Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)

What's the 'Remedy' for sheepish behaviour then?

Simple. Just go the other way. So what does that all mean then? You'll just have to read on...

Now after having to postpone the start, as so many boats headed off up North when they left their marinas, leaving half of the fleet to be decimated by a mass OCS, it eventually was a clean start won by 'The Secretary' with 'Calm' coming along very quickly too. 'The Secretary's driver, George Shaw told me that "A hole just appeared before us like divine intervention and we simply slipped on through." Good one for them and what a busy line it was with all manner of vessels in all states of readiness. Breeze was a true North of originally ten when we were laying the marks, but very quickly more like 20+ as it all got underway. ‘Kingurra’ was in front of the Committee Boat ensuring they did not get wound up in the anchor chain, as they came back around to go through correctly, which you can see in the pic below.

It was then back up to R2 some 2nm further North, where there was a gate for the fleet to work through and then head back South again to SYC 5 for Division Two and Carrum #2 for Div1. And it is the gate that we are going to talk about now. Just two boats went around the laid mark on the port side. True, the R2 end was favoured, but not when you consider the breeze building in the middle of the Bay. The first boat was ‘XLR8’ and they looked like the young pioneers out on their own. The other boat to do it was ‘Remedy’, who feature in the opening pictures, sailing two up. So many boats went past R2 just to make it around, even when all they had to do was flop over and go around the port marker. It really did look like sheep from the Committee Boat and we could not understand why the Naviguessers did not see it.

All right. We're all geniuses, OK, and I don't want to be seen as kicking someone when they're down. ‘Remedy' picked up 15 places by doing this rounding to port and XLR8 also got a handy break out of it too. Alas, at the pointy end of the fleet, you need to be on your game perpetually and the gybe to bring them back in did not go well. Maybe they yanked the sheet on too early, or drove under it, but they wrapped it and it took a while to get out. What we can say is there were no runners on the sheet and too many people were not looking forward at the time. Anyway, enough said, but I think I had better watch where I walk!

Young pioneers out on their own.

Setting up for the gybe.

Toyota Hilux moment right there. Remember. "Buggah!"

It's now on it's way to being expensive.

Let's move on to the good stuff. The winners. ‘Calm' was driven today by John ‘Willow' Williams and all he had to say was "...the BEST birthday present ever!" Onboard to celebrate the grand occasion with him were his four children, Peter, Bruce (new dad himself - well done pal), Mike and Elizabeth. Nice one. No wonder it was the best and so a real Bill and Ted style "Excellent" goes out to you Willow.

'Calm' took out Line Honours. As they arrived I wondered to myself, "Where's the Bag guys?" Then I had a look see back down the channel...

'Beyond Outrageous' was the first boat home in Division Two. Might be a bit premature on the celebrations, but it was daylight for second. their super-enthusiastic crew collected more than a few bottles of wine at the presentations, which managed to keep their spirits high for at least another hour.

'Godzilla' has had a fantastic MWS and capped it off with a win in the inaugural M2G as well.

Last boat around R2 was 'Pretty Woman', but as Don Fraser just reminded me - "Not the last to finish though!" Don is off to the left of this image, aboard 'Cerebus' and this image below is one he took back towards yours truly on the bow of 'Thorsen'.

There’s a lot more to look at and read about, so come back really soon!

Finally then, here are direct links to the results of race Seven of the MWS, the Melbourne to Geelong passage race.