Apollo Bay race record set by Kaos untouched for almost 25 years
In 1999, Frankston local Peter Blake skippered his Inglis 37 yacht, KAOS, to victory in the Apollo Bay Coastal Sprint Race in a time of 5 hours, 24 minutes and 4 seconds, a race record that has held firm for almost 25 years and is unlikely to be challenged in this year’s race.
In a starkly different race to what is expected this weekend, the 1999 race, run by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV), was a torrid affair. The fleet started in fresh breezes and reaped the benefits of 30-knot wind gusts from the south, giving them a very quick sprint along the South West Coast of Victoria.
But the warm arrival anticipated in Apollo Bay was not to be for many of the fleet with big winds and seas, coupled with a low tide, causing some to broach on entry to the harbour. Ultimately skippers were advised not to enter the harbour due to the dangerous conditions, with the fleet then forced to spin on its heel and head back to Port Phillip Bay, copping a hefty 40 knots on the nose for their efforts.
Kaos - Year 2000 Photo acknowledgement Sydney to Hobart
Known locally as the Great Ocean Road ‘Sail’, the 52 nautical mile Category 3 sprint race takes the fleet along one of the world’s most stunning coastlines of beaches, sand dunes, cliff tops and dramatic headlands, nestled beneath the lush rainforests of the Otway Ranges.
The popular race, which has a near-record fleet this year, normally starts at Queenscliff with the fleet leaving Port Phillip Heads before turning right along the coast, finishing at the seaside town of Apollo Bay.
However, due to the very light forecast and the predicted finishing time of the fleet at Apollo Bay, ORCV Race Management has brought the start time forward to 6 am and is using an alternative start line outside Port Phillip Heads in the proximity of the Canberra wreck and Barwon Heads.
Based on the current weather forecast and swell conditions in Bass Strait, the rip conditions will be flat and there will be an ebb tide which will assist yachts in exiting the Port Phillip Heads at the earlier time.
In other late news, the cruising division has seen a jump in numbers with yachties taking advantage of this division, which allows entrants to use their motors if needed, such is the lure of Apollo Bay and the attraction of destination sailing.
The ORCV has been a pioneer of double-handed sailing in Australia and this year’s race to Apollo Bay boasts a solid group of entries, with many using the race as part of their preparation for the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race.
Blake, a veteran ocean racer, not only holds the ORCV’s Apollo Bay Race record but remains unchallenged for the fastest recorded time of a race across Bass Strait, sailing his Jones 14m boat, Kontrol, from Queenscliff to Stanley in 2002, in a time of 14 hours, 36 minutes and 15 seconds.
Blake and his son Simon were also drawn to the challenge of double-handed sailing, having competed in the Melbourne to Devonport and Melbourne to King Island races in the division, as well as the 2003 Melbourne to Osaka race.
“We sailed Kontrol across Bass Strait, the same boat we used in the Osaka race, which is a very good reaching boat.
“Osaka was one of the greatest things I have ever done…some say don’t sail double-handed with family, but we did it and we had a great time, and Simon and I are still very close,” said Blake.
Simon & Peter Blake in the 2003 Melbourne to Osaka race Photo M2O Organising Authority
Blake, a real estate specialist with leading industrial real estate agency Cameron, is between boats at present, but hasn’t ruled out racing to Apollo Bay again.
Top contenders for line honours in this Saturday’s race include Rob Date’s Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, the Hick 10, Toecutter, skippered by Robert Hick, and the J111 Ginan, co-skippered by Cameron McKenzie and Nigel Jones, which is in the box seat to win the ORCV Coastal Championship.
The 2024 race welcomes several first timers including Belle, skippered by Richard Taylor and Kylie Balharrie from the Sandringham Yacht Club while Siesta, skippered by Robert Coco, is sailing her first Category 3 race.
Double-handers Jokerx2, skippered by Grant Chipperfield and Peter Dowdney and Quest, skippered by Peter Tardrew and Rod Gunther, are also likely to feature in the results.
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