ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Running with the Colts.

The 2010 MWS is showcasing some really good racing. We've also been lucky to have had wind, given so many Saturdays and for those lucky enough (or is that smart enough??) to go for a yacht on Wednesdays, have faced countless drifters, so far this Winter. So then, here's a really special thank you to Huey, as well! (Also thanks to the Rocket Man himself - Adam Mannix - for raising this point as a discussion element.)

The 40-or-thereabouts-footers are certainly the most prominent section of the fleet and the Colts (nee S38s) form the sort of nucleus, thereof. There is certainly another battle going on with the 30somethings, but this piece has Colts in the heading and is about the 40ish brigade. So, let's do the Warner Wolf.

Case in point - QED.

Shorts! On that sort of a day. Wow. They do breed them tough aboard Mille Sabords.

And they are wet shorts, at that!!! Stephane, please let us know who STEEL MAN is? He must be made of solid 316 - certainly not TinTin!!!!

(TinTin is the cartoon that Mille Sabords comes from - see Voiles et Voiliers.)

Watch out for the cannonballs.

Our hero shot and you do not need me to tell you why...

In case you had not worked it out, these images come from the second rounding of the top mark, Race Four, 2010 MWS.

Maybe gone a little too far with the helm down thing...

Another of the Colts - this time it's Clockwork coming in now with that lovely 'Steb' to set it off.

Action Stations.

Opening the hidy-hole.

OK. Send 'er up pal!

Off we go.

Hhhmmm. Fingers and beaks. Careful. Careful....

Full kite and I do hope that is the mastman's last effort there, otherwise it's AC/DC for you. (Go Deep - I've used it before.)

Bombora were first around in this bunch. How's this for a 'Steb'?

Pre-loading on your own. Hard yards.

Just making sure....

All set aboard Schüss and it's Clockwork on their tail.

A shot of contrasts. All on the rail and hiking aboard Clockwork and just the one soul left at the fence aboard Schüss.

Interesting change in angles. One of them got it a bit wrong...

Around we go.

"OK. So it's this rope and we pull it, right?"

No longer sitting on the...

Had to have this in the article - love the little wave there...

Still sorting it out. Go the big heaves outwards!!!

Cool. We're there now.

Second to None comes charging in and it's Halcyon in the background.

Yet another 'Steb' for the day.

Looking like another Dyson run.

Swordfish Trombone heads up, as Jazzy goes the other way.

Hi gang. Col not with them this time.

Where is that mark. Pretty sure it's Chutzpah38 going the other way.

Sun in sail shows fibre pattern. Good thing there is not a patent involved, as you would be able to work it out. (Took me while to work that one in Ian Liindsay, but I did get there.)

Yep. Lot's going on.

Good thing it is the tip of the rudder that does the real work.

Up - please.

Right - Now you can hoist.

Halcyon with a wee bit of heel.

Great 'Steb' caught here and the mastman's, 'OH!', is audible from where I sit.

Close to being hero pic.

A tail end to finish, but yes, we'll be back soon.

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.

 

 

Melbourne to Geelong (M2G) - 11/09/10

A little bit of history.

 

Popping up as the sixth entry in the M2G Cruising with Spinnakers Division is Noeleen III. If you've been around a while, the distinctive paint job on the Steinman40 is well and truly entrenched in your memory banks.

Her current owner is Andrew Hesselmans from Hobbos and he had this to say about his boat and the race. "She is 25 years old and has previously competed in several M2H Westcoasters and Sydney Hobarts. We purchased Noeleen III in 2006 and we have done three of the Summer Geelong experiences and this will be our first Winter experience with the ORCV's event."

Now whilst the boat certainly has a whole heap of history, I was delighted to see Andrew's name on the entry list, as we do indeed have our own history. You see his Father, Adrian and mine, Ron, had boats at the same time in the 70's and early 80's. It is fair to say that we hung around a fair bit, indeed.

Seems as though the hole in the water thing never really leaves you... I look forward to seeing you again Andrew, down in Geelong.

Now then, if you do not want to have to organise a massive crew or get too busy to have a whole lot of fun, then the Cruising with Spinnakers could well be for you, even if you have been in the Racing Divisions previously. Pretty Woman was the first to cross over for this particular event and now Biddy HuII has shown up on the cruising roster as well. Boats like Ocean Safari, Vantage, Caledonia and Dream could well do the same...

Right then. The annual Melbourne to Geelong race sails off on Saturday, September 11, 2010. If you entered the entire MWS, then you're already automatically entered into this race too, but you do need to complete some more information for this particular race. You can also just enter the M2G race only, if you like, but I guess that means you're giving the game away about your favourite pastime after sailing - partying!!!

There are separate Cruising Divisions (kite and no kite) as well as a Cruising Series, which will incorporate the Passage Race (Race Five) of the MWS, which is on August 15. The M2G Notice of Race is ready for your perusal already and the Sailing Instructions are coming soon.

 

Click HERE to go and complete your online entry if you're already doing the MWS.

 

Click HERE to go and complete your online entry for just the M2G race only and it looks like this, below:

 

If you' ve got the boat tied up to the quay and think you should give it a run, then do. The M2G is a passgae race and if you do not want to be in with all the racers, even if you normally are, then go in one of the Cruising Divisions. While you're at it, get your clubmates to come along as well. Why? Party. That's why...

By John Curnow

 

 

ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

It's Hard.

We're very fortunate to have Steb Fisher as such a good friend, becuase he really does take an awesome image. As a result, it's often hard to choose the hero pic. BTW - please do not forget to appreciate his work, by purchasing images that you like!

Case in point. This is just wonderful. Sensational composition of the channel and exclusion markers, colours in the water and details, like the rungs of the ladder...

Now in the very same batch, there were these delights of a large Yankee Foxtrot that went through on the day - all in addition to the images of everyone racing.

This is the back half. Now instead of going wide angle and giving us the whole lot, he keeps the magnitude and thereby creates the drama by having it spread across two images. OK. Enough of Art Appreciation 101, here we are at the top mark for the second time with Extasea.

About to tack and all set with the Bag.

Great stuff and a terrific 'Steb' there too.

The old sloping deck trick... Pretty sure it's Tony Bull in the yellow and red.

Says it all really...

Mast man lays into it.

Pre-loading of the brace.

And finally the handle.

Definitely is Tony doing the flying.

Giddy Up! Bonus points for the 'ORCV' on the transom.

Heading down and it's the rocketeers already back on the other board and going in...

Team Audacious in front and it's not Chutzpah in behind them (see below - the window in the heady is the key...), so perhaps it is Clockwork, Bombora or even Swordy. Can you remember, Greg? Looks like a Colt.

This was the old which image is better issue.

Ken in the yellow??

Chutzpah38 on Port appearing now.

Sensational 'Steb' here.

Bow down - away we go.

The focus Greg is impressive. I think it is Mark Seagar on his knees. Little stern 'Steb' to boot!

Boom angle again, Greg.

This is Chutzpah barreling in.

All is set.

Get to you posi and go hard.

Tactician checking for the gap between them and Audacious relative to last time, I bet...

Yep. Definitely what's going on.

Ninety Seven to go around.

Hello Frank (Frank Hammond in the blue in the Afterguard).

They set and head back down...

and we'll be back too - soon.

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

So now, if you want to get out there with the best in town, 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.

 

 

ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Not a Dyson!

The 'Dyson' remark, all the way back in The Prodigal Son, certainly got a few comments.

Now, as we go into the second top mark rounding, we discover that XLR8 is indeed not a Dyson, afterall.

This is just a truly sensational 'Steb' (and the R-P pencil certainly helps the cause too.)

Ray Shaw with the big wheel.

Funny how you sort of will the mark in to you... a little like a human magnet.

The top mark, the CBD, the Bag and a 'Steb' - impressive.

Look. Not only was it there, but they fully intended to use it.

The rocket scientists had already been around...

And got into the Bag thing quickly.

Just look at where that sun is shining.

You know, that really is benign. I think this is where it was about 8kn, before it ran all the way, in a linear progression, into low 40kn gusts...

The craftsmen of Challenge, with Second to None in the background.

Getting close.

Open the hidy-hole and look! It's a Bag. Cool, huh. (Also proves that it was around 10kn or so, as you wouldn't be going for an outta-da-hole launch in a lot more...)

Ready when you are, mate! The life of the sewer rate, eh.

Not got a job during the launch, so using the weight to best advantage.

Mark and the wheel.

Almost up, brace pre-set and just about to go, whoosh.

Voila.

Now as Challenges goes thata way, Wicked comes in to the top mark thisa way.

Clipper style. One really large bowsprit, a whole heap of filigree, a figurehead and you're there!

Getting ready to make it happen.

Get up, you witch!

Richie Benaud - marvellous stuff, that.

No officials - no racing. Thank you team.

Now this is just plain stylish - well done Steb.

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

So now, if you want to get out there with the best in town, 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.