Volunteer of the Year 2020

Rod Smallman 

“An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ​​

It was only a few months ago in lockdown 1.0 we started the discussion of should we move training to online, and how to make it a success. It wouldn’t be an understatement that this nominee had already lined up his supporters, had largely mapped out the course in his head and was ready to go by the end of that meeting. This "Covid thing" created the perfect opportunity to define a new way which would broaden the audience and opportunities for the club.​
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Since then, his energy has created and helped facilitate delivery of 42 hours of online Navigation content, taken 113 students over 3 courses including the basics, electronic systems through to the masterclass with Will Oxley. ​

Rod Smallman has been awarded Volunteer of the year for the hours and hours it takes to make a course and deliver it such great success and his vision and motivation to lead the club into a new way of delivery – Thank you Rod!

Honorary Life Membership Awarded

The 2020 AGM saw members vote for Neville Rose and Ray Shaw to be awarded with Honorary Life Membership.  This award is given to individuals who have provided special services and commitments to the club.  

Ray Shaw

Ray Shaw has served on the ORCV Committee for 10 years and still plays important roles for the ORCV including: Membership of the Australian Sailing National Safety Committee. Expert assistance with Measurement and Stability requirements. Vetting all yachts that compete in ORCV races for compliance. Conducting Pre-Race Sign-On schedules and managing the starts for our ocean races that start from Queenscliff along with various training activities. ​

Valuable resource to the club as with his sailing and engineering knowledge. Ray has served on General committee, then as a Flag Officer positions and was for a long time Sailing Captain. He was the Chairman of joint-venture company Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race Ltd for the 2018 Osaka race and successfully managed that difficult role. Ray was instrumental in the approval of Satellite Phones in Lieu of HF Radio and was also a Yachting Victoria Board Member. Ray was the Race Directory during the 2012 Port Fairy race and managed the very difficult yacht sinking incident that occurred.​

Neville Rose

Neville Rose is stepping down from General Committee after more than ten years of General Committee service including two as Commodore and four as Immediate Past Commodore. Neville Rose is a highly respected member who has given years of service to the ORCV.​

​Neville was Commodore from 2014 to 2016 after several years on the committee prior to that including the key role of head of Training. Neville is a person of the utmost integrity, who continues to serve the club even after having “done his time”. For example, in 2018, after the previous Commodore stood down suddenly, Neville changed his plans to retire at the AGM and instead agreed to fulfil an additional two years as “Immediate Past Commodore”. During this time he continued to volunteer as a SSSC Training presenter, as a Race Director and the Head of the IT committee, providing much of the IT support to the club himself. Neville has already volunteered to continue the IT support role as well as participate in the conduct of the mid week Navigation Courses requiring many additional hours.​

Congratulations to Ray and Neville who now join our ORCV Honorary Life Membership Honour Board.​

Offshore Champion 2020 - Daniel Edwards

White Noise, Surfing back in on Coastal Sprint 2, February 2020, Photo David Wallace

The Perry Fletcher Clipper Trophy and the title of ORCV Offshore champion for the 2019 – 20 season was awarded to Daniel Edwards following a decisive performance on AMS, winning the Melbourne - King Island and Coastal Sprint 2 races and securing second in the Stanley Race.

Daniel, Outgoing Club Captain of Sandringham Yacht Club, previously won the championship in three consecutive years (2015/6 – 2017/8) and has now joined Paul Buchholz the Geelong based skipper of eXtasea as a “ 4 time winner”.

Congratulation to Daniel Edwards, Skipper of White Noise (SM1245)

Angus Fletcher at the Helm

ORCV Ocean Racer of the Year 2020, Angus Fletcher.

To be the Ocean Racer of the Year, it's more than just winning races and more about seamanship and contributions over a number of years.

This perpetual trophy was presented by Ron White and the family of Shenandoah II.  Since 1989 Angus Fletcher has consistently been a starter in many ORCV races including 3 Melbourne to Vanuatu races and won the ORCV Offshore Championship Series twice.  Angus's contributions to the ORCV go well beyond racing and include.

• ORCV Commodore 2004 2006
• Was part of the team who secured the Footscray premises
• Developed training sessions for long offshore races
• ORCV Race Director
• National Equipment Auditor for Cat 1 races
• Helped conceptualise the Latitude race and
• The ongoing leadership with his crew who enjoy the ocean and camaraderie it offers. 

Angus commented "the crew deserve this award" having sailed with the same crew for a very long time who have supported and been also part of this sailing life.  

Please join us in congratulating Angus Fletcher, 2020 ORCV Ocean Racer of the Year.

Angus Fletcher being awarded in QLD by Tim Mulherin after the Melbourne to Vanuatu to Mackay race

2020 ORCV Annual General Meeting

This year's AGM will be held online Monday 14th September at 7pm.  Financial members have been sent the agenda, voting packs and links to join the meeting.  If you haven't received yours, please get in contact with Vanessa at the ORCV office on orcv email of This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who can confirm if we have your payment recorded and if all looks to be in order will arrange for a copy to be emailed through after checking your email address.

As part of the 2020 ORCV AGM we are asking members to vote on a number of important matters.  

1.  Adoption of the ORCV Club Code of Conduct by Special Resolution.  
2.  Adoption of new ORCV Club Rules and Bylaws by Special Resolution.  
3.   Motion for authority of General Committee to appoint a 6th General Committee member at the first General Committee meeting after the AGM, subject to the acceptance of the new ORCV Club Rules.  
4.  Election of Committee members, specifically the Flag and Officer positions plus any vacancies arising on the General Committee.  
5.  Appointment of Life Membership, as nominated by members and endorsed by the Committee.  
6.  Appointment of the Auditor for the year ahead, as recommended by the Treasurer.  

Special Resolutions (1 & 2) – You may select yes, no or abstain.  
Motion for Authority (3) - You may select yes, no or abstain.  
Flag and Officers (4) - You may select one vote for each position.  
General Committee (4) - Please rank each nomination by entering 1 - 3 in the box.  
Appointment of Life Membership (5) - You may select yes, no or abstain.  
Appointment of Auditor (6) - You may select yes, no or abstain.  

Please Note: All online votes will be by secret ballot and voting will be run on the current ORCV Club Rules (Constitution). 

Where only one (1) nomination is received for a vacant position, the person nominated shall be deemed to be elected. Existing members of the General Committee will continue their tenure until the 2021 AGM.   

Thus, the following positions do not require voting at this AGM and are deemed filled.  

Commodore: Grant Dunoon  
Rear Commodore: Jeremy Walton  
Treasurer: Simon Dryden  
Secretary: Elke Kellis  
General Committee: Ryan Blackstock, Tim Boucaut, Aidan Geysen, Jill Blunsom  

Vacant positions:

One (1) General Committee position and one (1) additional General Committee position if the Proposed new Club Rules (Constitution) are accepted.  

The position of Vice Commodore is also up for election with two nominations.

 Justin Brenan and John Gordon

 Nominations for the General Committee Position are:

 Jeff Sloan, Glenn Fitzgerald and Wayne Seaward

The results of the above-listed elections and Special Resolutions will be announced on the 14th of September 2020 at the AGM in accordance with the Club Rules.

Notice of AGM and other documents can be found here