KING ISLAND RACE PROTEST

Soon after the start of the recent King Island race, two boats did not comply with the Sailing Instructions to keep west of the defined Bay Exit course designed to ensure that we do not interfere with any large ships traversing the Heads. AIS data, visible to race management, and also the Port of Melbourne, clearly showed the two boats east of the required course.

Race management protested the boats involved and while all parties agreed on the facts found, the protest committee dismissed the protest due to a procedural technicality. Looking forward, all entrants in the ORCV ocean races can be assured that race management is carefully watching the passages of yachts in the Head region, using AIS and tracker data and input from our Coast Guard start boat and will diligently protest any yachts not complying with the Bay Exit requirements.