ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Entrée...

As in Starters...

Our Peter, the voice of Ocean Racing, has just sent the list of starters to me:

• Team Beyond Outrageous
• Biddy HU II
• eXtasea
• Magazan 53
• Magic
• Mille Sabords
• Second to None
• Spirit of Downunder
• White Noise

Just nine got away from the original 27. Wow. Peter Clancy had also just heard from eXtasea, who'd said to him, "Its quite an experience running square up the Western Channel in this wind." Peter also let us know that Slinky Malinky have torn their mainsail, so have withdrawn from the race. This is very disappointing at the best of times, but especially so now, when they were very much in for a chance to get some loot for their efforts in the whole Offshore Championship. As it is now, eXtasea just have finish, in order to finish first. I'll let The Brass re-read the rule book and give me a determination on that...

Race Management were on the Start Boat. Here eXtasea just gets there before Spirit of Downunder, who's under reef.

Now speaking of eXtasea, they do not have there leader onboard today. Paul 'Bucky' Buchholz is away, but did send this in. "Hi John. Just following the race and the start from Chicago USA and Teri's comments about being cold. Am presenting at a conference on here at the moment and couldn't make the race, but am there in spirit with a great crew, some of whom have been with the boat(s) for almost 20 years! This series to us is very important from a historical point of view, with the possibility of getting four straight MOC wins."

That certainly is very true and puts them in the same sort of league as the original Bacardi gang, but there is also some added motivation onboard. It is Tony Bull's first race back after the death of his Father and they are really out there trying to make a show of it for him. Speaking of shows, they have told me that the trip up the Western Channel was "...interesting in such a narrow patch of water with the kite up and the Brace coming out of the Beak" (at the end of the spinnaker pole).

From onboard, Stu Addison told me that they were doing 16 knots easily now and watching behind, as Spirit of Downunder takes ground out of them. "They're flying and really getting in to it. We have also just watched Team Beyond Outrageous go for a big wipeout. The rest of the fleet is under poled out headsail." Must say, would not be Team BO if they were not at full noise with a kite up - God Bless!

Also out there is Hayley Thomas, on Second to None, who started with a slab in, as well. "So we are not allowed out through the Heads...but it is fantastic in the Bay and we are screaming towards the West Channel! The hunt is on!" Only problem is, as the only Beneteau First 40 out there now, they have to go and find someone else to play with...

Second to None's mainsail, obviously during one of the sunny patches. That slab has gone, too...

Aboard Second to None - Helming can be a wet, nasty business on days like this...

Here are some additional images from Robyn Brooke, whilst she was aboard the Start Boat.

Biddy Hu II goes by - bet they put their waterline length to use as the race goes on...

This is Magic, who were third over the line. Phil Spry-Bailey was one of the souls keen to get an Inside course organised in case of this very scenario. Well done, pal...

Magazan 53 with the Queenscliff Tower and Ferry in behind...

Biddy Hu II was the last starter...

Certainly looks wild and wooly out there.

Teri Dodds sent us an image of the Rip from this morning, after watching and shooting the start. "Point Nepean to the left, looking out from Point Lonsdale carpark. Quite nasty oput there!!" was how she put it. Yes. Staying inside was the best call.

Showers (inside a bathroom that is) and food not that far away...

© 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...

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

It's Cold!!!

That was exactly how Teri Dodds described it to me when she sent through this image.

This is great to show how there is sun all over Point Nepean, cells blowing over like the one in the top left and that super cold onshore breeze howling in through the Heads....

eXtasea won the start just from Spirit of Downunder with Magic right there in third, George Shaw told me. Teri Dodds was impressed that Ecky had put 200m on quickly, which is a good effort in a boat not necessarily designed for reaching.

Go get 'em sailors!

© 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...

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

We're In.

Yep. Inside course around Port Phillip has been chosen. It is feral down there and I wont say that it is sunny and already on it's way to 18 here, OK. (We do have the 20 knot wind, however...)

The Dynamic Duo of George Shaw and Robyn Brooke are the onsite Race Management team again for this race. Geo was very thrilled that they picked the right job for the Port Fairy event and he was even more enthusiastic about his choice of location on the phone just now, as well.

Robyn 'All Energy' Brooke has filed this note for us. "Weather carves up the Apollo Bay fleet - Three boats were smart enough to head down to Queenscliff before the weather deteriorated yesterday. We've just had a message from our good friend, David Ellis, who drives Audi Penfold Sport when he can, but has to do the big ones for his day job as a Port Phillip Sea Pilot, advising the sea state was four metres at the Heads and significantly higher further out. At this stage The Brass had already decided to choose the inner Bay race, which starts from Queenscliff and heads up the Western Channel to the top of town …. finishing at Sandringham Yacht Club."

Here's the Van in-situ at King Island, with Vice Commodore, Simon Dryden...

"It is still bleak down here, with occasional glimpses of blue sky and sunlight as we drive past Geelong on the way to Queenscliff in the van, but it has been horrendous overnight and we’ve consequently had withdrawals from:

• Ninety-Seven
• Escapade
• Spirit of Freya
• Dry White
• No Fearr
• Yoko - A pile came loose and Yoko is still caught up in it, unable to get to start line.
• Peregrine

"Geo and I are heading out to the most unusual daylight start, to get some pics and we’ll send you some notes about Gary Tomlins from the Coast Guard, once we get back to dry land. BTW, The Gill jacket for the Naviguesser’s prize will still be awarded and posted out to the winner."

"News just in - the course will be shortened. Now heading straight from the Drapers Reef Start through to the Prince George Pile, on to Sandringham Yacht Club # 1 (Outer Southerly) and thence to the Finish, directly on front of SYC. That is, deleting marks R1 and Outer Anchorage. The rest of fleet, i.e. those not here in Queenscliff, will be advised at the pre race sign on."

"It’s nasty weather, NASTY!!", said Robyn. Ed. Given the experience level there, I can only begin to imagine that if they are saying that, it must be truly horrendous... No wonder the fleet is now only just about 10 in number, from the original 27.

Our good friend and wonderful maritime shooter, Teri Dodds, is down at Queenscliff Harbour and she said to me, just now, "I'm being blown off my feet. Not euphemistically - Literally!! There are the cells that blow through in between the odd patch of sun and they are viscious."

Let the racing begin - and then get the crews to the showers!!!!

© 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...

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Eurovision Wins!!!

OK. Back at the start of the 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu, Melbourne's The Age newspaper loved the idea about the amount of gourmet cheffing going on out at sea, and coined the term, Master SeaChef. The Secretary and Ingénue had many miles under their belts to perfect this fine art and since then, it has caught on, with Slinky Malinky, Escapade and Spirit of Freya some of the most notable Sous-SeaChefs.

Now given the weather, which has turned a 27 boat fleet in to a 17 boat fleet, two of those crews (Ingénue and Freya) opted for a candle light dinner on terra firma, last night. Mystery Man got a guernsey for the party, too and he sent us the image -ta. Been a while, so glad to know you're still alive, matey...

So now, moving on then. We have a new correspondent - Hayley Thomas from Second to None. Here she is, above, in her choice of Eurovision outfit for Friday night and it's blurry because it's at sea with an iPhone, so actually, is a wonderful attempt. Thank you. "We're currently 13nm from the West Channel Pile and we've already broken into song - the boys are singing 'The Love Boat'. Hhhhmmmm.......... We know we are a little mad. We have seven crew on board, with Bretlyn Brown and Bill Westerbeek leading our Team." Ed. The Love Boat mantel is sown up for a while with Audacious, but Happiest Crew On The Water is looking very possible. A good effort here for the run to AB and you just never know... it could be yours.

Hayley then went on to add, at about 0030hrs Saturday, "What a fun ride!!!!!! Almost straight into the wind, rain and hail! All except three of us are quite sick and we are still only in the Bay. Looking forward tomorrow!"

Here are the Second to None crew all tucked up in Queenscliff for a nice, little, pre-race sleepies.

1000hrs on Saturday morning, 14/05/11 is the new M2AB starting time. Trainspotters may remember that I commented in Nadia Comenci about having a daylight start off Drapers Reef being about as rare as an albino tiger. Now apart from seeing if I could weave Siegfried and Roy into a story about sailing, it was in deference to the fact that all the great ORCV Bass Strait events start in the dark, apart from the Xmas time stuff, but that is off Portsea Pier. Nick McGuigan then pointed out that the Latitude Mentoring Bass Strait race starts off Drapers too (thanks for the pics, Nick). It finishes at the Portsea Pier, BTW..., which is where I thought it originated from. Should read the SIs, eh?

Anyway, it is exceptionally rare for one of the ORCV Offshore Championship races to begin in daylight, so we hope to get a pic of that and in the meantime, here is the Drapers Reef marker off Queenscliff and the Coast Guard team who set the flashing yellow beacon that is soooooooooooooooooooooooo essential to the said night time starts.

OK. In the above image, it is Point Nepean over on the left and this is the Latitude Fleet, heading out in to The Paddock (Bass Strait).

Now Dry White has supplies onboard for the run home. I was told by the crew that, "We have plenty of great nibblies onboard. Don't expect to have them see the light of day for the trip down to AB, but the return home promises to be a hoot. Big swells and breeze up the tail... WooooooHooooooooo!"

Right then. The all important conjecture. I'll leave that to the powers that be, but here are this morning's graphs. Armchair sailors can play it out for themsleves....

This graph shows wind speed and direction at the South Channel Pile, which is still inside the Heads!

This is the Point Nepean Wave Buoy data and it could well be the telling tale... Two hours for it to come back from 8m - hhhmmmmm.

Right then. It's pretty clear that Eurovision is going to win the ratings war this time! Gee. I do hope there are some crews singing.... One thing that may help, depending on which camp you're in, is that the Mighty Geelong got up over the Collywobbles last night. Hopefully that is good news for Kevin Robinson, who was most happy about the delayed Apollo Bay start, as it meant he got to watch the footy before taking the boat down to the Heads. Geelong beat Collingwood, 8 goals, 17 behinds for 65 points to 9.8.62. Anyway, it's all academic, because the only match that counts are my Hawker boys taking care of The Saints on Sunday afternoon at the G!

Will the Race Director go the inside course???

© 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...