ORCV Melbourne to Stanley (M2S)

The ayes have it.

Gusto, the race winner, arrived into Stanley on the top of Tasmania with virtually no breeze, but plenty of rain. That was at 0100hrs and then Goldfinger showed up at 0730hrs, bringing more breeze with her, around 10-15knots from the South West. Regrettably for the very soaked crew, she also brought along a significant rain band, which covers the whole of the North West corner of this magnificent isle.

Gusto sits on the outer finger with the Nut barely visible behind her due to the fog and mist.

The crews that have finished may now have their morale above water, but for the eight boats still racing, it has been a very wet and oh so dark night. Their perseverance is to be commended and sees them fighting amongst a smaller pool for the handicap trophies. Presently, the first two finishers will get the performance handicap prize and the coveted IRC trophy for Gusto and Goldfinger, respectively. As you will have noticed with such a small number still racing, there has been a huge list of retirements from the race and it would seem there is a small party now going on in Queenscliff, which is just inside Port Phillip Heads. 22 vessels and their crews decided that no wind, a lot of rain and ever expanding ETAs were more than enough to get the vote to turn back. Indeed it must have been easier and indeed quicker, to see the hands go up in the affirmative, than it would be to do so in the Australian Parliament currently. The ayes really would have it.

There is a party also going on in the shed on the quay at Stanley and despite small numbers of crew arriving, the locals have not let that or the rain dampen their spirits, with lots of dancing going on. The efforts of the Stanley and Smithton residents to assist with food and beverage, along with mooring of vessels and placing of finishing beacons, is really wonderful.

A rare gap when the rain went down to only spitting... and with all that, we're done, other than to say that Some crews' morale is underwater and there are now Just the two above it!!!

The latest standings and handicap ratings are up and current - see HERE.

The tracker is live - see HERE.

Will try!

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

ORCV Melbourne to Stanley (M2S)

Line Honours Winner

Gusto has won the 2010 Melbourne to Stanley race, crossing the line at 00:59:46hrs, so just over the 24 hour period. Well done gang, so good to see you.

There have been three fiurther retirements, taking the tally of vessels still racing down to just 13. Latest retirees were Independent Endeavour, Second to None and Young Ones.

Goldfinger is next to finish and they are around 25nm out, so you can guess what time and run your own book with that....

Gusto racing in the 2010 M2G, with thanks to Steb Fisher for the use of his © image.

The latest standings and handicap ratings are up and current - see HERE.

The tracker is now live - see HERE.

Yes, yes, yes, yes...

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

ORCV Melbourne to Stanley (M2S)

Race on for Race Leader.

The race is now on for the race leader, Gusto, to make it in before midnight and thus not hit 24 hours elapsed time. She radioed in at 2228hrs to say she was one and a half hours out, so the race really is on. Good luck.

Standby for a result and here is the pic of the leader with Angus, who is 2.03m tall, whilst she was out of the water.

The latest standings and handicap ratings are up and current - see HERE.

The tracker is now live - see HERE.

Yes, yes, yes, yes...

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

And here she is Stanley for the 2010 M2S, with the ORCV Van also out on the quay.

ORCV Melbourne to Stanley (M2S)

Ten Pin Bowling.

STRIKE! And yes, you do need to look at this.

We now have ten retired taking us to 22 still racing. The latest retirees are Team BO, Geomatic Joker and as the 1805hrs sked went on INSX also bowed out. After the sked, Spirit of Freya also retired - make that 12 and 20 for the totals. (and counting - down...)

Reigning Lord Warden Trophy holders, which means they had the lowest overall pointscore in the 2010 MWS, INSX in front of another retiree, Team BO (Beyond Outrageous). Image courtesy of and © Steb Fisher and is from Race Five of the 2010 MWS.

Now talking of still racing, this boat, Addiction, is very much in it, even though a little while ago they were not showing up in the handicap standings.

Addiction went back in to the water a while back and you can read about that, HERE. In the pic is Steve Campbell who owns Composites Constructions, where she had her renovation.

Still racing and very much doing that are the trophy hunters known as Gusto. They have completely leapfrogged the other two leaders to take a very handy 8.6nm buffer over Calm and behind them, Goldfinger. In the last six hours they have put something like 48nm on, which isn't much normally, but unbelievably huge in these sorts of conditions and now a finisher this side of midnight. Then, Calm themselves pulled out to take it to 19 still racing. So, then -

Line Honours Rankings:

Gusto 13nm in front of Goldfinger, and then eXtasea.

Handicap Rankings for:

IRC

Goldfinger, eXtasea and then Wild Side.

AMS

Gusto, Wild Side and then eXtasea, who always do well and sail above their rating, which would be why they are the reigning Melbourne Offshore Champions.

PHS

Look at this - Gusto now over Wild Side and then eXtasea.

It's 16 retirees now due to the significant lack of wind and impending possibility of very strong conditions for the return trip. The likes of Hush, Matrix and Under Capricorn now comprise 50% of the fleet either in the pens or on their way there.

The latest standings and handicap ratings are up and current - see HERE.

The tracker is now live - see HERE.

Will think of something soon enough. OK?

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.