Smiles all round on Coastal Sprint
For many, the West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint is a Category 3 race for the more seasoned skipper to test their crew and boat or for a newer skipper to build their confidence before taking that next longer passage. What a perfect day it turned out to be for race 2.
With light winds at the scheduled start, ORCV Race Directors shortened the course and moved the start line for the fifteen yachts outside the entrance of Port Phillip near to the ex HMAS Canberra wreck. Competitors included seasoned ORCV offshore racing yachts Alien, Blue Water Tracks, Archie, Carrera S, Vagabond, Summer’s Lease, Ca bouge Wingara, Vertigo, Maverick and new competitors Foggy Dew, Pegasus, Hot Chipps, Smooth Operator and Rozinante II.
All smiles onboard Vertigo, Photo Paulina Hryniewiecka
Delighted by the day and the result was Andrew Middleton skipper of Rozinante II (R548 a Cavalier 350 SI) taking 1st on AMS, and 3rd on PHS. After completing the 2019 ORCV Beyond the Bay program, today’s race was Andrew’s first ocean going race as the skipper and without a mentor onboard. “I was a little hesitant to begin with and on speaking to Justin Brenan the ORCV Sail Captain, he convinced me to give it a go and that I could follow him through the heads. The conditions were just perfect; I couldn’t have hoped for a better transition from bay to ocean. I’m now looking to move onto to some longer passages where we need to do some crew watches and I’m looking towards joining the ORCV King Island Rally where we have a support boat to assist and can use our motor when needed.”
Andrew Middleton and crew on Rozinante II
For John Hall on Wingara (MY47, Zeston 40), “This was our first ocean race since coming out of lockdown. With light winds and our boat being a comfortable cruising yacht, we knew that we needed to keep clear of the racing boats, especially at the start. We planned to be a couple of minutes late to the line allowing the racing boats to clear and providing clean air for us. It was tough up until the second mark and we worked hard concentrating on just keeping the boat moving in such light conditions.”
John added “The boat performs well under 10 knots of breeze and over 18 knots so today’s conditions were just perfect for Wingara ( 1st on IRC and PHS and 3rd AMS.) “I do love ocean racing with today’s race reminding me of sailing off Southport, with a swell and winds shifting S- SE"
Wingara crew
Jeff Sloan skipper of Archie (SM35 a Archambault A35) 2nd on AMS, IRC and PHS which they were delighted with as “our first ocean race since King Island last year. After such a long lockdown, it was a great day out and good practice for us before the ORCV King Island Race on March 6.
Archie skippered by Jeff Sloan, hard at work
The ORCV invites you to join the next West Offshore Coastal Sprint on April 24, (entries will be open soon) or to come and join us for the King Island Rally (more details here)
Full race results can be found here https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2020-21/CoastaR1/series.htm?ty=299823
