King Island Race History

Donated by the Municipality of King Island, the Queenscliff to Grassy 1st Overall Trophy is awarded the the measurement category which has the greatest number of entries. 

ORCV Entry Compliance Declarations

Completion of the following ORCV documentation is required to satisfy the conditions of entry as outlined in ORCV Notices of Race. The completion of these declarations is in addition to any documentation required by the current Australian Sailing Special Rules and Regulations. Please visit ORCV’s Skipper Support page for additional race documentation requirements and further information.

Skipper's Race Entry Compliance Declaration Including Keel& Rudder Inspection

Due to the matters covered, and unlike most of the other boat documentation, a Skipper’s Race Entry Compliance Declaration is required for each ORCV Category 2 or 3 race. Click on the link below to open a blank Category 2 or 3 Declaration Form. Complete and sign the declaration. Save the document, then upload it to the race documents on your race entry in Top Yacht.

Category 2- ORCV Skippers Race Entry Compliance Declaration

         Category 3 -  ORCV Skippers Race Entry Compliance Declaration

         Category 4  -  ORCV Skippers Race Entry Compliance Declaration

ORCV Pre-Race Equipment Checklist and Declaration

This checklist and declaration supplements the annual audit requirement which is more comprehensive in nature. This declaration is to be completed and signed prior to commencing the race and available on board (in either electronic or printed format) for inspection if requested.

 Category 2 - ORCV Pre Race Equipment Checklist and Declaration

 Category 3 - ORCV Pre Race Equipment Checklist and Declaration

ORCV Stability Declaration

This declaration is to be completed, signed and uploaded to your boat documentation in Top Yacht. This declaration remains valid until any changes are made to the yacht since providing your Evidence of Stability documentation to ORCV (which is also required to be uploaded to your boat documentation in Top Yacht).

 Category 2 - ORCV Stability / Construction 

 Category 3 - ORCV Stability Declaration

 Australian Sailing Special Regulations Equipment Audit Forms

Below you will find links to current Australian Sailing Special Regulations Equipment Audit Forms. Each competing yacht must be inspected by an ORCV Accredited Auditor and is valid for a maximum period of 12 months. A list of current ORCV Accredited Auditors can be found on ORCV’s Skipper Support page. Please download and print out the form, fill out the yacht’s owner details and provide it to your auditor. The completed and signed form is required to be uploaded to your boat documentation in Top Yacht.

Audit forms can be found here on the Australian Sailing Website with copies of current ones as of August 2022 below

 Category 2 - Australian Sailing Special Regulations Equipment Audit Form

 Category 3 – Australian Sailing Special Regulations Equipment Audit Form

Study the Tactics used via the Tracker

Revisiting the tracker on a recent race is a great way to learn what decisions you and others made during a race and how those decisions impacted the race outcome. Using the 2021 King Island race, Simon gives us a short review of the race and how to use the tracker effectively. You can review the King Island Race here. 

Click on the boat you are interested in and move to the far RHS icon to change the colour of your boat and tracks, making it easier to stand out from the fleet.

 Have you ever tried this technique?

White Noise blitzes opposition in ORCV’s 49th King Island Race

Daniel Edwards’ White Noise has blitzed the field in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 49th Melbourne to King Island Yacht Race, taking out AMS, IRC, PHS and ORCi categories, while Paul Buchholz’s Extasea took line honours after settling into the race when the southerly eased in Bass Strait, giving all a nice ride to the finish.

End destination beautiful Grassy Harbour - ORCV media pic - King Island Race

Buchholz’s Cookson 50 made the finish line first, while four yachts shared the spoils across the IRC, AMS and PHS categories. And what spoils they were - large King Island crayfish, King Island cheese and champagne – what a way to celebrate the end of the race!

Daniel Edwards collects his cray after winning the King Island Race - pic courtesy ORCV

Little more than fifteen minutes separated White Noise, a M.A.T. 1245 that won AMS last year, and Ashley Trebilcock’s Beneteau First 40, Bandit, when the handicaps were applied in IRC. Peter Davison’s Archambault 40 Racer/Cruiser, Arcadia placed third.

White Noise and Bandit also finished top two under AMS, with Antony Walton’s well-campaigned RP46, Hartbreaker, in third. Hartbreaker ramped up with second in PHS, while Arcadia took third place.

Daniel Edwards: “It was a challenging race. I felt sorry for the boats that got smashed in the earlier part and then parked at King Island. It was very tricky towards the end. For the guys who came in late it was hard,” he said of the King Island destination that lies in Bass Strait between Melbourne and Tasmania.

The best part of the race? “The journey home – and enjoying the crayfish for breakfast this morning when we got back to Sandringham,” Edwards said laughing.

Crayfish just the order for King Island Race Photo ORCV Media

“The start was horrible; and it was a demanding race. From lunchtime onwards, as the sea-state improved dramatically in the lee of King Island, most of us wanted to stay west of the rhumbline because of the sea-state.

Sailing down the east coast of Tassie the conditions improved and were a lot more enjoyable Edwards said. “On the nose the whole way – tough, but good fun.

“Disappointing for Maverick that she couldn’t finish. They had an awesome race last year and not to be able to back up two years in a row.

“I’m pleased we did it. We enjoyed the weekend and good time on King Island. It was a nice way to come back after COVID,” he ended.

John Chipp and his Hot Chipps were among the newcomers to the race courtesy of ORCV lead-in programs for newcomers to offshore racing This a fun-loving owner and crew finished 11th in PHS aboard Chipp’s Beneteau Oceanis 41.1.

“A fantastic race,” Chipp stated. “We hadn’t done a Category 2 race before. Starting in the dark we were apprehensive getting gear up. It was blowing 15-20 knots and beating the whole way. it was interesting.

“We got outside the Heads with the others and enjoyed the camaraderie. There was a big High centred around King Island and that’s where the race was won or lost. We had our moments”, he admitted, “Good and bad. We enjoyed the tactical light airs, although five of our seven crew were sick at some stage, so that was challenging.”

On board Hot Chipps, Chipp explained, “You’ve got your comedians, hard workers, navigators. A great team and team effort.”

Any hot chips on board for this race? “No, we went with cordon bleu this time! The crayfish at King Island were very much on our minds… Sadly, we weren’t among the winners.”

Chipp continued, “This was a real breakout for us and others because of the times we’re living in. We spent a month preparing and were so happy to get the green light to go. We’re loving the ORCV races and are now looking forward to the Apollo Bay Race in May.”

Hot Chipps crew (John Chipp centre in cap) - pic courtesy Hot Chipps - King Island Race 

The King Island Race started in a 14 knot southerly at 1.45am in the morning – yes, you read correctly – 1.45am, so boats could clear the Heads.

Shortly after the start, Maverick, winner of IRC, PHS and Double-Handed divisions last year, (sailed double-handed again, this time by Anthony Hammond and Rod Smallman), retired with gear failure.

As predicted, winds abated and Extasea took control, leading Hartbreaker and Carrera S. In the next group Lord Jiminy, Cadibarra 8, Bandit and White Noise gave chase.

Those in the Rally fleet took a decision to delay their start by six hours, the rationale being the lightening southerly.

The Rally division, put into place by the ORCV this year to attract Category 3 bay racing boats, has been well-supported and is gaining momentum . Other divisions in this and all ORCV races included Double-Handed and Four + Authohelm, allowing for all types of boats and crews to participate.

Starting off Queenscliff and finishing in Grassy Harbour, King Island, 34 boats took part in the 2021 King Island Race/Rally. The perennial party awaited competitors at the King Island Boat Club, where the atmosphere was highly charged at the King Island Boat Club, competitors thrilled to be on the water after spending long months in lockdown.

The Melbourne to King Island Race started in 1973, a few months after the ORCV’s Westcoaster. Both will celebrate their half century editions in 2022.

For full results, please visit: www.orcv.org.au/results/2020-21/

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Next Race and Rally - Port Fairy 2nd April