Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Pointy End Specialists.

All rightey then. The FDU are going to love me and anyone who used to go up to adventure island, but is now too large, old, smart or [D], all of the above, is going to admire them anyhow. This article's hero pic is the bowman from 'Veloce'. You know the deal, if you want some of your fifteen minutes, then email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Now there are plenty of other great images here as well, so get a glass of red and kick back. 55 personally selected pics await you...

These images are Races Five and Six of the MWS, as seen by Steb Fisher. This is the only authorised site you can see these images at. You can view more of Steb's work here or contact him via either of these - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and mobile 0438 160 753.

Sunday's weather was always going to provide for some spectacular racing and viewing, so let's start with FDU corner.

'Audi Centre Melbourne' and I called them ACM Over, ACM Under and ACM Pasting... I think that just about covers it. (And I think I've just about covered the sponsor being happy issue too.... What do you think Chris?)

'Schuss' left and 'Ice Fire' right.

'Cougar II' above and 'Clockwork' on the right.

This is 'Audacious', so this should be our FDU Poster Boy, Michael Stephens.

Alas it is not so - we've just learned it is in fact their "...multitasking Mastman, Lindsay Berge. I must have been fetching the spin halyard", Michael tells me.

Aboard 'Ninety Seven'.

Checking it out on 'Jazz Player'.

Bow1 and 2 and plenty of water about on 'Audi Centre Melbourne'.

Aboard the Doyen's 'Challenge', left and on 'Wicked', right.

This article's hero onboard 'Veloce' and then it's 'Schuss' on the right.

Right there on '38 South' and then the chainsaw icon on the bow of 'Audacious' (and Lindsay again, Michael...).

"You mean this bit of rope in there? I know. Maybe when the boat comes down again, it'll be closer huh...."

- aboard 'Jazz Player'

Very, very, very wet aboard 'Spirit of Downunder'. Don't think the fluoro hood is going to stop much, just maybe collect a bit more actually...

OK. Let's completely turn it on its head now. This is Robin Hewitt leaning over and possibly Dennis Livingston looking on, from the Committee Boat, RYCVs 'Thorsen'.

This is the crew from 'XLR8', who did not have the best of days....

'38 South' with a little variation in the hiking theme...

'Clockwork', another Sydney 38, were hiking hard.....

...but then some of them got sprung when they thought the camera was off!

'Ninety Seven' on the left and 'Audi Centre Melbourne' on the right.

Greg, Michael, Lindsay and the rest of the crew on 'Audacious' going into the mark and hiking hard on the way there.

'Bombora' and 'Jazz Player' head downhill.

'Can Can' and 'Challenge' behind a wave.

'Clockwork' heads downhill and 'Cougar II' sends its bow through another wave, with the Bag all set to go.

'Cougar II' surfs down with a Bag and the Staysail - must have been under 20 knots...

'Dream' go in to the mark, left, while 'Ice Fire' and '38 South' tussle it out, right.

Finally we have a shot of the mighty little 'Godzilla' under kite. Thanks Steb for the pic and well done to the crew, who have the little 31footer on the podium.

'Ice Fire' sets up to go around and Stephen "Jamboy" Hill and the crew aboard 'INSX' punch on into the waves.

'JAHMU2' beats uphill, while 'Jazz Player' is behind a wave. Check out the colour and clarity of the water!!!

At least the tapes got clipped up the right way on 'Jazz Player'.

'Jazz Player' and 'The Secretary' head uphill.

'Mirrabooka' keen to get to the mark and then get flat and a bit warmer on the way back down.

'Sierra Chainsaw' and 'Wicked' and possibly 'Schuss' in between them as they head away from the line.

'Spirit of Downunder' puts some green over the deck, the sheets, the sails, the dodger, the crew, etc, etc, etc.

'Veloce' gets set to go into the top mark.

Love the pattern in the expensive rags when the sun shines through...

Now if it wasn't for the wet weather gear, you'd swear this was at Hammo - look at the colour of the water! Oh yeah. Giddy up, eh Nifty...

So if you haven't had enough, other related material to MWS Races Five, Six and Seven can be read in the following articles.

EASE! can be read by clicking HERE.

CSI: Port Phillip can be read by clicking HERE.

A Toyota Hilux with all its pics, can be read by clicking HERE.

CSI: Melbourne can be read by clicking HERE.

Bags, Bungles and Toyota Hiluxes (think of the ad that used only the one "B" word...), the originator of the “Oh what a feeling theme”, can be read by clicking HERE.

It's YOUR Money can be read by clicking HERE.

Details of the M2G, which is Race Seven of the MWS, can be read by clicking HERE.

 

 

By John Curnow