ORCV Hutchwilco Melbourne to Stanley (M2S)
and 2013 Melbourne to Osaka. 

Knockout Dolls.

We saw a little about them in a piece called The Bookends not too long ago...

Of course, that could only mean we're talking about Rosie Colahan and Robyn Brooke. Anyway, back at that point, astute yachties were pondering the question why these two popped up on the register for our Double Handed event in the Bay, when they 'stole' George Shaw's, The Secretary, for the race. We asked the question and got the reply, "A couple more 'Dolls' out there on the water to join the armada of 'Living', 'Bad' and 'Extra Bad'!"

Even more recently, we saw Pretty Woman appear on the roster for the 2011 Hutchwilco Melbourne to Stanley race, yet her owners, Roger and Michelle Wale, are going to be on land at Stanley, so how do you get the boat there? Now we know for sure...

The very kind, considerate and generous, Roger and Michele Wale aboard their Pretty Woman, after they won a round of the chase for the McConaghy wheel.

Now we've just received a bit of an update about 'The Bookends' from the pair of Dolls, "With the start of the Summer sailing season, we have commenced our training activities for the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka race. Roger and Michelle, have very generously given us Pretty Woman, for Stanley and Launceston at Christmas. Accordingly, we have access to a beautiful ocean going vessel with which to kick start our training."

"Our first foray was last Wednesday evening’s Fleet Twilight race at Brighton, where we had a shakedown with the owners on board and did some kite practice. A second place was our reward. Sunday, we planned to go it alone with the Hobbos Double Handed race. Despite our early arrival on the boat on Sunday morning, we were hit by a 37 knot squall which delayed our departure from the pen. Following the passage of the squall, we shot out of the pen and headed for Hobson’s Bay, but unfornately we were late for the start. Nonetheless, it was a perfect training opportunity, as we chased the fleet, steadily working our way up towards the leaders. The day continued to serve up Westerly winds varying anywhere from 15 to 40 knots in the squalls, which gave us plenty of reefing practice and the short sharp chop gave us even more steering practice. We had a ball and zoomed home from the Spoil Ground mark, hitting over 11 knots (boat speed) as we reached along with a reefed mainsail and #3 headsail up."

Clipping along up the top of the Bay... pics by John Dynan.

Hard working Dolls.

And there they go...

That's the sort of shot that'll get you a sponsor!

"We are both delighted to have been given the opportunity to compete in the upcoming Hutchwilco Melbourne to Stanley race in the lead up to doing Australia's oldest ocean race at Christmas - Melbourne to Launceston." Ed. Given these two came from separate winning teams from Master SeaChef previously, it is strange that there is no mention of the culinary delights to be had on board when Pretty Woman has such a marvellous galley... Think we'll have to get on to finding out about that!!!!!!

Now then, we have 37 vessels thus far in the M2S - Addiction, Alibi, Alien, Arch Rival, Bandit, Biddy Hu II, Cadibarra 8, Calm, Chikara Outlaw, Cavarlo, Dekadence, Dark and Stormy, Dry White, eXtasea, FullyNPushing, Gusto, Halcyon, Independent Endeavour, Jazz Player, Kiss Goodbye to MS, Magazan 53, Magic, Matrix, Mille Sabords, Mirrabooka, Nutcracker, Pretty Woman, Scarlet Runner, Slinky Malinky, Spirit of Downunder, Tevake II, Trybooking.com, Under Capricorn, Weekend Option, White Noise, XLR8 and Yoko, which is excellent. Well done and good luck to all.

ORCV Land also extends on to the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 207 Souls already have and thank you to each and every one of you.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	The ORCV's Hutchwilco Stanley race is proudly sponsored by:
ORCV Race Van moved by: