ORCV Melbourne to King Island

Naviguessing all the way!

The changes to the Dash Back system, put in place for the King Island race, should keep those of the Slippers and Smoking Jackets working away (or at least that's the hope)!

I was speaking with He of the Count Down Timer (aka ORCV Committee Member, Jeremy Walton) today about the changes to the Sailing Instructions for the Dash Back from King Island and here is what he had to say, "We thought about the 24 hour starting time limit after you finish the race to commence the Dash Back and realised that with the speed difference in the fleet, this could prove to be difficult for the lead boats and present some logistical challenges for Peter Clancy, in terms of running the scheds for the whole fleet, should they indeed choose to do the Dash Back." (PS - Dash Back SIs are available from HERE.)

Councillor Island on the Eastern side of King Island - one of the things you need to get right in the KI journey...

"Accordingly, we have removed the 24 hours re-start period from after your own finishing time and instead, the mandated latest starting time is now 1800hrs on Sunday, March 13, 2011. The main advantage of this, is it will allow all boats to be in and enjoy the hospitality that John Hiscock and the King Island Boat Club crew put on at Grassy and then leave at a civilised hour on the Sunday for the dash back to Melbourne. After all who would want to miss out on THOSE steak sandwiches and also the Famous Plastic Bag raffle on Sunday morning after the presentations!!!!!" Jeremy added to his commentary.

Here's our Sally Williams with "One of those sandwiches..."

"This change could prove to make those of the Slippers and Smoking Jackets work very hard as they determine the best time to leave and take advantage of the currents around King Island, make a good crossing of The Paddock, get through the imaginary finish line off Point Lonsdale and then through the Heads at Slack Water." The other observation Jeremy (The Smoking Jacket wearer on BBB) went on to make was that "Every time I have been to King Island, I always seem to get back to the Heads faster than I have done the race in, so you could see the record being broken and re-set if not in both directions, possibly the one."

"The ORCV hopes that many of the fleet choose to take advantage of these changes and have a go at winning the first Dash Back race (there where no entries from Stanley last year due to the weather in Bass Straight during the required 24 hour period after finishing)". Jeremy went onto say that, "The ORCV will be looking at the Dash Back Sailing Instructions for Port Fairy and Apollo Bay, as well, to ensure that they make sense for the boats entered and possible conditions."

Here's Magic Carpet winning the 2010 King Island race - Two Handed no less!!!

Now whilst I had Jeremy on the line, I just could not help but ask him - how long?..... To which I got an instance response of :-

Instantaneously, the response was that as of 4/3/2011, there are:

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

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	Councillor Island on the left, as seen from the plane... Remember the currents!!!!