McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship

(M2S as part of the MMOC)

You're Welcome!

‘Hummingbird’ is a Farr37 that hails from the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart and lately they have been calling Sydney home. They are coming down to try out Bass Strait proper in the ORCV’s 2009 M2S.

'Hummingbird' in what looks to be her home waters on the Derwent...

‘Matangi’ is from the Tamar Yacht Club, who are our hosts for the annual Kidder Williams M2L. This year, Australia’s Oldest Ocean Race has $1000 up for grabs. All you have to do is break the record of 19 hours, 55 minutes and 43 seconds, as set by the Jones’ 42footer (12.93m) ‘Cadibarra’ (VIII) in 2003.

'Matangi' in Port Phillip Heads about to round the turning mark and head for home in the last M2L.

Now that’s a lovely segue into a piece we saw earlier about ‘Caledonia’, who are preparing for their first ever Silly Season race, the 2009 Kidder Williams M2L (see that article HERE). Also completing their mandatory Bass Strait foray before Christmas are ‘Biddy Hu II’, who we also saw in an earlier piece reviewing them as they prepare for their first big time event, the 2009 Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster (which you can read HERE). We wish both crews really well, as they prepare to get out there and stick their noses in it.

'Caledonia' on the left and 'Biddy Hu II' on the right.

We heartily welcome all three of our Interstate racers (the DK46 'Dekadence' is the other one), joining all the rest of the forty strong fleet for the annual ORCV qualifying jaunt heading South. In that fleet will be the Lord Warden trophy winners (best overall in the MWS), Robert Sill’s ‘INSX’ who are getting ready for the M2HE this year (the piece on them is HERE). In the ‘45 feet and under’ department will be boats like ‘The Secretary’ and ‘Wicked’, as well as ‘Geomatic Joker’ from Mornington, ‘Chikara Outlaw’, ‘Ice Fire’ and ‘Jazz Player’ – all of whom can really put some miles down if they get set into it. Angus Fletcher’s ‘Tevake II’, the 13.7m Radford, will be a good bet too, if they can just get the breeze past about 110 degrees true.

Lord Warden Trophy winners - 'INSX'

Now, but now terribly addicted to the blue water thing after their first effort last year, is the team aboard the Elan 434, ‘Pretty Woman’ from Brighton - and then there is also the petite, but big hitting ‘Godzilla’, also lining up in December for Hobart via the East Coast.

‘Schuss’ took care of their MOB training back in the MWS (the article on that is HERE) - so they’re set to go. Actually, we've just learned that the owner has a broken knee and so 'Schuss' is not going, neither is 'Full Circle' where the owner has a broken elbow. Just what's up with these owner types then?

Breaking news has 'Chikara Outlaw' withdrawing as they have been unable to meet the ORCV's stability requirements in time. Safety first and compliance always at the ORCV... To top it off 'Addiction' is also not a starter after a port/starboard issue during racing on Port Phillip last week.

‘Magic’ will be there after their heavenly guidance in the inaugural M2G, as will be the boat that just keeps popping up in articles, ‘Under Capricorn’.

'Schuss' took care of the MOB Training in the MWS.

You might remember 'Addiction' from the dental floss days - going to need a whole lot more than floss to repair the hole in the side after the prang last week, however...

So welcome to all competitors in the 2009 Melbourne to Stanley and especially our Interstate friends – it’s great to see you. Of course the McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheel is going to be of dearly sought after, especially for boats like the ones named in this article. Perhaps some are angling to get in early and we’ll see a lot more of them over the course of the 2009/10 McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship. You never know, they may even lead some of their other brothers from their respective States into the mix…

By John Curnow