ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Rammstein.

Are an über-hard rock band from Germany, who took their name from the Airbase of global fame/infamy, depending on your disposition. HERE is one of their softer pieces...

Now just how did we get there, you ask? Well, I tell you. I received an email from Stu Addison, who's going to Apollo Bay on eXtasea. It was entitled, very simply, "Who's got Metallica on their iPod?"

Stu went on to say "I think it may well come in handy! Looks like a bit of head banging coming our way. Five days out and the models (stars) are starting to align. Apollo Bay was initially looking like being on the nose - just the one tack and 15-20 knots, but not any longer. The current model lineup is looking more like 25-30knots, with much more at times and ambient temperatures around a chilly 11 degrees, for a 9 hour race time. The route attached is indicative only... At this stage it shows a bit of West early and asks us to crack very slightly, go East of the rhumbline and sail to the shift, where it then goes South. Next we tack, to do a 'Buffalo Girls' on what's left of a sick and sorry fleet. Be aware, with five days to go the systems may accelerate or slow down, leaving us still with an upwind race, but a different set of shifts to work with." Ed. This last stanza is very sage, indeed... And so worth highlighting!

A very good friend, Greg 'Smokey' Patten (a great Naviguesser when he's not too busy being a real Rockstar, BTW), replied with, "40 on the shnoz means puffs to near 50. Ouch! That southern route looks truly aweful. Hope you're not going through the Heads on an outgoing tide! Getting in to Apollo Bay would be VERY interesting too. Here's hoping that's not how it pans out for you..."

So then, no story about headbanging would be complete without a reference to Spinal Tap, would it? Remember, 'I'm a headbanger, headbanger, yeah. I like to bang my head. And one day when my head falls off, I'll bang my neck instead!" If it is all guitar thrashes, walls of amps and huge drum rolls, then you may want to be on something like Yoko or one of the Beneteaus. As Stu said when I mentioned the Tap, "The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin!"

What will you get??? Personally, at this time of year, I'm not stating claim to anything until about 24 out...

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

Below is Tony Bull's shot from  onboard eXtasea during the  2010 event.
	Not a place to go into  in an Easterly or if you  draw too much. Plenty of souls around to ask  about that and there's also  the bombora out the front. Supertramp above looks bad,  but had storm boards in etc. Port was closed thereafter,  though... Don't even attempt to go in  with an Easterly blowing,  however...