ORCV Covid-19 Plans

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) uses the following Covid-19 plans

 ORCV Covid-19 Plan

 Skipper Covid Plan

Adding crew for Covid Compliance for the ORCV Cock of the Bay

2020 ORCV Cock of the Bay - Shorten Course

For those that love to sail, we offer a great opportunity to shake off 2020 on Boxing Day with the ORCV Cock of the Bay and a shortened course. This year the race has been shortened to 22nm finishing off Mornington allowing you time to cruise home in time for sunset drinks or onto other locations. Come enjoy the fun and a sail and have a #covidsafesummer and join the ORCV Cock of the Bay.

We needed to adjust the course this year due to Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron advising us of their COVID 19 policy and procedures which included limited berthing and no rafting. They were also unable to provide the traditional hospitality to yachts and crew competing in this year's ORCV Cock of the Bay yacht race.

We are committed to making this race happen. We invite you to be part of the great dash across the Bay and as they say there is no better way to work off the excesses of Christmas the day before.

The course starts near Station Pier in Port Melbourne and is designed to sail past major bayside locations for sailors and spectators alike to view. We currently have more than 60 yachts entered and there are great vantage points for family, friends and spectators at Port Melbourne, St Kilda pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham and Hampton foreshore to watch you sail.

The ORCV Cock of the Bay is a great day out on the water and way to enjoy summer. Let’s all say goodbye to 2020 in a fun way.

Enter the Race, click here

Race Documents, click here

PredictWind is very excited to partner with SPIRE & UKMO.

PredictWind’s goal is to deliver the most accurate forecast data available. Having access to the world’s top forecast models enables users to be assured of the best possible forecast.

The 2 new global forecast models (SPIRE & UKMO) are market leaders. PredictWind has proven the accuracy of these weather models in extensive validation studies against weather stations and buoys around the world.

Spire is a truly innovative company with the largest nano satellite network in space. Spire uses a unique technique of measuring the earth’s atmosphere with 3x more radio occultation data than any other commercial entity. This gives an advantage in forecast accuracy for remote locations. The PredictWind validation report proves that the Spire model is #1 for wind speed and direction accuracy using data from offshore weather buoys. It is #2 behind the ECMWF for land-based weather stations.

The UKMO model, otherwise known as the “Unified Model” by the UK Meteorological Office, has a long reputation as a market leader in forecast modelling. The validation study shows the UKMO has very similar accuracy to the ECMWF model offshore, and slightly behind the ECMWF & Spire models for the land-based weather stations. The UKMO model is used by the following Met Offices around the world, and some of the biggest weather companies in the world:

US Air Force
Bureau of Meteorology / CSIRO (Australia)
NIWA (New Zealand)
KMA (South Korea)
Met Office (United Kingdom)
ICM (Poland)
MSS (Singapore)
MoES / NCMRWF (India)
SAWS (South Africa)

With the addition of the Spire and UKMO weather models, PredictWind has an unrivalled offering of weather data. We have a full stable of models that includes the ECMWF, SPIRE, UKMO, GFS, and our proprietary PWG & PWE models for both global and high-resolution local levels.

Together with new long range forecasts and weather routing, it's definitely worth the review.  More details about the weather routing can be found here https://www.predictwind.com/news/new-predictwind-weather-router/

We review these new features running it against the upcoming Melbourne to Devonport race here https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=798840880681165

Line Honours to Hartbreaker

It's tough out there with the lack of wind although Hartbreaker have just crossed the line at 15.29.00.   The very light and almost non existent winds has caused a number of boats to retire, these being Blue Water Tracks, Bundaberg, Foggy Dew, Foxy Lady, Hot Chipps, Lady J, Lord Jiminy, Shimmer, Summer's Lease, True Colours, Vagabond, Vertigo, White Spirit and Wingara.  All onboard OK.

1.00 pm Race Director Update

With a shortened course, it seems that the leading group of boats including Wicked, Shimmer, Arcadia and Audere are getting closer to the turn although the winds are light.   The light winds have cause Marie Grace to retire with all onboard OK.  

8.00 am Start Update

After a short delay, all 27 boats have started at 7.45 am in very light winds, so light that some say they can even enjoy a latte and ham and cheese croissant and what a beautiful day as spinnakers start to fill.   WIth Faster Forward first out through the heads and RMS Cole Walker close behind the boats are still enjoying 6 - 7 knots of breeze from the SE as they head toward Cape Schanck.

Faster Forward leads out of the heads.  Photo Matt Fahey

7.30am - Delayed Start of 15 mins.

27 boats and some 130 crew are ready at Queenscliff, for the start of the ORCV first race, the West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint.  On all accounts, there's a light breeze from the East and a stunning day on it's way.  To allow for the deep draft outbound ship (YM Success), the fleet has been given a 15min delay on starting.  

We welcome the new comers of RMS - Cole Walker, Marie Grace, Hot Chipps, Foxy Lady, Foggy Dew, Pegasus, True Colours and Josh the new owner of Audere, who are either on their first ocean race or first ocean race in a long time.  

Today the crews will sail a short 55nm coastal course which could be shortened if winds drop off as predicted. 

With this new found freedom, many crews are competing short handed, either double handed or 4+auto helm as any boat is a contender today to take home the major prize.

Photo:  A gentle start for the first race.  photo  Elke Kellis

27 boats and 124+ crew will tomorrow enjoy some lighter winds as we see a return to sailing with the West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint. There is now a shorten course and shorten finish added with PredictWind indicating winds dropping off as the crews turn to return to the finish. It's great to see so many join the record coastal sprint (category 3) fleet numbers and celebrate the return to ocean sailing. For those boats that have AIS, you can monitor their progress via marine traffic or via the ORCV website or social pages #orcv

Predictwind modelling uses a Beneteau First 40