Weight to leeward on the Great Ocean Road Sail
Another ORCV Apollo Bay race has been run and won, with Alien (R880) claiming victory as overall race winner. The fleet of 41 enjoyed a cool but sunny day on their run to Apollo Bay, with a breeze that turned fickle in the closing stages of the race. Whilst many yachts enjoyed a smooth run to Cape Patton, only a few managed to escape the wind shadow of the Otways, and make it to Apollo Bay before dark.
Fleet start heading to Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road Sail. Photo Aaron Cole
Skipper of the winning boat, Justin Brenan, stated that the key to the race was being on the right part of the course, and working the sail configuration tirelessly. “A lot of boats followed the rhumb line and ended up in a dead patch, and several other boats went too far offshore and ended up paying a distance penalty. We aimed for the middle, and peeled between the asymmetric kite, code 0 and jib constantly, to keep the boat going at its best.”
Alien battling it out Photo Geoff Onions
Goggo managed to claim line honours at 5:40pm, just beating Extasea and Cadibarra 8; with the following few hours seeing yachts jostling to make it around Mark AB and across the finishing line. With the fleet being split by those who followed the wind predictions and opted for the rhumb line drag race, and those who ventured further out and turned for Apollo Bay much later; the race was decided in the final 10 miles, when it all came down to who could find the breeze. Congratulations to all competitors who took part in this year’s race; full results can be found here: https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2020-21/2021M2AB/series.htm?ty=47448
Crew of Goggo on the water. Photo Bill Newman
AMS
1st ? Alien R880 2nd ? How Bizarre S13 3rd ? Arcadia S17
ORCc
1st ?Patriot SM133 2nd ? Vagabond S477 3rd ? RMS Cole Walker SM2024
IRC
1st ?How Bizarre S13 2nd ? Arcadia S17 3rd ?Patriot SM133
DH
1st ?Saltair R410 2nd ?Maverick SM3600 3rd ?RMS Cole - Walker SM2024
PHS
1st ?Goggo G7007 2nd ? ALIEN R880 3rd ?Vagabond S477
Line Honours ?Goggo G7007
Under Spinnaker the fleet set sail. Photo Pavel Cherepanov
