11:45... stay tuned for the results.

By John Curnow

Melbourne Latitude Series

Cutting themselves some Latitude.

At 06:30hrs on 21/11/09, we will have three newby Skippers going out to stick their noses in it. Bass Strait, that is... You may remember the call to go and cut yourself some latitude from HERE and that is precisely what Rodney and Sandy Watson on 'Emma-Kate' and Kathryn De Garis on 'Allegresse' are going to do. Well done!!!

There are 11 other boats going out there to get even more crew experienced to the blue water way. One of those boats is Joanne Harpur's 'Spirit of Freya', a Sunfast 36. She did the very last MLS on Nick McGuigan's 'Magazan 53' and now has her own boat. If that's not a full Victor Kyam moment right there, then I'm going to hang up my keyboard!!!

The Boss and his 'Secretary'.

The Farr38 'Escapade' from HBYC is going out, as too is 'Schuss' from RBYC, who've already taken care of their MOB drill for real (which was captured for posterity HERE). There's also the little S&S30, 'Harmony' from HBYC in there, Laurie 'Lozza' Ford from 'Spirit of Downunder' (RYCV) and the Boss, our ORCV Commodore George Shaw, aboard his J44 'The Secretary'. We look forward to seeing how these and all of the fleet goes.

Won't be this wet for Lozza and the gang out there this weekend (famous last words huh)

I'm glad it looks fairly benign out there for the Bass Strait component of the weekend for the sake of our newest arrivals. No-one wants to have to face a super cold and blustery one, but then the last one earlier on this year kind of qualified for that... No matter, Race Director, Neville Rose indicated that there was likely to be SE to NE at 5 to 10kn, with a change arriving overnight in time for the Pursuit Race from BYS to SYC. So if it isn't, then one of us has put the hex on it. The change is believed to be some 15 to 20kn out of the South. Giddy Up or what, eh Nifty?

Anyway, that's the prediction - let's see what actually happens!

Come back soon to see how our newbies have gone with going and sticking their noses in it.

By John Curnow

Melbourne Latitude Series

Go on - cut yourself some LATITUDE.

Wanting to go stick your nose in it? Bass Strait and all the blue water beyond it, that is...

Well cut yourself some latitude from all the questions and reading about it and come along to the seminar next Tuesday, November 9, 2009 from 7 to 9pm at Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

In the first part of the evening, you will learn about preparing your boat as we investigate the concept of the MLS, what mentoring is all about and how to upgrade from Cat 4 to Cat 3 (and beyond) racing.

The second part of the evening will take you through crew management and evolving into an ocean racing unit. What you'll look at, are things like:

• Crew management - watches, sea sickness, moral
• Evolution to Ocean Racing
• Getting to the start line
• Safety Procedures & Briefing
• Pre-race Preparation
• Race Management

After all, plenty of people have done it in the past and are doing their first or second ocean races this year. No more sitting around at Christmas - these crews are going to be sticking their noses right in it on December 27, 2009. Boats like 'Pretty Woman', 'Caledonia' and 'Biddy Hu II' are examples of how you can migrate from Bay to Ocean, as part of an organised, logical and methodical process.

Left to right are 'Pretty Woman', 'Biddy Hu II' and 'Caledonia'.

Now the races for the Melbourne Latitude Series are on November 21 and 22 this year. You can read all about them in the Notice Of Race (link just below) and last year's races, which were postponed and held earlier this year, by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to go to the 2009 MLS NOR

Click HERE to read all about the MLS Support and Mentoring Programme

And if you would prefer something a little more direct with your communication, then call the office on 03 9689 1622 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about the mentoring process and lectures/discussions that constitute the MLS.

To book for the MLS seminars at RBYC, please call Dennis or Sally at the office on 9689 1622 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By John Curnow