ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

The bread winner.

The food and water thing has been a part of ORCV racing for a while. The same combatants, Daivid and Rosie against Robyn and George were at it last time. The winner, of the bread stakes in the very least, was Tim Barton aboard Helsal II in the 2006 M2V. He even put M2V into the top of the bread!

Tim Barton with his masterpiece - look closely and you can see M2V in the top...

No segue at all, but talking of media outlets, we would really like to thank the ABC for their continued support. Laura, you were marvellous to talk with and thank you for your time and interest.

If you are the Gent who heard about the race, courtesy of the ABC broadcast and then came to the pier from Rosebud and spoke to Holly (pink beannie), then let us know - we'll get you on the start boat for the Xmas time starts on December 27, 2010.

To Ingenue and the link here is that they are the ones who called me to say they had seen Lorna's piece in Friday's edition of The Age.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 we know as Ingenue is sitting in Bermagui waiting out the strong Northerlies before they head Northwards themselves to Mooloolaba and Port Douglas. A report and some pics on, Bad Kite, was received today...

Ingenue sits in Bermagui.

"Bermagui is a delightful spot on the coast with a small protected harbour and a narrow, but well marked entrance with lead lights. The local residents are very friendly and welcoming and the fishos are happy to have yachts rafted up beside them. Since we last called in two years ago, a very impressive, double storey complex, constructed from hefty timber poles resembling a jetty, has been built. It houses the Bermagui Fish Co-op, fish ‘n chip shop and several restaurants. Fuel and water are available on every jetty and berthing is a steal at $20 per night, including access to first class shower and toilet facilities (should I publish that and ruin your rates???). With fresh local seafood and dining on the doorstep and the township only a short gentle walk away where there's the laundromat, pub and supermarket, we are happy to sit out the Northerlies here for a few days!"

"Yesterday was time to drag that 'bad kite' from its sock and bag, to check out the damage. Firmly stringing it out, tied to trees and posts, it has been exposed to the realities of a potential land locked life, if there is any more bad behaviour. Inspection revealed intact tapes and only the lower third of the kite sustaining linear tears, with no overall loss of fabric. However, with twenty linear metres of tears to be repaired (forty linear metres when you patch each side!), we have our work cut out. Mark Rimington obviously knew something when he made the kite and gave us a bag full of the fabric offcuts. A selection of which we have with us here in our sail repair kit. Having now twice attended his sail repair lectures and spent a day with him on Iririki Island, after the 2006 M2V, when we repaired our 1.5oz kite, we are confident of achieving a sound repair before Magnetic Island Race Week arrives."

Bad Kite gets a real talking to on the lawn in Bermagui

"Reading Friday’s, The Age, over coffee and cake at the local patisserie (and there I get the Master Seachef link), we were delighted to see the ORCV are now in the mainstream media with reports of the offshore “Masterchef” challenge on the back page." Now I can tell you that David and Rosie have been very inspired by the wonderful produce they have procurred from the fish co-op and now think they may have to stop in Sydney to go to the Sydney Fish Markets, as they do not think they'll get all the way to Queensland without more See Food hits!

The other very crucial item onboard - Coffee - and it looks like Neesha making it. Notice the heel, which you can tell from the stove... Pic is from the 2006 M2V event.

Please remember, that if you want to find out where everyone is in the chase for the container that APC Logistics sent to Vanuatu, then please go HERE.

By John Curnow