Melbourne to Portland Race 2013 - 7 Weeks to Go
Well, according the Australian Government Website (if not the BOM!), Spring has arrived and the very successful Helly Hansen Winter Series is behind us for another year.
It is now time to turn our attention towards another fantastic season of offshore Racing and Cruising.
Our first ocean race of the season is the 2013 Melbourne to Portland Race, scheduled for the Melbourne Cup holiday weekend.
At the request of many of our members to introduce new destinations, we have decided to race to Portland this November, in lieu of the Stanley Race.
With TasPorts set to undergo redevelopment works of the Stanley Harbour over the next 12 months or so, and Portland announcing earlier this year the completion of its new floating marina, it was decided that Portland would be the most suitable location for the November Race.
The Portland Race is scheduled to commence at 0100 Saturday November 2, 2013, at the ORCV Queenscliff start line.
You can enter the Portland Race
here.
The Melbourne to Portland Race is a qualifying race for the Melbourne to Hobart East and West Coast Races, and the 2013 Sydney to Hobart Race.
If you are intending to race to Portland in November, it is time to consider the following preparations:
- Pick up a copy of the new YA Blue Book (Racing Rules of Sailing 2013 - 2016) and review the new Special Regulations - see the presentation here 2014 Special Regulations
- Consider the new requirements for Stability and how it affects your boat - see the presentation here Changes to Stability
- Arrange to have your Cat 2 Safety Audit carried out well before the Portland Race, to ensure your race documentation and race entry is finalised well in advance - See the Audit Form here 2013-2016 Cat 2 Safety Audit Form
- Arrange to have your annual radio inspection and certificate issued
- Ensure that your HF Radio can receive the new Kordia race management frequencies in simplex mode - See Ray's article here and the new Inspection Form here 2013-2016 Radio Inspection Document
You can find all of the necessary race documents
here.