Job Vacancy - Sailing, Training & General Adminstration

We have an upcoming vacancy in our Albert Park office. Key position within the ORCV team, responsible for the effective planning and delivery of our racing and training programs, alongside general admin to keep the Club running smoothly.A passion for sailing, the ability to work autonomously as well as with various team members to engage positively with our members, partners and supporters? We'd love to talk with you.

To Apply please click here 

Background
The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is one of Australia's preeminent offshore sailing clubs. At the heart of our success are our members and the sailing and training programs we run for them across the calendar year.

The Sailing, Training & General Adminstration role is a key position within the ORCV team, responsible for the effective planning and delivery of our racing and training programs, alongside general admin to keep the Club running smoothly.

So, who will you be working with? Aside from a great team of volunteers and committee members, you will work with

• The Commodore to ensure the smooth running of the Club
• The Sail Captain to plan and manage race set up, compliance and results publication; and
• The Head of Training to plan our well known range of training and capability development courses.   
• You will also have the opportunity to contribute to additional key initiatives such as Women In Sailing and our emerging Clean Oceans Program.

What will it take to be awesome in this role? We think you'll bring

• A passion for sailing; the ability to work autonomously as well as with various team members
• Structure and logic in planning and compliance work; and 
• The ability to engage positively with our members and partners and various external stakeholders. 

You will also have strong PC skills incl Microsoft Office, MYOB, TopYacht (or able to learn) , basic web site editing and a Driver’s License.

Some specific accountabilities include

• Manage, organize and update ORCV business information systems and databases
• Planning and organisation of Racing and Training events
• Maintenance, storage and logistics relating to ORCV assets (ORCV Radio van, Training equipment, Trophies etc)
• Assistance with online race and booking systems 
• Manage and maintain the ORCV office, incl responding to phone calls and Email
• Work closely with the Marketing & Membership Administrator to ensure adequate support for all sailing & training events.
• Provide support & assistance to the ORCV sailing & training teams
• Other miscellaneous tasks as directed by the Commodore/Vice Commodore

If you're up for the challenge, we'd love to talk with you. 

To Apply please click here 

Planning The Return Trip Home

We are very used to taking all precautions before an ocean race, it is so easy to take a more cavalier approach to the trip back home. History shows that the chance of the unexpected on the return passage is high. Often the crew number and experienced level is less than then race crew so all the more reason for careful planning to ensures a safe and enjoyable passage.

Choosing the route and identifying anchorages along the way depends on the time available, personal preferences and the crew number and experience but needs to be carefully integrated with the weather outlook. Short term weather forecasts are so good these days so there is really no excuse for not being able to pick a suitable weather window for the planned route and then keeping in touch with any changing weather conditions once under way is critical.

Conditions do change and having thought through the various “what if” scenarios is prudent. Crews should realise this in advance, and any ensure that their time constraints do not become a limiting factor for the whole passage. If conditions change (as they so often do!) be prepared to change your plans and enjoy some good anchorage time until conditions are suitable to continue your passage.

Staying in touch with shoere-based connections is very important. Radio (HF and VHF ) are always available and mobile phone coverage is usually available for coastal passages.    

Many ocean sailors consider the race a good opportunity to get to a destination that allows them to chance to enjoy a more pleasurable and relaxing cruise back home. However, careful planning for the passage is key to making this a reality!

Join us on a cruise in company up the West Coast of Tasmania.

The Journey

Leave Hobart at 1pm on the 2nd January leaving the DSS after fuelling up down the D'Entrecasteaux Channel to Kettering of or Woodbridge, Then down to Recherche Bay. Inside Maatsuyker Island to Port Davey up to Melaleuca Inlet.

The next leg is up to Macquarie Harbour to Strahan then up the Gordon River St Johns Falls.

For those looking for a shorter trip home you will go straight to Macquarie Harbour

If you would like to join the cruise please send your phone number to Matt Fahey on 0457 797 675

Ten Boats Set to Smash Race Record in 50^th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race

The 50^th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race is set to be one of the most memorable in history with the weather gods sending a late Christmas gift to the fleet, a swift sail to Hobart and potential entry into the race record books.

An updated weather forecast is now showing two previously distinct weather models aligning, presenting the fleet with a solid 30 knot downwind run to Hobart.

Race officials from the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) are now predicting that as many as 10 yachts could beat the current race record of 1 day 17 hour 28 minutes and 59 seconds set by Matthew Short on Shortwave in 2008.

After a spinnaker start in light breeze the weather gurus are expecting the wind to build strongly from the north setting the fleet up for a drag race down the West Coast of Tasmania and across the bottom of Tasmania.

Larger yachts such as Damien King’s Frers 61, MRV, Antony Waltons’s Reichel/Pugh 46, Hartbreaker, Paul Buchholz’s Cookson 50, Extasea and Andrew Jones’s Inglis 47, AdvantEDGE are expected to be the front runners with a projected finishing time of 9pm on Wednesday the 28^th of December.

Race contender Audacious will be looking forward to a swift sail to Hobart in the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2022 Photo credit Richard Bennett

This equates to a race time of 1 day and 9 hours, smashing the race record by more than eight hours.

But the big boats may find they are fighting it out with several of the smaller and lighter teams which will revel in the downwind conditions. Look out for Rob Date’s new Carkeek 43, Scarlet Runner, Brent McKay’s Bakewell-White Z39, Jazz Player, and even sub-40 footers such as Ian Snape’s Cookson 12, Salient.

Maritimo 54 has two races on her hands with skipper Michael Spies racing the Schumacher 54 day and night from the Gold Coast to Melbourne to make the Portsea Pier start line on time, and if she does make it, the late comer will also be in strong contention.

Patriot will be hoping their teamwork and tactics will give them the edge in the 50th Anniversary Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race 2022 Image Michael Currie

The 435 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, organised by the ORCV with the cooperation of the Derwent Sailing Squadron, starts off Portsea Pier at 12pm on 27 December.

For Entry, Notice of Race and List of Entries, please visit: www.orcv.org.au

Jane Austin/ORCV media

RPAYC launches Australian Ocean Racing Championship

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) has launched the new Australian Ocean Racing Championship (AORC) today, an annual event that will be inaugurated with the Bunbury and Return Ocean Race (Western Australian) in February 2023 and conclude with the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart yacht races at the end of 2023.

The Championship is the brainchild of Tony Ellis, a yachtsman who holds the record for racing in the most Sydney Hobarts (53) and who has competed overseas at the America’s, Admiral’s, Kenwood and Congressional Cups with success in all.

The NSW yachtsman felt a need to bring offshore racing enthusiasts from around Australia and New Zealand together in a series based on the classic offshore race courses around the country. The series will decide the Australian Offshore Champion each year.

“I talked through the idea with a few yacht clubs and they were enthusiastic, so here we are, ready to go,” a pleased Ellis said.

Early discussions were held with RPAYC, the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria and Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club. It was resolved by all parties that RPAYC be appointed Organising Authority for the AORC and that Nick Elliott, RPAYC Race Director, would oversee the running of the Championship.

The Championship encompasses events stemming from every state of Australia and comprises 20 major ocean races (see schedule below).

Elliott says, “We’ve had broad discussions over the past six months, including on the structure and what races the Championship should consist of. I think we’ve produced a formula that allows racing yachts from Australia and New Zealand the opportunity to take part.”

The rationale behind the AORC is to encourage diversity of both race courses and competition. It is designed to give yacht owners around the country as much flexibility to race and enjoy their yachts while participating in a first of its kind major competition.

Results from the races will be brought together under the Notice of Series and an annual prize giving will be held each January.

Race organisers wishing to nominate race(s) within their area/region/state shall submit the details of the race to the Organising Authority for consideration prior to 1 December, 2022.

The schedule will be revised from time to time to take into consideration new races that are added to the calendar in coming years.

Start of the Melbourne to Hobart 

Scoring

The Cox Sprague High Point Scoring System CSHPSS shall be used.  A boat's position in the overall results under the primary rating system of each race (IRC, ORC or AMS), after any penalties, shall be applied to the CSHPSS.  

Yachts entering any of the nominated races are automatically entered in the Championship, meaning no work for yacht owners or their representatives. Results will be taken from each race and tabled by Nick Elliott.

SCHEDULE OF RACES 2023

For further information on the AORC, please contact Nick Elliott: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or phone him at: (02) 9998 3704