Ocean Racing Club of Victoria - ocean sailing, ocean racing and training

Women Skippers get Behind the 50th Westcoaster

Women skippers get behind 50th ‘Westcoaster’ Seasoned and respected women sailors are among those so far signed up to compete in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race - or ‘The Westcoaster’, as it is simply known to most - which starts at midday on 27 December, 2022. Clare Olding turns 22 this month and is currently the youngest skipper in the race. As...

ORCV Championships

2022/23 ORCV Championships As we approach 60 boats in the 50th Melbourne to Hobart and crews prepare with the qualifier to Devonport, the upcoming sailing season is shaping up to be big. Add into the mix some Coastal Sprints and the 70th Apollo Bay and you may automatically qualify for one of the 3 ORCV Championships, Coastal, Offshore or Double-Handed. The competition will be strong for all...

Melbourne's hottest race in the coldest month

Melbourne's hottest race in the coldest month “Best day I’ve had sailing” was how Damien King, co-skipper of the Frers 61 ‘MRV’ sailing double handed summed up the day after taking the overall win in a fleet of 47 yachts in Saturday’s Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) Winter Series destination race to Geelong. 47 yachts from around the bay at the start Photo Dave Hewison The last...

The New Ocean Season on September 17th

The New Ocean Season on September 17th We ease into the next ocean season on September 17th with the first of the West Offshore Coastal Sprints. A great way to test your boat and crew before heading onto a longer category 2 race such as Devonport in October or Hobart in December. The start of the first West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint will be just after sunrise. With 2...

Boat Weighing Day Sunday 18th September

Boat Weighing Day at SYC Need to update or obtain an AMS, ORCc endorsed or IRC certificate? YRSA and their volunteers are running a boat weighing day at SYC on Sunday 18th September 9am onwards. Bookings mandatory and cost per boat is $275. YRSA weigh all boats in an “empty” configuration and this means that the IRC and ORC weight is provided. The AMS weight is the...

Double-handers targeting 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race glory

Double-handers targeting 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race glory Amid the double-handed entries already received for the 2022 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, there are some serious contenders for the Heemskerk Trophy, awarded to the overall winner of the race each year. Being the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) 50th anniversary race, everyone wants to win it and Ryujin’s...

Re Sail Women Skipper & Navigator Race & Novice Race

Re Sail Women Skipper & Navigator Race & Novice Race We are re -sailing the Women Skipper and Navigator's Race at the same time of the Novice Skipper's race when the fleet returns from Geelong on August 21st. The recent Women Skipper's Race from Blairgowrie started in great conditions but soon sailed into a foggy wind hole. So let's get the race underway again. For those...

South Aussies add weight to 50th Melbourne to Hobart

South Aussies add weight to 50th Melbourne to Hobart Twelve years ago, John Willoughby scored a clean sweep of wins in the testing Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race with his striking red yacht ‘Enchantress’ - and the memory of that race - and its outcome, lingers, bringing the South Australian back for what is likely his last hurrah. Willoughby can vividly recall the 435 nautical mile race...

Patriot the clear winner in a race of snakes and ladders

Patriot, the clear winner in a race of snakes and ladders. Local knowledge as the winds softened gave Jason Close, skipper of the J133 ‘Patriot’ the advantage to win overall in a fleet of 34 yachts in Saturday's ORCV Winter Series 30nm race to Blairgowrie. The mixed fleet competing in the racing and cruising divisions started out just after 9.30 am using a shortened course start line off...

Expressions of Interest Race Director & Incident Management Training

Expressions of Interest for Race Director and Incident Management Training Since the ORCV’s establishment as the Organising Authority for Victoria’s offshore racing, the Club has maintained an enviable record for the safe and efficient conduct of our offshore racing program. This record rests on three pillars:- Setting appropriate safety standards and the compliance regime. Training...

Tasmanians prepare for assault on 50th Melbourne to Hobart

Tasmanians prepare for assault on 50th Melbourne to Hobart Tasmania can lay claim to a rich history in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, or ‘Westcoaster’ as it’s also known, with the likes of Bob Clifford, John Saul, Michael Pritchard, David Alpin and the Escott family names engraved on the major trophies. Founder/chairman of Incat, Clifford, known...

Double-handed Ryujin wins Apollo Bay Race

Double-handed Ryujin wins Apollo Bay Race Sailed double-handed by owner Alex Toomey and crew-mate Andrew Hibbert, Ryujin has won the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s (ORCV) 2022 Apollo Bay Race, in which Margaret Rintoul V (Damien King) took line honours in a close race across the board. Sailed double handed, Ryujin won the race. Photo Chris Furey A fleet of 31 boats started the 52...

DONATE to Replacement ORCV Race Control Van

DONATE to Replacement ORCV Race Control Van All donations over $2.00 are fully tax deductible. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS Some members have kindly given in cash and some we acknowledge who gave in-kind with time. All are greatly appreciated. We all have different ways we wish to be involved, so get in contact with Grant (0402 993808) or Simon (0418 145 909) to...

Ginan 50th entry for 50th Westcoaster

Ginan 50th entry for 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race Expectations and entries are running high as the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) prepares to host its 50th Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, with Cam McKenzie and Nigel Jones’ recently purchased J/111, Ginan, marking the occasion by being the 50th entry. McKenzie and Jones can boast a long and...