ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Of dolphins and rain...

The lead yacht, Extasea, is abeam of Split Point (approximately half way) and then there's another big group, not too far behind, with the tailenders around one and half hours off Split Point. Yoko reported SSE winds of 6 to 10knots with dolphins and rain. Very interesting.

From Greg Clinnick aboard Audacious, we have the following report and pics (thank you so much for making the effort for us all Greg). "It's 8.45am and 7 hours into the race, we are 21 miles down with just over 30 miles to go. A very light air start meant there was a few hours of ship dodging, as the fleet finally cleared the Heads a little over 2 hours into the race."

There's a bit of heel angle here, so it cannot be too bad.

"After one stage almost leading the pack, we suffered the no wind blues as the breeze went slowly around the clock and the Code Zero finally gave way to a light headsail and just cracked sheets in a steady 10 knots of breeze."

The jumbos tell a good story - for a moment.

"The breeze has just backed so I have to go and put the Code Zero back up."

The plotter shows them a little under halfway, when this image was taken.

Now given the weather, the retirees were always going to start early - and they did. Spindrift was first to go, before the first sked actually and then just after the 0905hrs sked, Slice of Heaven, Allegresse, Schuss and then pretty Woman all decided to head back to either Queenscliff or their club on the Bay. It is amazing how infectious it can get. That all means there are now 22 racers still going. In terms of positions, the following table highlights the approximate distances to go.

1. Extasea - 27nm left
2. Audacious - 28nm
3. Chikara Outlaw - 28nm
4. The Secretary - 29nm
5. Alien - 29nm
6. Bombora - 30nm
7. Myuna - 31nm
8. Remedy - 31nm
9. Slinky Malkinky - 31nm
10. Escapade - 32nm
11. Caledonia - 33nm
12. Fade to Grey - 33nm
13. Gigi - 33nm
14. Magic - 33nm
15. Ninety Seven - 33nm
16. Wicked - 33nm
17. Wild Side - 33nm
18. Yoko - 33nm
19. Bacardi - 34nm
20. Magazan - 53nm
21. Beyond Outrageous - 35nm
22. Spirit of Freya - 35nm

Golf is the other order of the day, here at Apollo Bay.

What this charming little town looks like - oh so green again...

By John Curnow