After a 40,000nm round the world ocean race onboard the winning yacht in the 2017/18 Clipper race, the ORCV Winter Series and Women Skipper and Navigator Race and encouraging more women sailing onboard her beloved “Duckmobile” is up next for Catherine North.

I’d heard during the Clipper race that the yacht that I’d learnt to sail on and loved “Duckmobile” was for sale but didn’t know if and how we could afford to buy her. Since returning to Australia, Michael and I found a way to buy Duckmobile and have been preparing the boat with the view that I’d really like to do my part to encourage more women to come sailing. Duckmobile is a 36’ X-Yacht and whilst we plan to do some cruising mainly short-handed, we will race her I hope, fully crewed.

I’ve always enjoyed longer passage races which is why I’m excited and have chosen the ORCV Winter series as our first race. Longer races give you time to work as a crew, trim, get the boat setup and plan your journey. A 30nm or slightly longer race after the long legs of the Clipper race is just perfect to get us back out on the water again as we look towards getting as much experience as we can. I’m also looking forward to competing in not only the ORCV winter series but the ORCV Women Skipper and Navigator Blairgowrie - Melbourne. Longer term I’d like to then do some ocean passages both racing and cruising around Tasmania.

Before leaving for the Clipper race, I did several courses to gain knowledge including keelboat courses, a radio operator’s course before taking on the Ocean Racing Club (ORCV) “Beyond the Bay” course. I really enjoyed the ORCV “Beyond the Bay” course as it gave a great insight into what I needed to consider and know prior to leaving. I’m keen to be more involved with the ORCV not only as a competitor but also supporting their work as a volunteer. I’ve really enjoyed the people that I’ve met through the ORCV who have been so willing to share their knowledge with me. My inspiration to sail came from my father, the fictional character Captain Horatio Hornblower and various crew members on the Clipper race.

I’m now looking forward to now using my knowledge and experiences and sharing this with other women who have a passion to embrace sailing, both longer passage races and offshore and do my part to get more women sailing.

I’ve been very fortunate with the people that have supported my sailing dream. The previous owner of Duckmobile welcomed me onto his yacht and was very supportive of women and sailing. I must say I learnt a lot from David and would now like to do the same for other women and support them into sailing. I’m looking for women who are passionate and keen to learn sailing joining the Duckmobile crew.

If you’re interested joining me sailing, please send an email via the ORCV office on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Image: 

Catherine North on the bow of Sanya, Clipper Round the World Ocean Race.  Photography Minghao Zhang

V-Day!

Notice to Competitors No.9 with special instructions for the Overnight Navigator’s Challenge is available HERE.

With another weekend of challenging conditions forecast for Port Phillip, the dedicated fleet of 30 odd boats that have been competing for the 2018 Winter Series since early June, will need to draw on all of their skills and resilience for Race 5, the Overnight Navigator’s Challenge, scheduled to start at 1200 on Saturday.

With Safety firmly in mind, the Sailing Committee is watching the forecast very closely and monitoring the weather as it develops towards the weekend and is considering postponing the start time for the Race.

As detailed in WS_NTC9, all competitors will be notified by 0900 on Saturday, of this decision.

With only 3 series points separating Javelin and Xenia in AMS and Christine and Alien in IRC, and a highly technical and tactical format with plenty of miles on offer this weekend, the Lord Warden’s Trophy for the Overall Winner of the Winter Series is still very much up for grabs, proving that consistency pays.

As we all look on with keen anticipation to see what will happen over the weekend, Victory will be offered to the team that can sail well, plan the most effective course for the conditions, and cover the greatest final distance.

The Race Director will be on Station with the ORCV Radio Van for the duration of the race at Point Gellibrand, and everyone is welcome to come down during the race for a live up date of how the fleet are progressing.

All skippers are reminded that they are to submit their Cat 5N Self Declaration Form and Crew Registration Form by 1700 Friday 14^th September, 2018, to be eligible to compete in this race, as detailed in the Sailing Instructions.

ORCV Winter Series Flare Shoot tradition continues in 2018

The ORCV Winter Series has been conducted annually since 1971.  One of many ORCV traditions, the annual Flare Shoot prior an ORCV Winter Series race (including the use parachute/rocket flares), has again received approval from relevant authorities.    For our Category 1 and 2 ocean races, yachts are required to carry parachute distress flares but opportunities to gain practical experience discharging parachute flares are rare.  The ORCV Safety & Sea Survival Course includes an important practical exercise to discharge hand held flares but not parachute flares.  This is a rare opportunity to gain practical experience discharging parachute marine distress flares. See Winter Series Race Documents page for Notice to Competitors No. 5 - Flare Shoot
Race 2 in the 2018 ORCV Winter Series, the passage race from Melbourne to Blairgowrie was originally scheduled for Saturday 7 July, 2018 but with Gale Force winds forecast, it was re-scheduled to Saturday 21 July, 2018. Our fleet for Race 2 currently stands at 31 yachts from all major keel boat yacht clubs in Port Phillip. Winter is a fabulous time to sail in Melbourne - lots of nice Northerly winds and flat seas in Port Phillip Bay.  You can still enter the entire Series or individual events in the new format 2018 ORCV Winter Series. See the The new 2018 ORCV Winter Series - Format Explained article for more info on the new format. The ORCV's 2018 Women Skippers & Navigators Race, which has previously been conducted after the Winter Series Melbourne to Geelong passage race, has been changed this year to be after the Melbourne to Blairgowrie race on Sunday 22 July, 2018.  The Women Skippers & Navigators Race is part of the Yachting Victoria Women and Girls in Sailing (WGIS) Port Phillip Women's Passage Series. Port Phillip Bay's dolphins were also fired up on the first day of the 2015 Winter Series, as captured by Steb Fisher (no these photos are not 'photo shopped').  For more of Steb's magic, see the Album for Race 1 of the 2015 Winter Series on the ORCV's Facebook Page.
Relevant Authorities include: • Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) – Instrument Number: CASA.FWK.00943 • Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) • Port of Melbourne Corporation • Victorian Water Police • Coast Guard Melbourne CASA have issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to alert aircraft pilots of the Flare Shoot location.

Information Sessions Continue for new 2018 Winter Series format

As part of introducing an exciting new format, including a new schedule of races and all new divisions for the 2018 Winter Series, the ORCV is committed to talking to as many members and supporters as possible, through a series of information sessions to be held all supporting yacht clubs on Port Phillip.

 Following on from the success we have had at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, Safety Beach Sailing Club and Hobsons Bay Yacht Club over the last few weeks, our Winter Series Sub-Committee move on to Three additional clubs this week, to hold brief information sessions for the all new format Winter Series.

This Thursday evening, 10^th of May, 2018, commencing at 7:30pm, Sandringham Yacht Club has invited our Sub-Committee to present at the conclusion of its Member Information Night with Guest Speaker Lex Bertrand, following his insightful presentation on Local Weather and Sailing on the Bay.

SYC would also like to extend an invitation to all ORCV members, friends and their guests to attend this special presentation, and remind everyone that bookings are not necessary.

On Friday evening, our sub-committee has been offered an opportunity to present information to the attendees at the 2018 Victorian Keelboat Presentation evening at Royal Brighton Yacht Club, commencing at 7:00pm, and once again, all are welcome to attend.

In conjunction with the Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series presentation, this will be an excellent opportunity to showcase the introduction of our Female-based Crew Division, which is an exciting addition to this years new format Winter Series.

This coming Saturday, 12^th May, 2018, following Race One of the RYCV Brass Monkey Series, and the RBYC May Fleet Series, ORCV Committee member Matt Fahey, and Immediate Past Commodore Neville Rose, will present to members at Royals and Royal Brighton respectively, to provide all you need to know about our 2018 Winter Series.

Winter Is Coming!

All interested skippers are encouraged to download a copy of the Notice of Race and make their way to Race Entry page, via the Winter Series Mini Site here.

The Safety Category requirements for eligible yachts day races is Cat 5, and Cat 5N for our Overnight Navigators Challenge Race, and interested yachts can enter each race individually, or as a series entry.