ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Of dolphins and rain...

The lead yacht, Extasea, is abeam of Split Point (approximately half way) and then there's another big group, not too far behind, with the tailenders around one and half hours off Split Point. Yoko reported SSE winds of 6 to 10knots with dolphins and rain. Very interesting.

From Greg Clinnick aboard Audacious, we have the following report and pics (thank you so much for making the effort for us all Greg). "It's 8.45am and 7 hours into the race, we are 21 miles down with just over 30 miles to go. A very light air start meant there was a few hours of ship dodging, as the fleet finally cleared the Heads a little over 2 hours into the race."

There's a bit of heel angle here, so it cannot be too bad.

"After one stage almost leading the pack, we suffered the no wind blues as the breeze went slowly around the clock and the Code Zero finally gave way to a light headsail and just cracked sheets in a steady 10 knots of breeze."

The jumbos tell a good story - for a moment.

"The breeze has just backed so I have to go and put the Code Zero back up."

The plotter shows them a little under halfway, when this image was taken.

Now given the weather, the retirees were always going to start early - and they did. Spindrift was first to go, before the first sked actually and then just after the 0905hrs sked, Slice of Heaven, Allegresse, Schuss and then pretty Woman all decided to head back to either Queenscliff or their club on the Bay. It is amazing how infectious it can get. That all means there are now 22 racers still going. In terms of positions, the following table highlights the approximate distances to go.

1. Extasea - 27nm left
2. Audacious - 28nm
3. Chikara Outlaw - 28nm
4. The Secretary - 29nm
5. Alien - 29nm
6. Bombora - 30nm
7. Myuna - 31nm
8. Remedy - 31nm
9. Slinky Malkinky - 31nm
10. Escapade - 32nm
11. Caledonia - 33nm
12. Fade to Grey - 33nm
13. Gigi - 33nm
14. Magic - 33nm
15. Ninety Seven - 33nm
16. Wicked - 33nm
17. Wild Side - 33nm
18. Yoko - 33nm
19. Bacardi - 34nm
20. Magazan - 53nm
21. Beyond Outrageous - 35nm
22. Spirit of Freya - 35nm

Golf is the other order of the day, here at Apollo Bay.

What this charming little town looks like - oh so green again...

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

We know where they are.

... is so true on two fronts.

Firstly, Addiction is right here on the hardstand at Apollo Bay after her unfortunate incident whilst returning from the recent M2PF.

Here she was, firmly wedged in the sand, just to the West of the entrance, after touching the bottom on the way in, stopping as a result and then being carried away.

Here she is this morning and she does look a little lost.

Secondly, we know precisely where the fleet is, as the sked has just been done and they all had to skidaddle out of the way at just after 0300 to allow the shipping through (one in and two out). In fact, the ships have been a critical element in the whole equation, with another ship causing a delayed start to 0145hrs. There has been zero to nine knots of breeze from the Sou'west.

Your team for the race is Caitlin Poulton and Andrew Roberts and yes, it is that cold.

Sunrise at the delightful little harbour and to the left, you can see the clouds that extend back up the coast, yet we're in fairly patchy, thin cloud here.

All rightey then, just where are they? As you could imagine, with little breeze and mainly a bunch of tide, they are quite close together. Boats that have done well, thus far (which is an important caveat) are Alien, Escapade, Extasea, Chikara Outlaw and the Secretary. Bombora and Myuna, both a little further back, are punching well above their weight, however. As mentioned, Remedy are worth noting, as they are up there and no doubt lead the smaller boats and have a good chance of doing well. Chikara Outlaw are the furthest South, but are a little further East and when your SOG is just 2.5knots, the extra distance will be hard to recover. They have covered 10 miles of the course, thus far. The most furthest East at this time is Beyond Outrageous and that will not put them in good stead for holding some of the leaderboard positions and striking on others where they were well placed. Putting momentum to good use are the heavier boats like Caledonia and Bacardi. They have Schuss riding shotgun with them.

As we said, it will be interesting and there is a lot riding on the outcomes from this race.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Light Weather Specialists.

... are going to love the 2010 M2AB race from 0100 on Saturday 15/05/10. Having said all of that, I am very quickly reminding myself of the recent MTH race and the fact that the weather will do precisely what it wants, when it wants... Note to self - plenty of thermals!!! (cold and damp - not good for former ocean yachties with lung issues). Note to catering officer - HOT DRINKS! (and lots thereof).

Wicked is one boast to watch out for... Pic © Steb Fisher

The wind models show the race starting with winds from the NW at around 5knots and by Saturday evening, it has clocked all the way through the Southern quadrants to the NE and is around 10-15knots. There is a 1m sea on top of a 2-3m SW swell. You would want to correlate all that with your Tidetech information, as the clever Naviguessers will have the boat in the right spot at the right time for the Trimmers to get a bit of poke out of the sails. Remember that there is a strong current that runs along the beach here and even extends out to sea a little. Some may even be able to get the light Aces up and working, so I will be very keen to get the onboard intel from the likes of our HCOTW holders, Audacious, Geo and Robyn on The Secretary and of course, Mystery Man on whatever boat he's travelling on.

This anticipated light weather will suit the more modern and lighter boats and so Extasea, Beyond Outrageous and Audacious should no doubt be up front. Wicked will be the one to watch, as she is light and has an experienced crew onboard. Remedy has also got be looked at, as she will represent the smaller boats and if there is the anticipated seabreezes, then she could bring home the handicap bacon. Chikara Outlaw is another boat that will be keen to receive anything, as long as it includes sprung sheets or kites. Of course the B45s have a great rating, so if the crew on Schuss get the boat to sail to rating, then they'll have to be a feature on the scoreboard.

Bombora are joining us for the M2AB.

One of the factors worth mentioning here is the fog. If it get's burnt early, then there'll be an earlier and stronger seabreeze for the afternoon. Where the boats are, relative to the fog clearing, will determine finishing order, just as it did in last year's M2S.

The answer to all of this is fun and games. With so much riding on the results in so many categories, this is bound to be an interesting race.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

On the road to Gundagai...

... was how the song went, but this one is a bit different.

I've been involved in deliveries to and from some very exotic locations, so I'm used to a few questioning looks when I say something about moving boats around. However, nothing beats to puzzled expressions as when I said to people that I was driving a boat to Alice Springs. In the end it is quite simple to explain, as is the case with so many things. Very good friends are going fishing in the SW corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria and needed a hand getting the boat up into the Northern Territory. They actually wanted me to go with them, but we have a little season finishing M2AB race to contend with, so my adventure concludes at the airport for the trip in the kerosine canary back to Melbourne and yet more driving, as we get the van down to Apollo Bay for the finish.

This story qualifies as there is a boat involved. Many thanks to Admiral Richard for the excursion. What a country we live in...

There's even large expanses of water, albeit that this one is very shallow and oh so salty.

Land yachting only in this part of the red centre, however.

Now. Back to the racing. There is a lot of interest in our last event of the season, as there are places and trophies/prizes in many categories up for grabs. Perhaps this is why there is a good, strong 28 boat fleet set to march out the Heads at 0100hrs on Saturday morning. The first to get two McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship flags will get the wheel. Lord knows how it will be if one of the previous winners doesn't get another...

In AMS, Alien leads The Secretary and Addiction (whom I don't think are floating again presently) are there too. Extasea or Beyond Outrageous will get onto the podium I suspect. IRC has Alien in front, by more of a margin, then Extasea and The Secretary. Jazz Player and Slinky Malinky look too far out to strike, but there you have those famous last word again... In Performance, Beyond Outrageous leads, just, from Yoko and Slinky Malinky, but Alien and The Secretary are in a position to strike.

If it blows as usual from the SW, then Extasea, Ninety Seven and The Secretary will come into calculations well. Beyond Outrageous and Chikara Outlaw will be praying to get a bag up and they can take Peter Blake's old record with Kaos, if that ends up being the case. Joanne Harpur is back with Spirit of Freya and another MLS competitor and now skipper is Kathryn de Garis, who'll be bringing Allegresse out for a spin.

The Dark Horse would have to be the Welsh's with their B First 40, Wicked. Out for swing too is our current HCOTW holders, Audacious and returning after a spell are Malcolm and the gang on Caledonia. What will their job descriptions be this time???? Schuss is coming along, as too is another boat that's been all over these pages, Remedy. Joining the previous Offshore Champions, Extasea, as an entrant from Geelong is Gigi. Good to see that happening! Sentimental vote is the old Cole 43, Full Circle. On the nose and with a bit of squirt, she'll be one of the more comfortable rides, just like the Bus (aka Bacardi).

Will it be mild, will it be blowing? Who knows, but don't let it blow too much, or it will blow away the opportunity for some very tight finishing to the season with it.

Yeah, yeah. There'll be more soon. I think.

By John Curnow