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ORCV Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)
Where there's smoke...
There is fire - and Wicked was certainly on fire for the opening round of the Melbourne Winter Series, with a win in IRC Div1 and AMS Div1.
Well done to Mark Welsh and the crew. "We had a sensational race.... One of those (rare) days when everything just goes right. We came off the start well down at the pin end and had enough speed to squeeze through Chutzpah38 and subsequently, into clear air. Our game plan was always to head to the left side of the course, where we thought there was more breeze. This decision turned out to be the right one, blissfully. Our speed uphill was helped by a relatively new "Super Light" jib from North Sails. We rounded the top mark up close to Extasea, which we were very happy with." I would say so, Mark!
"Downhill, we hung onto Chutzpah38. You can imagine that we were happy with this effort, given that the 38's weigh less than us. They are a challenge for us in less than 10knots of breeze. We kept the boat moving well at all times for the rest of the race and didn't really get out of phase with the shifts. This, along with great crew work, where nothing went wrong, really was the story of our day..... Great to be out racing as part of such a red-hot fleet."
Mystery Man lobbed in with these great images of the annual practice flare shoot that occurs before the first race - thanks pal.
From out on the track, Race Director, Robyn Hewitt, passed on this information. "It was all about gung-ho starts, which were complicated by a half knot tidal current on the nose. We had three OCS for the Div1 start and FIVE were OCS for the Div2 start. The breeze was just 4kts from 315degM." All I can say is all the pre-event ra-ra must have got everyone fully fired up. Nice work!!!
The forecast had suggested there would be the possibility of a morning race and then maybe nothing for the afternoon. Accordingly, "We decided on a short course race, so we could get a result for the first one and maybe then have a chance at the second. There was a small lull in the wind, just after the starts, but it recovered to a maximum of 7kts but mostly hung in at the 4kts mark."
"Even with all that planning, it was necessary to shorten course for both divisions and the last finisher made it by just a minute or so before the time limit. The shortened course finished at a gate, which caused some confusion for a few. Living Doll was easily the fastest yacht in the conditions, whilst the light breeze suited some, but caused some mixed results in the fleet. I suspect this race will not be a guide to the series. (We have not had a light series for a while)", Robin went on to add and I hope, not put the hex on it all...
"Using the tidal current appeared to be a good strategy", Robin observed. "No more racing was signaled for the day, which proved to be justified and apologies for not letting the early finishers know sooner, but there was a lot happening on the Committee Boat. We very much wanted to have the latest weather research completed after the last finishers, before deciding on whether to run another race. At least we now have one race on the books." Quite so, Robin!
In the Colts, first was Chutzpah38, then Audacious, Challenge, Clockwork and Mille Sabords. IRC Div1 was Wicked, then Goldfinger and Chutzpah38. IRC Div2 was INSX (Our current Lord Warden Trophy holders), with Hush and Nouannie in third.
AMS Div1 was Wicked, Chutzpah38 and Extasea, with Div 2 as Rogue Trader, Nouannie and Hush. PHS Div1 was Goldfinger, XLR8 and then Wicked, whilst Div2 was Rogue Trader, new(ish) Skipper Jo Harpur and Spirit of Freya and INSX in third.
The full MWS results 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
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