ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Jungle Jim.

The bowman aboard Schüss has certainly been reading Andrew Verdon's article on being fit for sailing.

For the spiderman pose, if nothing else, he gets the hero pic for the article. Not super sure what our friend in the shrouds is up to, however...

Back to serious pursuits, now...

Chasing down Audacious, in front.

Audacious with a bit of heal there, aiming to keep it hot, as Schüss stays deep.

Interesting furling technique aboard Second to None... (pretty sure that heady has battens.)

Given the white kite, you would have to think it was Wicked keeping her nose in the feed bag there.

This is Mistress and I am pretty sure she's R-P penned, which would explain those lines... (Similar to Gienah I take it.)

Up forward - Issues with the tack? Gaby Carr trimming (She's just spoken with Steb).

Now this is a good shot (except for the kite gear).

Chutzpah38, Wicked and the Banana Boat building.

Bombora aren't going to be happy that I am displaying this image, but at least they read the site!!! Chutzpah all OK with Clockwork in behind them and Div2 kiting up for their own tussles. Right down the centre of the image are two vessels we see again later - INSX and Matrix.

That kite did not stay a problem for long... Maybe it was going onto the other gybe that cured it?

Off they go.

Chutzpah38 and Bombora then went on with the job of going after Audacious and Wicked.

And thank you for the segue - Wicked and Audacious in the super-hotly contested 40footer-or-thereabouts arena.

Now these two obviously came all the way down from the top side by side. Must be some good racing going on there, too!

INSX and Matrix still on Starboard.

Not for long - looks like the gybe is imminent.

Matrix set things off.

And sure enough, INSX will take that opportunity too.

Chris Tucker and the continually improving Halyconites. Snazzy - Droppping of main halyard for running... or spring in the vang?

Marvellous blue.

Me thinky perhaps spring...

See you again soon.

Swordfish Trombone doing the Buffalo Girls on Stampede.

Now that's a great image too. Steb and I go through thousands via Skype, so it's always nice to see one come out just as you expected to see it.

Don't know much about Tim Olding and the crew, but I fully expect they well and truly know the pointy end from the blunt.

Team BO and we know they like to go fast.

It's an image to make her owner, Keith O'Donnell, very happy and her designer, Don Jones, suitably proud. Very nearly the hero pic.

Post-gybe and it appears they are trying to lower the butt end.

Or is it a track issue?

Lucky it stayed full...

Paratrooper (Airborne - must have read the article too). Steb - I think we have to get a crop of this, please. Classic. Whomever you are, send us a note and we'll include it with the pic.

Phewwwwww. Didn't wrap.

Even clews, so we must be good to go now.

Go the Larry!

Pole forward and we're about to overtake Second to None.

All happy again and that is Nutcracker in front of them.

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)

Ah huh!

Rowan and the gang on Challenge have been doing a good job lately - good as always, really. A part of that, is a result of the ah huh moment Steb and I just had, whilst looking through these images. Driving for them in Races Two, Three and Four of the MWS (that's what we know of), is the man pictured below.

So. who's he when he's not making tea, then? He is Mark Bulka, who spends a lot of time driving his Etchell, Perfect Balance. He's always considered someone to beat and pretty much not holds down a top ten spot or often, even better!

Now in this set, we're out at the wing mark, about to turn or already turned and on the way to the bottom.

Fire.

Dip.

Float.

Set.

Raise.

Brace on.

Good to go!

Simple, clean, efficient and the boat just driven under it. Easy, eh?!

I liked this pic.

... but this one was better!

And then this image answers who it was.

Wicked and Chutzpah38 on Port and Clockwork coming down on Starboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chutzpah38 puts a bit of a distance between themselves and Wicked.

Clockwork now onto the next part of the process - heady selection....

Stampede was out with just the four souls and did a Dyson, as a result... Good to see people come out despite crew numbers and weather predictions.

Horizon Sprint and in the horizon is the CBD.

You have to buy this one Mitchey. Give it to Frank as gift for the farm. Pity we did not get any of your wipeout - or did we???

Mille Sabords plying their craft. Learning heaps Stephane? How is it all coming together? Looks like you always have your full crew allotment onboard...

Now that's a good shot!

Nutcracker relished the day - see Pink Love Boat.

The Love Boat goes in front of leaderboard owner, INSX and Matrix in the yellow. Beyond Outrageous in red/white/blue...

Soak down a bit Rob...

Watch that trim.

INSX and Matrix involved in a ding-dong battle.

Parallel gybes - how awesome.

Grab that pole, while Matrix's kite does the full do si do...

SET!!!

Well done to both boats...

Matrix wins this part of the drag race.

We finish, for the moment, with Hush.

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)

Ask and ye shall receive...

We just asked Chris Tucker of Halcyon how it was all going and he's been good enough to send us a quick reply.

This appeared in The Prodigal Son - The Halcyon crew may be new to their boat, but they're always out there and right in the thick of it. I expect them to be not only having a ball, but also seeing their improvement. Not long before they tussle with Wicked? Your thoughts Chris? (Tucker - her owner/driver).

This is Chris' reply - "Thank you for the great commentary and photos of the MWS. You are right. We are still learning about the boat and we are having a ball!"

"Division One of the MWS is a big challenge for our first race series, but we are learning a lot from being amongst good boats and good crews - thoroughly enjoying it! We are very inexperienced as a team, but with a high level of enthusiasm aboard, we will continue to improve. I have been fortunate to have such a keen group to sail with."

"For us, Race Four had everything; sunshine, rain, strong gusts and flat spots with little wind. The Race Committee timed it to perfection, as the front hit us a few minutes after we crossed the finish line." - Stay tuned Chris, have a great pic of you heading home....

"We are really looking forward to the Passage Race next time, as we get to see even more of the Bay." And soon enough it will be M2G as well, Chris!!!

"Thanks for your interest in us." - And thank you for your participation, Halcyon. We are enjoying watching your progress.

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

To get your boat and crew out with the best on the Bay, enter individual MWS races 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)

The Prodigal Son.

Well. Well. He certainly can sail and he sure knows how to drive, too. Andy Keep - Come on down!!!

There would be no problem ensuring he could look the part in Goldfinger apparel - he already had it. Welcome back, Son. Handy drinks session with the other Price is Right man last Friday, huh?

Here's the original image. He and Dean (in the red beannie) had fights over who got to use the boat's spare sunnies and looking at Dean's, Andy probably won out - especially as we got pics of him, face on....

Go on - Give it some Larry!!!

OK. We're around the top mark now and off to the wing mark. Let's get into it...

No wonder Peter Blake said of the day, "You were right and I was wrong! You even gave us some sunshine." This image for you, PB.

Simon Brown standing up in the afterguard.

Peter driving from the low side as he finds the mark..

Red Bluff, I presume...

Clockwork looking a just a tad nose heavy...

Like a Dyson - Bagless!

"Oh. There's a black stick up there... You see it too, yeah?"

Mille Sabords on the way to stalling the rudder perhaps.

MITCHEY!!! (Just think of all the other things I could have put down... Seriously though. Good to see you. Keep an eye out in the next batch.)

Wonderful 'Steb'.

Eewwwwwww. Get out of here. Yuck!!! (A supposed quote from Simone Hoey.)

Busy girl though - even has to pull up her own kite aboard Horizon Sprint.

Sun was still around.

Stampede foreground and then Swordfish Trombone and the CBD in the background.

Wicked with He of the Loud Shorts in Winter apparel - i.e. Loud Beannie.

Good crew work sees them not only enjoying their racing, but also with the view from the best posi on the podium too!

Invariably faultless and last Sunday was no exception. Well done team Challenge.

Winning form always looks good too...

Jazzy just ahead of Audacious with someone else tucked in there too - Chutzpah38, most likely.

2009 M2HW Winners are mixing it up beautifully, proving that if you want to be with the best, you just have to be involved in the MWS.

It certainly is very close and fun racing going on with the 40 (or best part thereof) footers!

Seeing the people working in the Office is enough to make hands freeze in sympathy.

Chutzpah crew getting a workout in the hotly contested Colts and always at the pointy end.

Swordfish Trombone just in behind Clockwork.

The Halcyon crew may be new to their boat, but they're always out there and right in the thick of it. I expect them to be not only having a ball, but also seeing their improvement. Not long before them tussle with Wicked? Your thoughts Chris? (Tucker - her owner/driver).

Just loved the spray on that stern wave...

Bombora - don't you just hate it when they take a snap, right when you're fixing a problem. Sorry team...

Still a lot of sticks in the pens there. Perhaps they're saving themselves up for the 2010 M2G on September 11!!!

Still sorting it out... Not affecting speed too badly though.

Team Ecky going from Prodder to Pole.

Sun, sun, sun. Tony Bull, sailing onboard Extasea, did not have time to admire this sort of view, as they were just too busy sailing the DK46 with just nine souls - Who are those guys?

Well at least he's not trying to push it! We're aboard Schüss.

Simply magnificent 'Steb' at the front of Second to None.

Also out for Dyson on the day, it would seem...

How long will they be able to hang on to their HCOTW title? Will it go to someone else in the M2G???

Heady virtually down aboard Ninety Seven.

Plenty of souls to do the work...

Stampede on the left, Jazzy getting the Bag sorted with Schüss behind her, Chutzpah38 (already under Bag - gotta love good crew work) and Audacious.

Bombora and Wicked join that party...

The Bakewell-White (Jazzy) no doubt a more slippery form, but now they all go chase after the very slick crew aboard, Challenge.

Jazzy gone over the top of Chutzpah and is now below them. Wicked says yes, we'll have a part of that and The Finger is in the distance.

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

You can still enter individual MWS races 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.