CHANGE OF START LINE Winter Series Race 1

First Race of Winter Series, Saturday 22nd June will now start off RBYC at 10.30 due to lack of depth for some boats. We have updated the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. For completeness we have added Notices to competitors 1 and 2.
Given the likely weather we have added extra short courses to take that into account. Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday

Click here to see all the documents https://www.orcv.org.au/race-documents

Bacardi proves you don’t need new and flash to do well

Bacardi, the famous Peterson 44 from Sandringham Yacht Club, has entered the 2019 ORCV Winter Series. It is a welcome return back to the ORCV for Bacardi. A famous boat in its own right, it has competed in 30 Sydney to Hobarts, finishing 29 of them with a number of class wins and a second overall in 2006. Bacardi has been owned since 2006 by Martin Power, a once famous touring car racer in his own right. We assume that is where his competitive streak comes from. The pride is evident whenever you talk to “Marty” about the boat, he has endless stories and has weathered many a storm in her.

There wouldn’t be too many senior sailors on the bay who haven’t sailed on Bacardi or competed against her over the years, she is a famous and likeable boat. “She’s like the proverbial old axe,” Marty once joked, “She’s had four masts, three engines, three rudders and two decks, but the hull is the same.” Saying that she is still competitive. 

Brett Averay has partnered with Marty over the last couple of years bringing a wealth of experience as well as practical hands-on skills. Brett’s quiet but confident helming and tactics, his situational awareness and his ability to coach his crew, plus a lot of hours reconditioning the systems on the boat, have seen Bacardi return to full competition.

Under Brett and Marty’s leadership, Bacardi picked up a 1st place in Div2 AMS and 2nd PHS in the 2017 Lincoln Regatta and a 1st place PHS, 3rd AMS in the 2018 Lincoln Oceanrace, both against strong fleets. What makes this achievement really impressive is that it was done without the latest sails. Many of Bacardi’s sails are literally falling apart with one being tossed into the skip after the second race this year. The big, tired, overlapping headsails together with the running backstay, masthead rig and displacement hull are quite a contrast to other competitors with their carbon masts, square top mains, latest technology brand new sails and planning hulls. 

“So what do you need to be successful ?”, we asked Brett. “A good attitude, a good crew and sail smart. And never forget sailing should be enjoyable, yelling doesn’t help.” Bacardi is going to be one of many older yachts competing in the upcoming ORCV Winter Series, but don’t take your eye off her as she may just surprise you.  Great to see her out competing and ocean racing again.

Enter the ORCV Winter Series https://www.orcv.org.au/online-entry-winter

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.