Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB) and

Melbourne Offshore Championship (MOC)

Done! Dusted!...

...engraving goes on the trophy.

They've worked hard all year - well done 'Extasea'. Pic courtesy of Terri Dodds.

So then, in the process of officially cancelling the Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB), the Melbourne Offshore Championship (MOC) was also decided. The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Race Director, Simon Dryden explained, "We just could not find a suitable weekend to run this race. There's the ORCV Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS), the Women's Keelboat Regatta and of course, the ever-popular Melbourne Winter Series (MWS) starts on July 5 with the annual flare firing. This is where the ORCV has arranged with the necessary authorities for sailors to learn and reacquaint themselves with the use of both parachute and hand-held flares. It certainly is a bit of a spectacle."

In the end, the 2008/2009 MOC standings are: IRC 1. 'Extasea' - Paul Buchholz 2. 'Ninety Seven' - Alan Saunders 3. 'Spirit of Downunder' - Laurie For AMS 1. 'Extasea' - Paul Buchholz 2. 'Addiction' - Richard McGarvie 3. 'Spirit of Downunder' - Laurie Ford   'Addiction' was one of the boats aiming to do well in M2AB and thereby improve their Championship aspirations.
and PHC 1. 'Mirrabooka' - David Bingham 2. 'Spirit of Downunder' - Laurie Ford 3. 'Chikara Outlaw' - Bill Trueman and Jo Norbury   David Bingham will accept another trophy soon for the PHC Division of the MOC to add to this one earned at M2PF

No surprises then, that Paul Buchholz and the very accomplished crew of 'Extasea' win the 2008/2009 MOC and in doing so get their name on the cabinet that holds the magnificent etched glass vase, that is the trophy for this revered Championship for the second year in a row.

By John Curnow