Racing at ORCV

The ORCV offers a sailing program including Bay, Coastal and Offshore races.

The races are grouped to form three championship series.

ORCV Championships

At ORCV, we highlight excellence, and that's why we bring you not one, not two, but three thrilling Championships that combine the best of Coastal and Offshore racing.

1. Offshore Championships: A dynamic competition that combines Offshore (Cat 2) race results. Featuring a minimum number of offshore races for a true offshore challenge.

2. Coastal Championship: Dive into the excitement with this championship, highlighting results from the coastal (Cat 3) races.

3. 38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Championship: Double the thrill! This championship combines Coastal (Cat 3) and Offshore (Cat 2) race results, exclusively in the Double-Handed Division. Prepare for an exhilarating journey with a minimum number of offshore (Cat 2) races.

Sail for victory by joining us in these Championships!

Scroll down for more info on each Championship Series.

The Offshore Championship

The Offshore Championship and the Perry Fletcher Clipper Trophy are awarded to the best-performed yacht in the Monohull Division, determined using AMS measurement handicap results. Yachts in this Division may be fully crewed, with up to 4 crew racing with autohelm or double-handed as desired on a race-to-race basis.

The championship award is subject to the provisions of the  Notice of Series and the NOR of the races from which a yacht’s score is drawn.

Competitors in the Double-Handed Division are automatically entered in the Monohull Division, and a double-handed yacht racing under AMS measurement handicap is, therefore, eligible to win the Perry Fletcher Clipper Trophy as well as the Double-Handed Offshore Championship, which is subject to a separate 38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Offshore Championship NOS. 

Offshore Championship Races include

• 03 Nov 2023, Melbourne to Devonport (Rudder Cup)
• 27 Dec 2023, Melbourne to Hobart (Westcoaster)
• 08 Mar 2024, Melbourne to King Island
• 28 Mar 2024, Melbourne to Port Fairy

Recent ORCV Coastal Champions

• 2022-2023 Ryujin, A. Toomey
• 2021-2022 Alien, J. Brenan
• 2020-2021 Arcadia, P. Davidson
• 2019-2020 Not Awarded
• 2018-2019 Alien, J. Brenan

The Coastal Championship

The Coastal Championship is awarded to the best-performing yacht in the Monohull Division, determined using the AMS measurement handicap results. Yachts in this Division may be fully crewed, with up to 4 crew racing with autohelm or double-handed as desired on a race-to-race basis. The championship award is subject to the provisions of the  Notice of Series and the NoR of the races from which a yacht’s score is drawn.

Competitors in the Double-Handed Division are automatically entered in the Monohull Division, and a Double-Handed Yacht racing under measurement handicap is, therefore, eligible to win the Coastal Championship as well as the Double-Handed Offshore Championship, which is subject to a separate 38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Offshore Championship NoS.

Coastal Championship Races include

• 16 Sep 2023, West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 1
• 25 Nov 2023, West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 2
• 20 Apr 2024,  West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 3
• 25 May 2024, Melbourne to Apollo Bay

Recent ORCV Coastal Champions

• 2022-2023  Ginan, C McKenzie/N Jones
• 2021-2022  True Colours, J. Strahan
• 2020-2021  Maverick, A. Hammond

38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Offshore Championship

The 38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Offshore Championship is awarded to the best-performed Monohull Double-Handed Division yacht, determined using PHS handicap results.

Yachts in this Division are double-handed as desired on a race-to-race basis. The 38 South Yacht Sales Double Handed Offshore Championship is subject to the provisions of the  Notice of Series and the NoR of the races from which a yacht’s score is drawn.

A Double Handed Yacht racing under PHS handicap is therefore eligible to win the 38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Championship, the Offshore Championship, and the Coastal Championship!

38 South Yacht Sales Double-Handed Championship Races Include

• 16 Sep 2023, West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 1
• 03 Nov 2023, Melbourne to Devonport (Rudder Cup)
• 25 Nov 2023, West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 2
• 27 Dec 2023, Melbourne to Hobart (Westcoaster)
• 08 Mar 2024, Melbourne to King Island
• 28 Mar 2024, Melbourne to Port Fairy
• 20 Apr 2024,  West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 3
• 25 May 2024, Melbourne to Apollo Bay

Recent ORCV Double-Handed Champions

• 2022-2023 Alex, J. Macade
• 2021-2022 Blue Water, G. Dunoon/N. Rose
• 2020-2021 Maverick, A. Hammond
• 2019-2020 Not Awarded
• 2018-2019 Maverick, R. Smallman

Starting ORCV Ocean Races

All ORCV ocean races start such that under average conditions, the participating boats should be in the region of the Heads at slack water. This practice is to ensure the safest possible sea conditions for all competitors.

Needless to say, commercial shipping also prefers slack water, so the traffic in the Heads can become quite busy at such times.

Well before the race start, race management is in contact with Lonsdale VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) to assess the likely traffic expected around the start time and to confirm or vary the start time based on that assessment.

More recently, in all our ocean races, and in close cooperation with the Victorian Ports Authority, we have included in our Sailing Instructions, an obstruction zone covering the region of the Heads and all boats are required to sail west of this region at all times .

Boats that do not comply with this requirement can, and have been, subject to protest (see for example a protest in the recent race to Port Fairy); http://sailingresults.net/sa/protest/Protest.aspx?ID=21.460.01

Sailors should become very familiar with this Bay exit procedure which has been designed to ensure that we can more safely start our races alongside with the commercial shipping activities.

2016 Overall Off-Shore Championship

After the Port Fairy Race, the progress scores for the overall ORCV Off-Shore Championship were incredibly close, with only one point ( after two drops ) separating the first three boats and the next two boats within striking distance. Not unusually, the final result came down to the Apollo Bay race last weekend. The race to Apollo Bay can often be quite tricky; taking the coastal route or going further off-shore and how best to approach the Apollo Bay finish line can all be critical elements of a race-winning strategy.

The weather last weekend, though a making for a most enjoyable and at times exhilarating sail, did little to allow the navigators to strut their strategic skills with a beam reach essentially all the way leaving little opportunity for the navigators to shine.

The outcome was no change in the overall standing in the series, the results of which for the first five boats are shown below.

Congratulations to Daniel Edwards and the crew on White Noise for a solid performance throughout the series. Likewise to Paul Buchholtz and the Extasea crew and Gary Prestedge and the One For The Road crew for keeping the pressure on right to the end. It was also great to see Ian Lewis and the Blue Chip crew and Robin Hewitt and the Yoko crew both putting in very creditable performances throughout the season. All the top boats sailed most of the races in the series showing once again that you have to be in it to win it!