Latitude Series

Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS)

He probably is crazy...

and he's the winner too!

The MLS is designed as an opportunity for beginners and initiates to gain blue water experience. The ‘Yoko’ team has always been generous in providing the opportunity for such crew, even when it involves a 05:00hrs start in the depths of Winter, with an inclement forecast!

“What am I doing here?” was the first question that Robin Hewitt asked himself as they stuck their nose out into Bass Strait on Saturday. At least it was a Northerly for the run down to the turning latitude, so a little warmer and definitely flatter than the slugging match back to the Heads once they’d turned. As to how he enjoyed it, all I got from Robin was an “I’ll answer that next week” retort. “The biggest redeeming feature of all and for the whole day was that due to only a smaller proportion of experienced crew onboard, it was the novices that had to do so much more and I got a bit of time hugging the kettle down below!”

What a great run to the Latitude! What a miserable, cold work to the finish! What a great drink afterwards! What an early night! So ended Day One.

By way of yet more contrasts, Sunday morning was a totally different picture. A delightful breeze and warm (relative term) conditions greeted the starters for the Pursuit race back to SYC. ‘Yoko’ tacked up to Channel Marker #19 and was able to ease away to a 50° broad reach in flat water. ‘Giddy Up’ as Nifty would say. It was one of those days when the water is relatively warm, so that the breeze slides along above the temperature boundary layer and does not reach down to the water. Robin explained further, “Some ominously shiny water ahead was called to my attention and a quick glance around suggested a local thermal breeze system, almost akin to a land breeze. The sink was visible well to the East, so we made closer to the shore, where it should have been stronger. Thankfully, it was. It really was a weird experience sailing with the wind only in the upper half of the sails and massive twist.”

“Once we were positioned correctly, the Gennaker went up and it could be said we never looked back. But we did - countless times actually, in order to confirm that our competitors were fading away behind us. What bad luck for them… We stayed in the breeze with the Genny up right to the finish, although a calm was creeping down from the North and we just made it in time to look back and hope ‘The Secretary’ wouldn’t cop it”, Robin remembered. ‘Yoko’ went home to Williamstown under Diesel and could only look back at the others with their collapsed kites and reflect on what a brilliantly pleasant sail the latter part of the weekend had been.

“Huey’s a bit like that. He throws everything at you so you think it’s a mugs game and then he goes and gives you such pleasantry so as to make sure you’ll come back – and then he can have another go at you”, Robin told me.

So well done, Robin. After all the miles you have done, including those two Osakas (M2O), you deserve a bit of pleasantry and yet another prize in the end.

The man himself - Robin Hewitt. Softly spoken, mild mannered
and hugely knowledgable from a hell of a lot of ocean miles.

By John Curnow

Full MLS results available here.

Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS)

You don't have to be crazy...

But it sure does help!

beyondoutrageous_kite

So said former Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Commodore, Robin Hewitt, regarding this MLS set of races over the weekend.

As you can imagine, it was in relation to the somewhat chilly conditions and fresh breezes they experienced once they stuck their noses out into Bass Strait, but I’m sure Port Phillip wasn’t a tropical delight either. As a result, crew clothing would have been well and truly put to the test for yesterday’s Bass Strait Race and there were many in the bar at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron once they got back into the Bay last night, who intend to visit yacht chandleries soon to upgrade their gear.

However, a few won’t have to worry about that, because Gill Australia put their new soft shell jackets up as prizes for the place getters and the winning novice skipper of yesterday’s race.

Thank you to Gill for their continued support of the ORCV.

As we know, the yachts had an easy run downwind to their turning latitudes, but it was a hard on the wind for the trip back to the Heads.

The sea had built up by this stage, so one tack was definitely favoured, with the boats that closed the gap to the shore faster, doing the best in the end. The foredeck crew had a challenging and no doubt freezing race, as the wind was fluctuating between 20 and 40 knots, so many sail changes were called for. Going up to Adventure Island to be smashed through large cold green ones deserves praise and recognition – just ask any member of the FDU!

As the fleet approached Port Phillip Heads, it was still anybody’s race. The first yacht to call in was ‘Mrs Overnewton’ followed closely by ‘Beyond Outrageous’ and then ‘Remedy’. ‘Mrs O’ was leading, with ‘Beyond Outrageous’ closing in fast. A Yankee Foxtrot (ship) was approaching and this forced them to tack, allowing ‘Beyond Outrageous’ to take the inside line and win the race by 1 minute and 42 seconds. The two of them were followed into the Bay by ‘Remedy’, then ‘Yoko’ (Robin Hewitt’s yacht), ‘Spindrift’, ‘Caledonia’ and current ORCV Commodore George Shaw’s ‘The Secretary’. Unlike many ocean races, where finish times can span several hours and sometimes days, this unique race had the fleet finished within 36 minutes of each other - after a total of nine hours of racing!

Back outside, ‘Magazan 53’ was dealing with an extended squall and a jetlagged owner. Some 40 knots were blasting over the deck when they noticed wires coming loose from their port diagonal shroud (D1). Accordingly, they felt there was no alternative but to yank that pin and stay safe – sails come down; cast iron mainsheet goes on a chug-a-lug back to the Heads. Our other casualty was Paul Lindemann on ‘Biddy Hu II’, who broke their traveller in the sail down the Bay. They were able to get it fixed in Queenscliff, with the help of Gary Thomlins from the Queenscliff Coast Guard and take their place in the MLS Pursuit race back from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron to Sandringham Yacht Club today.

The ORCV has a long-standing partnership with BYS. They are our hosts for both the Melbourne Latitude Series and the Cock of the Bay race, which is the curtain raiser to our premier Tassie Trio races just after Christmas. Many thanks to Gerard, Jenny, Clarky and the team at BYS for their ongoing support and hospitality – our frozen crews tell me the hot showers were particularly welcome!!!

Our novice skippers were Malcolm Mitchell on ‘Caledonia’, Joanne Harpur on ‘Magazan 53’, Brian Burggraaf on ‘Remedy’, and Stuart Lyon on ‘Spindrift’, who won the Novice Skipper Award. A challenging ocean race for anyone, let alone someone doing it for the first time in his or her racing career. In addition to the challenges of the race itself, there is a significant amount of time and financial commitment required to prepare a yacht and crew for their first blue water race. The boys on ‘Remedy’, who sailed two handed, really cut it fine with Brain Burggraaf and Paul Hibbert both getting their radio licences on the Thursday night before the race.

The ORCV would not be able to run this race without our dedicated band of volunteers. Race Directors for the MLS were Simon Dryden and Neville Rose in the van, whose heater works a treat I can tell you.

The ORCV would very much like to thank all of the skippers and crew who mentored and coached novice crew, which is what the MLS is all about. Particular mention must be made of Rosie Colahan on ‘Magazan 53’, David James on ‘Caledonia’ and Rik Head on ‘Biddy Hu II’.

In the end it just goes to show that there are some dedicated souls out there ready to go to sea and learn, so they can take part in Cat 1 and Cat 2 races later on in the year. If you think you would like to migrate from Bay sailor to blue water yachty with your boat, then contact Simon Dryden on 0418 145 909 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full MLS results available here.

By John Curnow

Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS)

Go ahead. Stick your nose in it...

So you have thought about it, but weren't quite sure just how to go about it! Sticking your nose out of Port Phillip Heads and into Bass Strait for the first time, that is...

Well that's great - the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is all about helping you do just that. You don't need to own a full carbon wonder either. Perhaps yours is a Beneteau, Jenneau or similar. Afterall, it has been done before - most recently with Roger and Michelle Wale with their Elan434 ‘Pretty Woman' and her crew.

The ORCV can educate you, show you how and we have the performance handicap class to make sure getting there is just as important as the racing itself! Also, we go to some of the best "theres" in the land. King Island for steak, Port Fairy for history and ambience and of course Hobart for the challenge and the scenery.

small_pretty_women_3

The 'Pretty Woman' crew arrive in Hobart after completing
the 2008 M2HE - their first major ocean race ever!

To help you achieve your goals, we have on and off-water courses, training, mentoring, guided tours and practical, hands-on workshops (oh yeah - and racing) that cover areas like:

Navigation

Safety

Radio

Meteorology

Provisioning

First Aid

Traversing 'The Rip'

After all, we've been doing it since the 70's and today provide a specific pathway with the Latitude Competitor Support Program series of seminars. You can even get a taste of it now with racing in the Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS) and the Melbourne Winter Series (MWS).

The story illustrated here will not be your experience of 'sticking your nose out in it'. With the ORCV's guidance, you would not even consider doing smething like this. You'll not only keep safety top of mind, but be perpetually circumspect, as well as pay heed to BoM forecasts and rely on the guidance given durning things like the annual 'Rip Tour'. Not sure how much this driver knew about risk or management, let alone risk management as a strategy, but the ORCV will teach you this as the cornerstone of your yachting adventures.

By way of reference, the person in charge of this vessel decided to commence a passage from Southport to Yeppoon, during a recent storm. The forecast was for 9 to 10m seas with a storm warning and winds that had at times been recorded at 61knots at the seaway entrance. Apparently he saw the error of his ways and mercifully was was able to return to the safety of the Broadwater. Many thanks to Sail-World for the use of these terrific images.

Want to talk or ask a question? Then email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Simon Dryden on 0418 145 909 now and find out how you can give yourself the best Christmas gift this year with one of our Tassie Trio races. Of course you could always aim even higher and focus on the 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)...

By John Curnow

These links will take you directly to the Notice of Races for the events described above: MLS, MWS and M2V.