ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Begin the beguine.

Not the race, not the jokes, not the prompts to buy Steb's images and not even Cole Porter's icon (you can choose Ella or Juilo from the many who have covered it), but the weather that began to build in the final stages of R4 of the 2010 MWS.

So, as a direct result of the increase in pressure, naturally there were the kites that did some good things too! It all made a start, just as the final marks were rounded, which is exactly where this set is taken from. Of course, it kicked in even further after that, so stay tuned.

Unofficial hero pic - the Gannet - so I guess that makes it the runner-up... but it is a cool image, so you'll just have to indulge me.

Hhhmmmm - Me thinky not quite makey markey... Really cool 'Steb', however!

Schüss' bow wrong side of pin?

Close.

A little too close.

Shootus the tubus!

Getting some way back on. In the background is Horizon Sprint doing a 245T (Roundup).

OK - Bow down and back into it. Pin still close, eh!

Those rags about to give it plenty of Larry!!!

Mitchey and the gang getting back into it in the background.

Yee Haa! Here's the Larry!!!!!!!!! Bombora directly in behind Schüss.

Sensational capture of the water streaming off the hull.

Time to floss - Please.

Say anything here and it will take away from the image. Nice one, Steb.

Action stations.

About to get very busy.

Somebody was looking for a fast ride!

Audacious had gone around before Schüss - here they are on approach. I like this one because it really shows that the wind had already got stuck into the sea.

Nearly all of our HCOTW are still hiking hard.

Around we go and only just departing the fence.

Had it have been a coloured Bag, it would have been the hero pic, but as the thumbnail on the home page is too small to show it off, I simply chose to showcase this really great image right here. Also shows the ocean main off beautifully. (Diamonds are Forever, they are all I need to please me - etc, etc.)

Ninety Seven had gone around ahead of all three of them, here Frank Hammond is clear on where the pin is.

Alan Saunders with the wheel.

Mein Gott! Nifty (Neville Rose) is out of the slippers and smoking jacket and almost in front of the stick!!! John Weatherly on the rail looking at us.

Bombora, the sun, a 'Steb' and spray. That has to have been worth freezing the walls off a brass humpy for!

Oh yeah!

Woo Hoo - give it some or what.

There'll be some grinding involved in that one.

Swordy set about the return voyage.

You know, when you can't make your mind up...

... don't stress - just display both. BTW, it's Stampede.

Halcyon on the way up - Swordy, Stampede, Schüss and Audacious, go down.

Hhhmmmm. Toyota Hilux.

... is to stay with them around the track.

A true 'Steb' image.

"Water on the deck!"

Bow wave.

Stern wave.

Definitely shows that one is a wetter variety than the other...

Crew departing the rail as Wicked goes around.

Woody - "Reach for the sky".

Baby Bag.

Noice.

Text book.

Clockwork immediately in front of Stampede.

Magazine territory.

So Hush and Beyond Outrageous had a grand old time out there.

This was a great image.

This was sensational.

And this, well, I don't know about anyone else, but there's no point winning by a country mile. Close stuff always wins...

It keeps getting better!

Intensity.

Wonderful.

Sensational.

Busy.

Busier!

Skipper Tony Warren in the yellow Musto and our friend, Ian Lindsay, is in the office. You know, I thought they'd be unhappy to have a pick with strings in the drink displayed and they were. bet that won't be happening again...

Had this for the stern wave.

And this for the fishing.

And this because they're off.

Hush coming in.

All very controlled here.

And here, too.

Which is why all this looks good, too.

Not a lot to add to this image of Extasea.

Now that really is a classic image. Just love a good stern wave. Tony Bull with the kite. No gloves, so those 30 year-old ones must have finally died, eh?

Really brilliant - it's XLR8's bow and mark.

Smooth sailing for gold on the day.

No officials - no racing. Thank you team. Fantastic stuff here - sun on boat, ominous clouds in the background...

Look out - the real weather is on the way.

The full MWS results to date are HERE. The next race of the MWS is Race Five - the Passage Race on August 15.

So. If you would like to go for a run with the Colts or any of the other sections represented by the Bay's best, you can. Individual entry for MWS races is HERE and the M2G is HERE - remember that Cruising Divisions will be offered for the latter event.

 

 

By John Curnow

Thank you to David Judge and Tony Dawson from Hoobo's for ensuring Steb had a ride and we, therefore, had imagery.
The Colts (Sydney 38s) are having their own fight within the battle - many thanks to Ullman Sails for providing the prize.