Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)
Better to be looked over than overlooked!
Almost one hundred, hand picked images from the great inaugural M2G race await you - so get a bottle of red this time, not a glass. You'll need it. I did after prepping all these pics! Many thanks to Don Fraser for taking the punishment in the photography boats to bring you these great shots. Cheers pal.
Also, it was great to meet so many new faces down there and I appreciate your comments. If you have something to say, then email
All right. On to the pics. You'll find them in three broad categories. Early on near Melbourne, approaching the finish and crew shots.
'Peregrine' had a few issues getting the Bag organised after R2... Interesting place to keep the pole. Let alone the two metres of halyard left to go.
...and Don was there to catch it. Not sure of the outcome with 'Soiree Blue' here, so if anyone knows...
Yep. That's going to take a bit to get out. Ease the brace forward and yank on the clew. Then pray.
Bill told me he was happy to get the kite set and accelerate off to 18 knots and get out of the mass of boats 'Chikara Outlaw' had found themselves in as a result of their very late start.
The Division Zero gang sprinted up the one and half or so miles to R2.
2008/09 MOC winners, 'Extasea', get ready for the Bag.
The last of the fleet go around and below, everybody plowed South...
'Gienah' on the left here and 'Godzilla', right, as they both set up for their hoists
'Goldfinger' hoists away and 'XLR8' head up to the mark all firmly stacked on the rail. See. More nice comments for you Ian and Sandra.
'INSX' were off and flying - well most of the time anyway.
'JAHMU 2' set about getting the launch ready to go.
On the left it is 'Magazan 53' and on the right, it is 'Mirrabooka'
'Mirrabooka' finishes the preparatory work - my knees would not allow me to do that anymore...
Loved the nav light glowing here on 'Mirrabooka'and it is 'Ocean Safari' on the right, also with a bright bit on display.
'Peregrine' giving the halyard plenty and 'Silk' in these next three going about their business. Bet they're glad they made it to Geelong for the bash despite retiring...
'Ocean Skins' getting ready and below right it is 'Veloce' showing their prep skills.
'Vantage' on the left and 'The Secretary' on the right and below. Would have been ideal weather for both boats.
Living legend, Jim Close, one of our country's absolute blue water masters, once said to me "You cannot push a rope!" Seemed very apt here.
'Wicked' revved it up in these three pics here and on the dance floor later, so I knew Smithy and the Girl would be a safe bet in the party department... Nice joke too Smithy. Wally was giving it the rounds the next morning.
And so we move into the crew pics section...
'Audi Centre Melbourne' have had a great time with the new and improved boat. Little wonder that Chris is so happy with Greg Elliott then.
Out in front and got the Division Two gun. Cool. They celebrated before crossing the line and seemed pretty chuffed here, back in the Wilson Spit Channel.
Heading South for the first time this year and doing M2S next month as well. Paul and the team on 'Biddy Hu II'.
'Calm' had a great one and nearly got IRC as well as LH. Ring-in from 'Cougar II' (Peter with his hands out) came along to help Dad celebrate. Mums, wives and babies greeted the clan at RGYC. Below is the Birthday Boy himself, collecting one of his prizes from ORCV Rear Commodore, Don Fraser.
The team on 'Can Can' - that wind had kicked in by then or what?
Orange must mean it is the Dutch or then again, 'Clockwork'. Yep. it is 'Clockwork'.
'Crackerjack' responded to being named in an earlier article by showing up for the M2G (read it HERE if you'd like). Thanks team. So glad you had such a good time and all the laughs. You're leading a trend for other Bay racer types and ensuring it is all a bigger and better affair next year. Some even went the whole way in shorts!!! One million bonus points there, Wally.
'Dream' team. Oldie but a goodie...
'Extasea' - before it all went a bit feral near Cunningham Pier.
'Godzilla' picked up the Race Director's "Happiest Crew On The Water" prize. Not sure what they get, but good work when you can get it.
The 'Finger' does an awesome job of hiking. Nice one team. That's Chris Smethurst out the furthest.
Not sure which one is Stehpen 'Jamboy' Hill, but the 'INSX' crew were all smiles around Geelong.
Nick McGuigan and crew of 'Magazan 53'. Nick was the one taking the photos at the presentations.
Now Amber and the girls off 'Matrix' swear they didn't jump for joy as they crossed the finish line. I had a bit on at the time, so could not get a pic, but everyone seems fired up here. Where there's smoke....
David Bingham drives his 'Mirrabooka'. Focussed. We like that.
'Mocean's crew knew the camera was on them.
Another vibrant and enthusiastic bunch came to Geelong on 'The Secretary'. That's Michelle Tapp, the most left on the rail.
'The Secretary' and yes, that toe rail does hurt...
'Vantage' were definitely happy to be out there.
Yet more nice pics and words for the 'XLR8' gang.
Robin Hewitt's 'Yoko' has introduced a lot of people to the sport over the years.
'Ninety Seven' are a happy bunch, unlike us Hawthorn supporters.
Finally then, it is the approaches to Geelong in the Wilson Spit and Hopetoun Channels.
I had an idea why 'Goldfinger' crossed the line under main alone. The Jib Topper is rated to 20 and the regatta main to 30 knots, and it was well and truly past all of that when they arrived. It was only when the pics came in that I saw why they would have been happy to take the heat out of it all, within sight of the line. As we all know, the bullets down at Geelong can be significant.
Definitely a bit on there!
Then everything is just peachy again. You might think the big blast reacher is not trimmed correctly, but it is only rated to twenty (which you can see from how transparent it is), so is actually feathered quite nicely to allow the air to exhaust out of the top of it very well. Perhaps a little barber haul down to straighten the leech out a little, but then again picky, picky, picky. Well done Dean 'Used to be Magnum P.I' Robson. Your wife's going to hate that you get the good press! (FYI - she's the Sandra from 'XLR8' mentioned elsewhere)
Hugely powerful boat and shot. Peter Blake, who's driving, would have been loving that.
Rail in the drink, Peter's hand already moving left, foils are still gripping and a bit of vang let off from the chicken pedal (hydraulic vangs can be released via a button under the helmer's feet to give rapid de-powering where required). About three shots down you'll see how high the boom is, as a result of the vang release.
Absolutely max Larry (load) here and she finally slips up (below), responds to her helm and then charges back off towards the line, in the remainder of the sequence pictured below. Blast Reacher (Jib Topper) survived with only a minor tear Kate Mitchell told me, so that would have kept the owners happy!
'Ice Fire' already had a much smaller #4 up when one of those bullets had them getting the boom in the drink.
'JAHMU 2' was going for the headsail peel from their blast reacher (lighter colour) to a #4 (dark).
Plenty on there!
Oops. Headsail back behind the main and wet and so then even heavier...
Make that a loooooooooong way behind the main. Still they got it in and all was good - in the end.
Where as only a little while before hand, the leaders had glided through in stunning conditions with a genoa staysail up, to boot.
Down the back corner and as far as you can get out!
'Skins' were the last ones in before the big squirts arrived.
This is what the inner harbour looked like once it had settled in....
Under Capricorn had a more civilised entry, but those waves were building and it is her joining 'XLR8' in the round up party in the image directly above.
Jazz Player put a slab in... Good call.
'Ocean safari' also had a wild ride.
'Peregrine' gets a bullet too, as the Oil Rig Tender departs.
'Remedy' hangs on. Remember they were going two up...
It was blowy as, when 'Veloce' got there.
'Spirit of Downunder' turned around and went home. Lozza now regrets missing the party....
By John Curnow
