Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Yank that pin!

The 2009 Melbourne to Apollo Bay has been postponed until further notice.

So imagine what it would be like in a little boat then... This is akin to what the 'Spirit of Tasmnia' will be doing tonight.

The 2009 Melbourne to Apollo Bay has been postponed until further notice. Given that the ORCV has a safety first policy, the exceptionally high sea state in Bass Strait presently has been deemed unacceptable for a Cat3 race.

The ORCV Sailing Committee will endeavour to find an alternative time to conduct this race, so please stay tuned for further information in relation to that.

"In consultation with the senior forecaster at the BOM, I have decided to cancel the 2009 M2AB. The wind has not been the main consideration here, as it is still forecasted to be between 20 and 30 knots from the SW in our area of operation. The deciding factor has been the sea state however, with 6-7m swells and a 3m sea on top of it, subsiding to a 1.5 to 2m sea, but still on the 6-7m swell, as the day progresses. They are predicting significant beach erosion and this size of sea has been enough for me to postpone the race for now. All the while remembering of course that the BOM doctrine indicates ‘maximum waves may be up to twice the height', as listed in the forecast", Simon Dryden, the Race Director commented.

"At any rate if you got there and the Harbour Master had closed the port it would have been a bit devastating having to turn around and go home. We looked at delaying the start and the wind was definitely going to abate, but the swells are expected to stay well into Sunday", he went on to add.

The fantastic Donaghys rope prizes will be held over pending getting a race in and we'll all just have to wait for the results in the all important Melbourne Offshore Championship (MOC).

There would have been a lot of this going on from Saturday morning.

By John Curnow