Our previous article reported that although the racing is all done, and a few boats placed themselves out of contention during the Apollo Bay race, we still do not have a result for the Offshore Championship and scoring procedure is under review. The problem to be addressed has its origins in changes made by ORCV during the past year.
First, the Offshore Championship was changed in two ways. Competitors were encouraged to participate in longer distance events - the Westcoaster, Melbourne Osaka and Noumea by introducing Championship eligibility requirements. In parallel with this, emphasis was placed on measurement handicap results where available. Specifically, if a yacht competed in Performance, IRC and/or AMS handicap categories, her score in that race would be drawn from the best measurement handicap result. This requirement is covered in Clause 2.4 of the Offshore Championship NOR.
In a separate initiative the Club also encouraged participation in Double Handed racing in all of our events. This was in part a precursor to the then upcoming Melbourne Osaka race but also reflects ORCV’s desire to support the growing interest in short-handed sailing. Short-handed boats have always been able to compete against fully crewed boats, but we created an additional entry category exclusively for Double Handed Boats. Racing in the double handed division was however restricted to Performance Handicaps - reflecting IRC advice to race organisers and the fact that AMS ratings for Double Handed Boats were still not supported by adequate data.
The key issue is whether the NOR for the Offshore Championship permits results from the Double Handed Division to be included in the scoring. Can the Performance Handicap only Double Handed Division Results be used if a boat also competed as part of the main fleet ? Putting this another way, does a skipper’s decision to put in an extra entry against fully crewed boats rule out use of the Double Handed results for Offshore Championship scoring ? ….and this is where Clause 2.8 of the Championship NOR comes in.
The wording is definitely “ticklish” and any ambiguity will be removed next year.
In the meantime the Club has to deal with the documentation as published. Initial Rules advice has been received and the question is to be further considered by the Committee at its meeting next month, but the chances are that the matter will end up before the Jury to secure an independent decision.
Offshore Championship….. so who won the award ?
Well the Racing is all done and a few boats, including Alien, took themselves out of contention with poor tactical decisions during the Apollo Bay race but……. we still don’t have a result and the scoring arrangements are under review.
The key issue is whether the NOR for the Offshore Championship permits results from the Double Handed Division to be included in the scoring. Can Double Handed Division Results, which are Performance Handicap only, be used if a boat also competed as part of the main fleet ? Putting this another way, does a skipper’s decision to put in an extra entry against fully crewed boats rule out use of the Double Handed results for Offshore Championship scoring ?
In some races the question is irrelevant. In the case of the Westcoaster, Maverick scored fifth in both the Double Handed division and against the main fleet. In the King Island Race Maverick won the Double Handed Division and a 3rd in IRC against the fully crewed boats. However not all conditions suit Double Handed racing and in the Stanley race Maverick came 9th against the fully crewed boats.
Which score counts? For those who are interested, the relevant clauses in the NOR for the Offshore Championship are 2.8 and 2.4. Initial Rules advice will be considered by the Committee at its meeting next month but the chances are that the matter will end up before the Jury.
Vale Pauline Lister
Many members will be saddened to learn of the passing of Pauline Lister who was ORCV office manager for some years when we were based at Nott St. Port Melbourne. Following a successful career with ORCV she moved on to a position as Manager with RMYS before moving up-country and interstate, then returning to Melbourne. Pauline kept in touch with her many yachtie friends and will be sadly missed.
The Funeral will be held at Royal Melbourne Yacht Sqadron
Thursday 24th May 2018
10:30am
ORCV Offshore Championship - Leading Contenders with one race to go.
The Offshore Championship will be determined on each yacht’s best 4 measurement handicap results (where applicable) including either the Westcoaster or Melbourne – Osaka or, if neither of those races were completed, both the Stanley and Port Fairy Race.
After the first 4 offshore races, 6 skippers from 5 yachts would now appear to be in contention for the award and their preliminary scores are shown below.
Score to Date
(best 3 Races)
Maverick Rod & Tyson Smallman 8
White Noise Daniel Edwards 9
Shimmer Steve Twentyman 9
Alien R880 Justin Brenan 10
Jaffa R39 Terry Posma 10
The outcome will be determined by Maverick’s results in the Melbourne – Osaka and the outcome of the Apollo Bay Race. At the time of writing Maverick was still some 400 MN short of Osaka and it may still be some time before the Osaka results are finalised.
With three weeks before the start, the Apollo Bay Race has already attracted a competitive but diverse fleet of 18 yachts. Weather will therefore be important - is April’s unusually dry and warm weather a harbinger of another long autumn with light conditions for the race “favouring the small boats” ….. or will a wintery cold front greet the fleet as it heads of at 03.30 on 19 May?
ORCV Yearbook
The ORCV yearbook is a vital sailing and training resource provided exclusively for our members. It is published annually after the AGM and mailed out to Members. Continual improvements are made to this sought after reference material, and we invite feedback and suggestions for new content to improve this resource.
2014-15 Yearbook Correction. There was an error in the last year’s edition with reference to results of the 2013 Rudder Cup Winner and an Addendum to corrections on Page 35 and 36 can be found HERE.
Streetcar, skippered by Aidan Geysen was the 2013 Winner of the Rudder Cup.
We suggest you print this addendum and attach to your 2014-15 ORCV Yearbook.
ORCV-TV
Play videos directly below by selecting the Play button and then Next Video button to play next video in Playlist, or display all videos in Playlist by selecting the Playlist button .
To view all Videos on ORCV YouTube Channel click here To view all Playlists on ORCV YouTube Channel click here
2018 Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed Ocean Race - Playlist
2017 Melbourne to Hobart / Westcoaster Ocean Race - Playlist
2017 Cock of the Bay - Playlist
2017 Melbourne to King Island Ocean Race - Playlist
2016 Melbourne to Devonport Finish ABC TV News 28/12/2016
ABC TV News bulletin on Melbourne to Devonport Yacht Race finish and update on Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 28 December, 2016
2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster Finish ABC TV News 30/12/2016
ABC TV News bulletin on Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race finish 30 December, 2016
2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart & Devonport - ABC TV News 27/12/2016
The ABC News coverage of the start of the 2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart and Melbourne to Devonport ocean yacht races.
ABC TV Reporter Cameron Best reporting form onboard ORCV Media Boat.
2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart & Melbourne to Devonport races start from Committee boat
Exciting and chaotic start in the 2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne Hobart and Melbourne to Devonport races, which resulted in two protests. Footage from the Committee Boat.
2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart & Melbourne to Devonport races, pre-start and start
Activities surrounding the start of the 2016 Melbourne to Devonport and 2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne to Hobart West Coaster yacht races. Includes footage from the Press boat of the exciting and chaotic start in the 2016 Wyndham Harbour Melbourne Hobart and Melbourne to Devonport races, which resulted in two protests.
Video Camera: Kevin Manning and Ian MacWilliams BYS Rib/Media boat driver: Phil Beattie Photographer: Karen McCloskey Production: Ian MacWilliams
Escorting Vendée Globe solo sailor Stéphane LeDiraison up Port Phillip Bay 30/12/2016
Great video from Ian MacWilliams, part of the ORCV Incident Management Team, escorting Vendée Globe solo sailor Stéphane Le Diraison, on his Imoca 60 foot yacht 'Compagnie du Lit / Boulogne Billancourt' up Port Phillip Bay on 30 December, 2016 to Pier 35.
Great the word got out to some other Victorian yachties who joined the escort.
2016 Melbourne welcomes Vendée Globe solo sailor Stéphane LeDiraison ABC TV News 30/12/2016
During the break between all yachts finishing the ORCV Melbourne to Devonport ocean race and the first expected finishers in the ORCV Melbourne to Hobart ocean race, the ORCV Incident Management Team was also engaged to provide whatever assistance we can to French skipper Stéphane Le Diraison on his Imoca 60 foot yacht 'Compagnie du Lit / Boulogne Billancourt' who arrived in Melbourne on 30 December, 2016.
Stéphane was participating in the ' Vendée Globe' ocean race, the Everest of offshore racing (solo, non-stop, around the world). Unfortunately, on 17 December, 2016, while he was sailing about 1,000 nautical miles South of the Australian coast, his mast collapsed forcing him to retire from the race. Since then, he has been under a jury rig using his 7 meter boom and a storm jib (see attached image). Stéphane has been striving to reach Melbourne by his own means and at a very slow speed – an extraordinary achievement.
We also promoted his arrival to Victorian yachting community to encourage as many boats on the water to escort Stéphane up the Bay.
ABC TV Victoria reporter Cameron Best put together a great report from footage the ABC took, footage from the ORCV's own Ian MacWilliams and some online footage.
It was our pleasure to meet Stéphane, shadow his passage in Port Phillip Bay and welcome him to Melbourne. He has our utmost Respect and Admiration for what is nothing short of a super human achievement to overcome the adversity he faced and travel over 1,000 nautical miles from deep in the Southern Ocean, under the impressive jury-rig he made, to arrive in Melbourne, under his own steam, unassisted. Bravo Sir, Bravo!
2016 Stanley race: TRYBOOKING drone with CHRISTINE
Great drone footage during the 2016 ORCV Melbourne to Stanley ocean yacht race.
Grant Dunoon launched his drone from onboard TRYBOOKING.COM in the middle of Bass Strait when near CHRISTINE. Dolphins surfacing in the bow wake of both yachts. Unedited High Quality version.
2016 Stanley race: TRYBOOKING drone with JAFFA
Great drone footage during the 2016 ORCV Melbourne to Stanley ocean yacht race.
Grant Dunoon launched his drone from onboard TRYBOOKING.COM in the middle of Bass Strait when near JAFFA. Unedited High Quality version.
Chirping Bird Wines - ORCV sponsor for prizes for all major races.
As trophies for major ORCV races are presented at the ORCV Annual Presentation night, the ORCV has a a tradition of presenting wine to Line Honours and Division podium place winners at results presentations after each race at our destination host venue.
In this video, Daniel Edwards, owner/skipper of WHITE NOISE, the 2015-16 ORCV Offshore Champion, who enjoyed many a bottle of Chirping Bird wine over the season, thanks Chirping Bird for their generous support.
For more information on our sponsor, Chirping Bird Wines, click here.
2015 Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Training
As a provider of Yachting Australia accredited Safety and Sea Survival training, the ORCV Instructors participate in ongoing professional development and re-accreditation.
The Yachting Australia 7th Annual Instructors and Principals Convention included a workshop the Team at Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service (www.lifesaver.org.au) conducted on helicopter rescue procedures, winching exercises, aviation Search & Rescue, and dealing with hypothermia, at their base in Botany Bay.
In this video taken during that workshop, the casualty is being lifted using the hypothermic strop.
2014 ORCV Tassie Trio (Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster and Melbourne to Devonport) Ocean Yacht Races - ABC News 30/12/2014
2014 ORCV Tassie Trio (Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster and Melbourne to Devonport) Ocean Yacht Races - ABC News 29/12/2014
2014 ORCV Tassie Trio (Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster and Melbourne to Devonport) Ocean Yacht Races - ABC News 28/12/2014
2014 ORCV Tassie Trio (Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster and Melbourne to Devonport) Ocean Yacht Races - Channel Seven News 27/12/2014
2014 ORCV Tassie Trio (Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster and Melbourne to Devonport) Ocean Yacht Races - ABC News 27/12/2014
2014 ORCV Cock of the Bay Yacht Race - Channel Seven News 26/12/2014
2014 ORCV Cock of the Bay Yacht Race - Channel Nine News 26/12/2014
2014 ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu International Ocean Yacht Race - Humanitarian Aid
Port Havannah, Vanuatu Primary School kids singing "We're Happy Today" as a thank you for the humanitarian aid provided by 2014 Melbourne to Vanuatu International Ocean Yacht Race entrant TryBooking.com, which included blank diaries, writing pads, pens, pencils. folders, reading books, soft toys, tennis balls (used at the Australian Open), clothing and fabric, toothbrush & toothpaste kits, shampoos, soaps, and make-up. For more details see our Vanuatu Humanitarian Aid Blog.
2013 Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed International Ocean Yacht Race - Channel Nine News 24/03/2013
2012 Melbourne Port Fairy Ocean Yacht Race: Inception rescue - Channel Nine News
Many members will be saddened to learn of the passing of Pauline Lister who was ORCV office manager for some years when we were based at Nott St. Port Melbourne. Following a successful career with ORCV she moved on to a position as Manager with RMYS before moving up-country and interstate, then returning to Melbourne. Pauline kept in touch with her many yachtie friends and will be sadly missed.
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