ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Groove Armada.

Put out some excellent albums, with titles like Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub), Vertigo and Black Light.

The pretty groovy and fashion conscious, Michael Hiatt, has just become somewhat of a Commodore. As a result of his recent purchase of two Etchells from Team Pegasus in the USA, Michael now has his very own armada over at RYCV. Joining the much loved Farr55, Living Doll, will be her two little Sisters, Bad Doll and Extra Bad Doll.

Nice little carbon fibre touch there...

The Etchells programme is about getting back into the core level of sailing. Helming, tactics, crew work and really understanding boat speed and how to achieve/maintain it were seen as the benefits. "We had looked around at some sportboats, like the Melges 32, but when you boil it down, the best sailors and the best competition is in the Etchells and that is what we were searching for", Michael said.

"It isn't that expensive to get into, you know. The complete wardrobe for both Etchells cost me less than one kite for the big boat", Michael went on to add.

This posi for light weather only - Improving skills and crew work was what the new Etchells programme is all about.

Mooloolaba was a baptism of fire, but "...really enjoyable". Of the recent Musto Etchells Australasian Winter Championships, Michael said, "I thought we were pretty much equal to the task in the heavy airs, but less so in the light stuff. The angles, with no Ace and in different breezes is fun to learn and it only took us three goes to work out that we shouldn't gybe set at the top mark!"

Returning back to Melbourne they ventured over to RBYC for a set of races last weekend in the cold. "We'll have to get some serious wet weather gear for that", Michael said. Extra Bad Doll did really well and in the second race got the gun by about 3m over Melbourne Etchells Fleet Captain, Jake Gunther. "This boat came out for the second race and we were having a great time trying to stay in front. It wasn't until we finished, that we worked out who it was. It was a small fleet and we're not reading too much into it... We got lucky!"

"So far it has been fun and we are 120% into it. It is as important to me as the big boat stuff", Michael finished with.

Michael is going to be putting as much effort into the Etchells, as the big boat campaign.

So then, to the biggun. Living Doll will be starting her Winter prep this weekend, as they get ready for the annual adventures up North. In the middle of the month, the trek will begin, culminating at Airlie Beach. As the full crew is in Melbourne, Michael indicated they'll pop out for the first round of the MWS on Sunday.

Michael driving the big Sister. Pic © Steb Fisher.

Now, including Living Doll, there should be 40 vessels out for the start of the 2010 MWS. You can still enter individual races HERE and the M2G is HERE and remember that Cruising Divisions will be offered for the latter event.

By John Curnow