ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (not)

Bless 'em - Part III

Now these are some people of whom we are truly blessed to be so good to us. The Coast Guard always run the starts for us and apart of December 27 and the aforementioned Latitude race, they are out there for us at some heinous hours, in the dark and more often than not, the cold and freezing breeze.

Cheers Pal! Gary Tomlins has been helping get the start line arranged (very accurately too) for a long time. He also goes out to have the CG boat stand off the turning mark at Shortland Bluff every year for the annual Tassie Trio of races to Launceston and both courses to Hobart.

Rick Lasslett is fairly new to the game, but is clearly loving it!!!

So then, whilst everyone was heading out of Queenscliff Harbour, Gary and Rick were taking Race Management out (a bit of a rarity in itself) and creating the start line. Hayley Thomas from Second to None sent us some pics of what the departure looked like. "We have Bill Westerbeek on the wheel taking us out and it certainly looks a lot calmer than it did when we arrived in on Friday evening/Saturday morning - very early!"

 From right under the Jumbos, in the new floating quay part of the marina.

Almost out the channel and there's a bit of procession making their way out.

Go HERE for the overall M2AB (not) results.

It takes a big team to get us out racing - well done to all.

© 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...