Finally, it's ready

At the last General Committee meeting of the year, we gathered to "bless" the van befor it departed for Hobart.  In honour of Angus, Holly Fletcher joined us to unveil and christen the van.

It’s hard to imagine that the appetites of a very large and wooly Bouvier dog called Sam were the origin of the first dedicated ORCV van. Well, back in the early 90’s - as many of you will know – race communications were done from the back of a loaned CUB van. Happy to have the additional weekend advertising, CUB (where Louise McKenzie worked) let our then Commodore Ian McKenzie and the crew borrow the van – into which they would throw a box of communications gear to keep in touch with the fleet.

The van would start the race off the Portsea Pier and then head to Arthurs Seat or to Angus & Holly Fletcher’s Flinders property for the race duration.

It turns out that wooly friend Sam liked to sleep in the van while Ian managed communications. Around 2004, early one morning Sam took a liking to the cables – chewing through them – and prompting Ian to wake Holly at 6am to see if Angus had a soldering iron....for a makeshift repair in time for the next radio sked.

Returning from sailing Angus said “we need to do better than this” - and together with Ian set about to find, fit out and prepare what came to be known simply as “ORCV” - our first dedicated race communications van.

Both former Commodores, and sadly no longer with us, Ian and Angus hatched the concept, purchased and old ambulance for 14 grand and fitted it out with the radio gear they had been using in the CUB van.

Ian & Angus spent hours on the original ORCV Van fitting it out

Used extensively across the racing program, ORCV travelled to Tasmania each year and even got to King Island. It became the ‘home base’ for Race Directors waiting for boats to come in, giving them somewhere to sit out of the elements and do their work. Doubling as a transport vehicle for all the SSS courses, and a training vehicle for practical radio sessions, ORCV became a familiar site at many Club events.

Sadly, in April 2022 ORCV was used as a getaway vehicle - ladened with tools and materials from our Neighbour tenant - and later found at the back of Point Cook – totally burnt out. We’ve all seen the photos and I think at the time were both angered and shocked that our beloved van had met such an end.

However, as often happens, great things arise out of tragedy. Inspired by the many messages of support, the decision was made to “renew ORCV” and the fundraising campaign idea was hatched. After two months of campaigning, the overwhelming generosity of members, partner clubs and organisations, combined with the small insurance payout were enough to purchase a new van.

Then the real work began, to take an ordinary – but very nice! - van and turn it into what Grant regularly describes as “a vehicle fit for a super yacht!”.

When you see the van it looks simple – but there were a great many volunteer hours spent on making sure it was neat and tidy, looks great and is super functional.

And there was a lot to do for the new van was still merely an empty metal shell.

• Firstly there was a trip to Gosford to fit the lining, install rotating front seats, add an awning and the seats that turn into beds along with cabinets for our gear.
• Next was designing the fit out of the radios. Rik Head and Grant took on the radio gear selection, while the fit out was done by Leeton Hulley and his apprentice Callum.
• A table was made and assembled, and lithium ion batteries were installed thanks to BMPro.
• Grant even developed a few new Cad Design skills, 3D printing parts for HF radio collars, holders, and panel backs.
• And lastly, the van needed to be design (thank you Tim Godbert) and wrapped with a finish incorporating some great racing photos by Steb Fisher.
• We need to also thank Ray who will be providing a home and watchful eye over the van when it’s not in race mode too.

In the van is a plague of the names of all those who donated time or cash to make this happen. I’d like to read them out now to acknowledge our generous donors and the support of our amazing sailing community.

Test run done.  Photo ORCV

Donations over $5,000

Grant & Delma Dunoon, David & Elizabeth Findlay, Stuart Richardson, Sandringham Yacht Club, Holly Fletcher (in memory of Angus Fletcher), Glenn & Madison Fitzgerald (Glen paid for the van to be wrapped)

Donations of $1,000 to $4,999

Mersey Pharmacy, APS Foundation, Lisa Hennessy, Brian Pattinson, Steven Fahey, Charles Meredith, Peter Little, Philip Mclean, Bernard & Sarah Allard, Ronstan, Martha Cove Yacht Squadron

Donations Up to $999

Tim Boucaut, Greg Clinnick, Sinjen, William Potter, MB Drive School, David Helmore, Richard Beale , Lawrence Ford, Alex Macnaughtan, Neil Hawker, Harry Leggett, Richard Finney , Richard Beale, Adam Manders, Rosie Colahan, David James, In Systems Pty Ltd, Niesje Hees, Wendall Raven, David Sturge, Hugh Halliburton, , Amanda Lithgow, Industrial Diesel & Controls P/L, Robert Coco, Mancon Projects P/L, Luke McGregor, Aidan Geysen, Leo Cantwell, Antony Perri, Geoff Onions, Ben Frecheville, Catherine North, Tony Walton, Greg Winnett, Gus Dawson, Stuart Johnson, Gerry Cantwell, John Kint, Andrew Roche, , Mark Welsh, Acacia Consulting Services, James Heywood & Vanessa Twigg, Swanson Surveying, Barry Grogan, Damien King, Ann & Anthony beck, , Terry Van Iersel, Mark Cunnington, Jeff Sloan, Joanne Harpur, Richard Wolf, Fresh Aesthetics for Life, , Outdoor Living Direct Pty Ltd, Elique Douady, Andrew McConchie, Jason Close, Nicholas Brown, BR&SM Webber Pty Ltd, Peter Dowdney, Roman Machefer, Marinus van Onselen, Insight Building & Design, Andrew Lynch

Donations in Kind and Time

Rik Head, Ray Shaw, Simon Dryden, Tim Godbert, Don Fraser, Leeton Hulley, Calin MacLennan, Dennis Hambleton, Steb Fisher, BMPro,Grant Dunoon.

I invite you next time you see the van out there at a race, drop in and take a look please.  

Thank you again for your generosity!