The Role  

Leading the planning and delivery of ORCV marketing, events and membership engagement activities, yours is a key role in promoting ORCV membership, programs and member engagement. 

Working with the Chair of the Marketing Committee you will design and structure creative initiatives to grow membership levels and participation in ORCV events and training. You will work across a wide range of marketing mix elements from managing the digital presence of ORCV through to on-ground event delivery with various stakeholders around Port Phillip Bay and with our partner clubs in Tasmania.

A hands-on role, you will develop targeted, impactful initiatives that draw potential members to the organisation; positively position ORCV amongst the Victorian sporting community; and deepen member interest and engagement in our various programs. You will also engage and nurture our sponsor partners.

Throughout the year you may be asked to support either the Sailing or Training teams during peak times. And you will support the General Administrator from time to time by assisting with administration and other duties as required develop and grow the member base.

About You   

Proactive and pragmatic, you work well with a wide range of stakeholders towards a common goal. Your interest in sailing lends creative ideas to how you might communicate with and engage different audiences. You have a flair for event planning and know how to work with others to create great experiences for members. 

You will have several years’ experience in hands-on marketing & communications roles and have managed events of different sizes. An ‘outside the square box thinker’, you have a strong understanding of social media channel engagement, and great written communication skills. You will be comfortable working with a wide range of very different stakeholders and as the “voice” of the ORCV out to our members and various stakeholder groups, you will reflect the values and culture of the club.  

About Us   

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is the offshore sailing partner for all Bay clubs. We run a large program of sailing and training events throughout the year, and pride ourselves on our member focus. Working together with organisations as diverse as Australian Sailing and the Coast Guard, we enable Victorian sailors to experience the exhilaration and joy of racing offshore, and developing the knowledge and skills to do so safely.

The ORCV has implemented systems to support working remotely, however we prefer at least one day per week in the office. The club has a committee, a large volunteer base, many members and numerous race participants.

Head over to Seek to read more about the role and how to apply https://www.seek.com.au/job/59064969?tracking=TMC-SAU-eDM-SharedJob-13246

60th Celebration of QCYC invitation for ORCV Sailors

Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club send heartfelt commiserations to the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, who with a calendar for a bumper year ahead and the best laid plans, has been thwarted by the unseasonal havoc of our current weather patterns.

The ORCV Rudder Cup Race from Queenscliff to Devonport (Tasmania) scheduled for 28 October was cancelled two days ago due to unsuitable weather conditions, a significant blow for all boats entered who were relying on the race to provide a qualifying journey to compete in the 50th Melbourne Hobart Westcoaster Race on Boxing Day 2022.

As QCYC will be celebrating their 60th year celebrations on Sunday 30 October, QCYC warmly invites all ORCV crews to jump on board to compete in their annual ‘in the bay’ Goorangai Memorial Trophy passage race from Brighton to Queenscliff on Saturday 29 October and stay on to enjoy the festivities on Sunday 30 October with the Opening Day ceremony, Blessing of the Fleet and free luncheon.

This year’s traditional Goorangai Trophy also includes a new division for female helms, the inaugural Eliza Ramsden Trophy, providing opportunity for female helms to compete and get some helming time in

With ORCV crews prepped and ready to test out their teams and skills, don’t miss this weekend’s opportunity to get out on the water, have a dry bunk, no headsail changes overnight and like all good destination races, a party to celebrate with other sailors at the end of the journey.

Goorangai and Eliza Ramsden races commence 0930hrs off Royal Brighton Yacht Club. For all ORCV boats competing, Late entry fee has been waived and fee will be $25 per boat. All boats competing will receive free overnight berthing on QCYC wharf on 29 October. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are now available on QCYC website.

Come and join us!

Commodore Lee Renfree

Ian McKenzie Trophy Awarded

The memorial Ian McKenzie Trophy, was awarded last weekend to Mark Cunnington, Skipper of the yacht Panacea, a Beneteau 40.7. This trophy is awarded to less experienced sailor for their achievement in getting to offshore sailing.

Mark has amplified this throughout the Beyond the Bay course and his final offshore passage with the Longitude Coastal Passage. Ian was a huge contributor to ocean racing here in Victoria, introducing many sailors to sailing in Bass Strait and to Tasmania onboard his yacht Supertramp R1080, with many sailors owing their start to offshore sailing to Ian's encouragement. .

Congratulations Mark Cunnington.

Photo ORCV Media. Panacea Crew 

Under the stars, a navigation challenge 

Last weekend a fleet of 15 entrants sailed all night in the ORCV Overnight Challenge on Port Phillip Bay. “A race that offered a bit of everything, in perfect conditions” commented Andrew Neeson, skipper of Runnalls 39 “Jaffa and overall winner.

Jaffa crew development of crew and overall winners photo Andrew Neeson

As we head into the next offshore sailing season, the Overnight Challenge provided a training platform for skippers and crew in the ORCV ‘Beyond the Bay’ program to develop night sailing skills.

Over 18 hours, the challenge requires crews to use strategy, manage navigation, and crew watches ensuring their boat is optimal to gain challenge points. Choosing from one of four possible starting points the crews can pick up quick points to get a good head start, making the most of the start conditions before coming together and sailing a common course to the finish line. Points are awarded based on the distance travelled for their handicap and points are removed for those late to arrive to enjoy the hospitality of Hobsons Bay Yacht Club’s breakfast.

Hobsons Bay Breakfast as the fog lifted Photo ORCV Media

“It was definitely a challenge that offered ‘one with the lot” said Andrew Neeson “we started just off Royal Brighton Yacht Club in perfect twelve knot breezes with spinnakers up. Overnight it was warm with clear skies and only six knots of wind, which changed to pea soup fog just around dawn.”

“Quite simply, it was a great challenge to develop the crew skill for night sailing before attempting an offshore race” explained Andrew “Jaffa is a boat that can’t take passengers and was a great taste for what it’s like to sail nonstop.” We set up “watches and using all the safety gear of jackstays, tethers we ran the boat overnight as we would on a longer offshore race.” Added to this Andrew explained, “it’s a two-year program that we are running through building crew as we move to a more local crew base from Jaffa’s previous WA based crew.”

Sunrise from Bushranger Photo Nick Darlow

Mark Cunnington, part of the ORCV’s ‘Beyond the Bay ‘program and skipper of the Beneteau 40.7 ‘Panacea’ summed up their experience as “in a different league to other programs I’ve done. The practical application such as this challenge and that hands on practical and building in knowledge, really makes the difference.”

“Planning, provisioning, looking at the risks and running shifts throughout the night made our night go so fast” Mark explained further. “Having our mentor, Edel on board was awesome, and a real comfort as she kept an eye on things with sail trim, tactics, I think even when she was resting.”

“We had a great crew who really were buzzing on the way home having successfully completed their first full night of sailing and who now are really looking forward to that next practical day with the short coastal passage out of the heads.” finished Mark.

Panacea crew all joyous after their first all night sailing challenge Photo Mark Cunnington

If you would like to join our next ORCV training coastal passage on October 22nd with the Longitude Coastal Passage, entries will open this week. Entry to the passage is complimentary with entries closing Wednesday October 19th 2022 here

Results of the Overnight Challenge are: 

Overall: 1st Jaffa R39 (Skipper Andrew Neeson) 2nd Yolla R1030 (Skipper Patrick Clarke), 3rd Aileron R6785 (Skipper Leo Cantwell)

BTB crews: 1st Panacea 80808 (Skipper Mark Cunnington) 2nd Bushranger SM404 (Skipper Nick Darlow) 3rd Pizazz SM7308 (Skipper Michael Vandertop)

Special prizes awarded to: Safari, the most enthusiastic participants, Ariel 11 for the shortest crew and Liberte the newest ORCV participant

Inadvertent Beacon Activations Investigation 

Do you know what an inadvertent beacon activation (IA) is? Have you ever experienced one personally or observed one on yachts you hIve sailed on? Equally, and as importantly, have you seen articles from Australian Sailing on Digital Selective Calling (DSC), followed by Accidental PLB Activation along with an article written by MAST published in Boatwise, Monitoring VHF Radio and False EPIRB activations? Chances are the answer is NO! 

Over recent years significant effort has been invested by AMSA, Australian Sailing, and others to raise awareness of issues leading to inadvertent activations and the costly implications when one occurs. 

During last December’s marquis races CYCA’s Sydney to Hobart and ORCV’s Melbourne Hobart "Westcoaster" there were more than a dozen IAs. How can there be so many false alarms in our top line races with the cream of ocean racing crews participating? If these yachts cannot sail free from false alarms what hope is there for lesser calibre racers and cruising yachts? 

The inadvertent activations resulting from racing or returning from these events had major ramifications. You will all be aware that line honours in the Sydney to Hobart changed on protest. Another yacht required an aircraft flyover to verify the vessel was safe. In both instances the cause of problem was noted as not maintaining proper radio watch. In fact, their radio watch would not have been an issue had they had not had an inadvertent activation of a PLB on board requiring AMSA to contact them. 

In January this year the ORCV established a Special Investigation Group to investigate the causes of inadvertent activations of PLBs, EPIRBs, DSC, and AIS MOB during the December races and, more broadly, in past ORCV races. A significant number of yachts were investigated in detail. Some of the PLBs involved were sent to ACR in the USA, for testing. AMSA provided significant data and insights on these incidents. 

The ORCV SIG Report has been released with a copy found here. It makes significant recommendations to reduce inadvertent activations. The current methods marketing the topic to yachties has not worked and we need to change the situation. Clearly, those who need to hear the message are not getting it! 

Please review the report raise your awareness of Inadvertent Beacon Activations. 
Bruce Reidy (Investigator on inadvertent activations for the ORCV SIG)