ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Roman Sandals.

It was In All Seriesness that Race Director, Robin Hewitt, commented about Goldfinger being toey and general recalls. So that's how we got to Roman Sandals. Here we are then with the first of Steb Fisher's images of the pre-start, general recall and the real start (Div1) that came about, eventually...

Seeing as it was Goldfinger that inspired the headline, this got up for the hero pic. It is Jazz Player crossing behind The Finger.

On any other day, this would have been the likely winner - just can't see a dolphin wearing sandals, but it is an interesting concept!

Apparently a plastic bag was all that this dolphin needed to have a bit of fun... Not sure about the Clean Ocean aspect of all that, however.

Great stuff, Steb.

Like to see the Synchronised Swimmers do it as well...

Also out to play and having a grand old time pre-start, was Schuss.

Second to None was there.

Spirit of Freya, too.

Symmetry aboard Fade 2 Grey and Nutcracker - that man Chris Furey in the bow of the latter...

Despite the sail number, it is Mille Sabords also out for a jaunt. Cool.

In preparation for the General Recall, but everyone really thought it was the start - Goldfinger has the biggest stick by a long way and they intended to use it!

Rack 'em, pack 'em and thankfully, not stack 'em!

No-one really under power - yet...

That's a laid mark, not the pin end to the left of Goldie's bow...

All of sudden, quite a few were not convinced about their proximity to the line...

More and more wanted to find room to come away.

But some wanted to keep it up.

You know, when one goes, they all go - you know?!

So it was on.

Although Ninety Seven said no, we're outta here...

We're going around the top of the Committee Boat and you lot can sort it out.

Little be of argy-bargy up at the boat end and Ninety Seven certainly has no power in the rig.

I loved this when I saw it. That's the smoke from the starter's gun behind Schuss' boom!!! Doh...

We now have some onboard intel from 97, "Starting sequence was by horn. The recalls were by starters shot gun. I’d know ‘cause I woz there. Ninety Seven did a nice barge job on Start One – and was well over the line b4 the final hooter. The sort on manoeuver that ends in tears."

Smoke wafts away in front of XLR8's bow, but it was clear - everyone was going to have to have another go at it.

Who was going to be first to give in?

No-one in this lot it would seem.

Maximising a loosing position, unfortunately.

A few of the bigger rigs are stepping out the back now as the inevitability of the requirement to have another go strikes home.

Still dedicated.

Some of the big guns have backed right off by now.

Off and running, all right.

Given the competition amongst this bunch, I can well understand the reluctance to accept fate...

On the wide angle now - Everyone setting up for a run in to the line.

Biggest rig straight in front of the Committee Boat...

... may have helped shield some, but others were a little like dog's appendages.

No-one wanted to be first to go back around.

XLR8 scrapes in just to windward of the pin.

So after all that, we'll get onto the real Division One start. Again, the images are virtually sequential.

Schuss coming for the pin and our shooter.

The rest of them are stacking up, but Horizon Sprint, in the behind them, is also going for a bit of width.

Second to None also going out a little wider and Challenge locks in top spot. Swordy going for the dash across the front...

Couple of prodders coming at you on bigger boats would have the heart rate up for Tim Olding on Swordfish Trombone. We must get some monitors on skippers at some point. Wouldn't that be a nice feature?!

The front row gets close and some are already relegated to the second row.

Everyone much further back for the second crack at it., some of the bigger rigs starting to get a bit of Larry in them too.

Windward end starting to make a run for it, whereas those at the pin end are starting to run out of room and will have to go up soon...

Bowmen call the drivers up as the gaps close.

Schuss missed the first one pretty clearly and must have a had a few anxious moments here too...

All set to make a race of it...

Clearly it's game on now!

A genuine 'Steb' going on for Schuss.

Then it's Second to None's turn.

Horizon Sprint, Second to None and Schuss carve it up simultaneously...

Beginning the charge, is the Gold Boat.

Magnificent sun glints all over the place.

Three bows, two under sail and one requiring the joy of Herr Diesel's invention.

Coming off the second row was Halcyon, near the pin and Stampede to windward.

Second to None leads away with Horizon Sprint, Goldfinger, Ninety Seven, Wicked and Jazz Player all making their move.

Schuss and Second to None with Horizon Sprint to windward.

to unwrap headsail.Jazz Player and Wicked would fight it out all day, whilst The Finger was just keen to get the horsepower to the ground. Stampede's new prodder appearing into view.

Flight of the bumblebees.

B40 Halcyon, B45 Schuss and B40 Second to None not really going to go very far in that spot...

 

Stampede and that new headsail and below deck furler!

Stampede mowing down Horizon Sprint, who had the Gucci starts. Nice one, Mitchey.

Mile Sabords to windward of XLR8.

Mistress to windward of Freya.

Left to Right - Hush, Beyond Outrageous, Spirit of Freya and Mistress.

 

After the server having a wee spell off, it's good to be back and we'll have more soon...

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.

 

 

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

Thriller.

 

You know, it may well have been the most successful album of all time, but the title track was not the best, according to a lot of souls. There was another track from it, Pretty Young Thing (PYT), which was really the standout for some. Before he was completely Wacko and did not even look like himself, this sensational album, produced by the great, Quincy 'Master of the Layers' Jones, could do no wrong on the charts.

All right then. Hands up if you ran to the floor each time it was played? Lisa Batson-Hammond will back me up on that one... There was never a vid for it, so they've all scrambled to make a tribute for him. THIS is one of the better ones.

Our PYT, which hails from RBYC, pictured up near Willy.

Now, Pretty Woman may well have ben the first entrant in the M2G Cruising with Spinnaker Division, but she has also been joined by Thunder (a Nolex 30) and our PYT, which is a Young 88. The most recent of entries is the Cole 43, Cadence, from Geelong.

Daniel Jeffery, her Skipper had this to say, "She has been nurtured to a comfy level for the kids, under a new owner, who also likes to go fast. These Youngs are still the most popular one design yacht in N.Z, despite their vintage." Right. So clearly after that statement we are in for some Trans-Tasman rivalry, which is a really good thing, seeing as the Wallabies can't stop the All Blacks at present.

So if you want to help out and Go The Green and Gold, perhaps without the need to organise a massive crew or get too busy to have a whole lot of fun, then the Cruising with Spinnakers is for you.

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)

Who are those guys?

It just seemed ever so appropriate to get back to Tony Bull after his CVD comment, to see what he thought of Race Four of the 2010 MWS.

Mystery Man was quick enough with the iPhone to capture these images of Chutzpah38 doing a bit of pre-race rig tune. Bet that came in handy a little later when it all hit.

Accordingly, I just asked, 'So was it a CVD for you?'

Tony's reply, "LOL. We got through OK, damage wise, a bit gnarly (ugly drop and headsail forestay wrap) at last bottom mark. We were looking good, but got caught out a few hundred metres from last bottom mark with the front rolling through. We only had 9 onboard, instead of the usual 12."

"The initial gust was 30+kts and we had a bit on to get kite down, jib up and run by the lee to get around mark! That may have cost us race as we had to run away to unwrap headsail. All fine in hindsight, right! Look, at the end of the day, it is no bad thing to lose to Challenge. They sail really well and are always there, not stuffing up and putting the pressure on. It's a bit like one of my favourite movie lines, which comes from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (when they're being pursued)-"

"They're beginning to get on my nerves. Who are those guys?"

"I thought the race committee were spot on with timing for the day, got one race in before front rolled in. A few boats would have had a tough last beat, though. Driving back to Geelong and meeting the wind and rain, we were glad we didn’t have a second race!"

Quite so, Tony. Quite so. Thank you for the report...

I love how the light was directly above the rig when this one was taken by Mystery Man (and thanks for sending them in, pal)

 

More material to be posted soon.

The full MWS results to date are HERE.

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.

 

 

ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Play. Play. Play.

As a reward for enduring the cold, these are the first samples of Steb's pics of the day, Race Four of the 2010 MWS

Yee Haa Cowboy. Pretty sure Phil Bedlington was behind the wheel again of Rogue Trader...

As it turns out, our very good friend, he of the countdown timer, Jeremy Walton, was one of the first to see this image. Here's what he had to say: -

"Hi John. Yes it was Phil driving Rogue Trader today. I believe he may have got yet another Gucci start. We were four up for this race; - Phil, Caro, me and Cole Reid. It certainly made made flying the big Assy a bit of fun. We decided to leave it in the bag for the second run and as the wind picked up, it definitely seemed like the correct call! Got to love the five minute rule on days like today..."

"First part of the race was lovely and warm, it was really only during the beat up to the finish that things cooled down and got a bit wet up the pointy end. Think I will buy the photo from Steb - it's an absolute cracker, you really have to admire his work! How he does it on such a bouncing platform.....???? Keep up the great work, both of you. Cheers Jeremy"

And cheers to you too, pal. (Your cheque's in the mail for the Dorothy Dicks there...)

Dolphins also got into the game (albeit before the start, when it was all far more civilised)...

 

These should give you plenty of reason to get warm and get ready for the pics, which will be coming our way, soon enough.

The full MWS results to date are HERE.

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.