ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

So the wind had started to kick in by now and these are the 'line honours boys and girls', as Steb put it to me. None were happier than Nutcracker to finish and head for home, but to do it with a Div2 Line Honours win, well, it capped the day off nicely.

Just before we get to the hero pic, I thought it would be pertinent to show the Fawkner Beacon chart from the day and that spike as the finish closed in, once again...

Just by the angle of heel alone, we can see that there were marvellous bullets around for everyone to play with.

Nutcracker got up for the gun ahead of INSX, pictured here to windward, who in turn had been having a stoush all day with Matrix, who we'll get to a bit later.

So then. First things, first - The Love Boat.

Leaping for the line.

The wind changes everything and in this one the waves are already like 1/2 to 1m and it hasn't been in for that long. Go back to one of the earlier pieces, like The Prodigal Son, to see what I mean. Flat water, sunshine and no haze over the CBD...

Ding dong all the way.

Now we're talking.

Now we're really talking....

Makes me cold just thinking about it.

So over the go and Rob Davis has already spotted Steb.

And hello to you, too.

Now these frames are about 1sec apart and this is the second with his hand up.

Awesome.

Even betterer! (Fourth)

Surfacing again and the hand never faltered. Cool.

Look at the way you can see the drops.

And yes. We do know this man.

He's Chris Furey.

And yes, he too is pumped with their win. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Some more smiles from souls...

Cathryn Furey, next to Rob Davis, also spots our Steb.

Two other friends happy and joyous - sorry I don't know your names, but you know the deal by now...

So then INSX made sure the officials knew where she was.

From around the back of the Committee Boat, shoot up into the breeze and get that nose over the line, ASAP.

And then head home for a shower. Still some smiles left...

So as we say goodbye to INSX, who lead Div2 IRC by a mile, Now I mentioned earlier that Matrix had been going hard with INSX all day and they would be next, but you see, in order to do that, we have to look at Mille Sabords, too.

Milles Sabord makes her approach.

Now that's an approach. Wave height building too.

Another go and the spray goes even further.

Now this is why we had to get to Matrix via Mille Sabords - it is her bow sneaking into frame.

Incidentally, it's Beyond Outrageous in the background and we'll get to her in a bit, too.

316 Man still there on the rail.

Makes you ponder all the angles and distances between the three of them...

Reasonably close for these two.

Matrix's heady gets a shot of foul air and Mille Sabords begins her run into the mark.

No need for floss.

Not for them - I dare say they still have a lap to go... (pole's up).

Matrix slides through.

Now we just saw Beyond Outrageous heading up to the mark and then the Rocketeers arrive for their run in to the gun. Waves getting higher still.

Is it to be a skirt?

No. Tack.

NB. Matrix heading home having already put a slab in after crossing the line!

Get a bigger prodder and you'll finish even earlier.

Team BO like the idea too.

Heading home now. Chris Smethurst between shrouds and headsail looks happy to be on that programme...

A Ritchie Benaud.

Scott Esler straight down the keel line.

For the confab being conducted by Simon Brown with Dean Robson and Leith Hore, this also gets a super-honourable mention in the hero pic stakes. Also an awesome bit of water on the foredeck.

Wonderful 'Steb'.

OK. Another wonderful Steb.

Plenty of Larry from a 24 and bit metre stick.

Hhmmm. Nice wet foredeck (slippery dippery) and a saturated spinnaker staysail tucked in on the rail, as well.

Hey Dean, in the office with the red beannie, nice specs! Ru-rrrrowwww. Cool image too. Makes you want to say "OH YEAH!"

Here are those specs again! It's a good bow shot, as well...

Some of Steb's favourites of the day will be next.

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.