ocean racing club victoria

• 2025 Apollo Bay Race Entries Open!

  2025 Apollo Bay Race Entries Open!

  

  Photo by Aaron Cole

  The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) is excited to announce that entries are now open for the 2025 Apollo Bay Ocean Yacht Race, a Category 3 race that will take place on 24 May 2025. This 52-nautical-mile coastal race starts at Queenscliff at 4:00 a.m., leading yachts out of Port Phillip Heads and along the scenic coast to Apollo Bay.

  Early bird registration is open until 3 May 2025, and entries close on 14 May 2025.

  A Perfect Race for All Levels

  Ideal for both seasoned sailors and newcomers to ocean racing, the Apollo Bay Race offers a shorter course that remains close to the shoreline. Strategic decisions—such as choosing between an offshore route or hugging the coast in search of favorable winds—often determine the race's outcome. As the final ocean race of the season before winter starts, it frequently plays a pivotal role in deciding the ORCV Coastal Championship.

  The Apollo Bay Race boasts a rich history, with its inaugural run on December 26, 1954. The current race record stands at 5 hours, 24 minutes, and 4 seconds, set by KAOS under the leadership of Peter Blake in 1999.

  How to Enter the 2025 Apollo Bay Race

  If you are interested in participating in the 2025 Apollo Bay Race, you can now submit your entries. Just click here for detailed information on race documents and the entry process.

  Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a storied event that combines competition, strategy, and the natural beauty of eastern Victoria's coastline.​
• ORCV Women, they're part of the blueprint 

  ORCV Women, They're Part of the Blueprint

  When we think about yacht racing, our minds usually jump to the rush of the start gun, the tension on the helm, the salt spray flying off the bow. But for every boat that crosses the start line, there’s a team of people behind the scenes making sure it can all happen—safely, smoothly, and with a whole lot of heart.

  That’s exactly who we’re celebrating with the ORCV’s upcoming Women’s Helm, Navigator and Radio Race on July 26th. Yes, it’s about women at the wheel—but it’s also about the ones checking boats in, logging finish times, monitoring safety, and capturing every magic moment on camera.

  This isn’t just about racing. It’s about representation. It’s about stepping up, saying yes, and discovering just how much you can contribute—whether you’ve sailed around the world or only just learned your port from your starboard.

  Vicki Bayly – Calm on the Radio, Sharp with a Stopwatch

  Vicki didn’t set out to become a race operator. She thought she’d try cruising. But when someone suggested that racing was the fastest way to learn, she gave it a go—and never looked back.

  Now she’s the voice you’ll hear checking boats in, tracking their progress, and calling them across the finish line. She’s been trained to run races in 40-knot conditions and won the ORCV’s 2022 Race Operator Award. For this race, she’ll be up early and on the start boat with her notebook and VHF, noting positions and recording times.

  “I didn’t mean to get into racing,” she says, laughing. “But it made me fall in love with it. It brings every bit of you into action. It’s calm. It’s exciting. It’s rewarding—and you don’t need to know everything to start.”

  Vicki came through ORCV’s KISS (Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy) program and is a passionate advocate for other women to give it a try. “If there’s a gap, I like to have a go,” she says. “Doing is the only way to learn.”

  

  Vicki in the 60^th Sea Pilots 30 March 2025 (provided by Vicki)

  Marg Goddard – Watching Over Every Boat

  Marg doesn’t crave the spotlight. You’ll usually find her behind the scenes, quietly monitoring a race via MarineTraffic, listening to VHF updates, and ready to step in if anything goes awry. She’s been part of the ORCV’s Incident Management Team since 2022—but her journey began years earlier at a dinghy club, when helping out in the race box gave her a whole new perspective.

  “Being behind the scenes helps you become a better sailor,” she says. “You learn the flags, the rules, how races really work—and you see just how much support\goes into it all.”

  A retired teacher and chaplain, Marg brings emotional intelligence and calm problem-solving to everything she does. And while she’s quick to point out that “it’s not for everyone,” she also says, “if you’re good with admin, dealing with people, and thinking on your feet—there’s a place for you.”

  Marg has been mentored by some of the best, including Rik Head and Vanessa Twigg, and says she’s never felt alone. “There’s always someone to guide you. And that’s the beauty of this kind of volunteering—you learn, you grow, and you give back.”
   

  Marg at the helm in the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta 2019 (photo provided by Marg)

  Cas Bukor – Finding the Heartbeat Through Her Lens

  Cas took up sailing at 65. Now 68, she’s a regular on the water—camera in hand, eye on the action. A professional graphic designer turned award-winning photographer, Cas combines her creative eye with her newfound love of sailing to capture the sport in its rawest, most joyful form.

  “When people see themselves out on the water—boat heeled over, sails full, grinning from ear to ear—it means something. It becomes part of their story,” she says.

  This will be her first official shoot for the ORCV, and she couldn’t be prouder. “Vicki invited me to come aboard, and I feel like I’ve found my people. I’ve found my place....Sailor Girl is also my inspiration..."

  Cas won Photo of the Year at the Williamstown Camera Club for her photo of the Festival of Sails Regatta and created a local Williamstown calendar—but she’s just as happy with an iPhone as a DSLR. “Use what you’ve got,” she says. “What matters is showing up and being present.”
  
  

  

  Cas' winning Williamstown Camera Club photo "Racing"of the startline for the Festival of Sails 2024. Boat in foreground is Smuggler.

  

  Cas (R) and with Sailor Girl at the Festival of Sails. 

  Catherine North – From Round-the-World Racer to Race Director

  Catherine North has sailed around the world—literally. As a 2017–18 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crew member, she knows what it means to step up, dig deep, and go the distance. Now, as she sets her sights on the Melbourne to Osaka Race, she’s embracing a new challenge: stepping into leadership as a Race Director.

  For the upcoming Women’s Helm, Navigator and Radio Race, Catherine is helping run the show—from pre-race briefings to finish logs, safety oversight to skipper communications. “It’s easy to showcase women on boats—and that’s important,” she says. “But we also need to showcase women in leadership roles. Running races. Giving out the prizes. That’s where the real change happens.”

  Her journey into race management has been guided by the mentorship from the likes of Rik Head and David Schuller. “They’ve been generous with their time and knowledge,” she says. “It’s a steep learning curve, but I’m loving every minute of it.”

  Catherine’s message is clear: representation matters—and not just on the water. “I want to show women that we’re in the club. That we do things. It’s important that the club talks the talk by having women in positions of authority.”

  Race directing, she says, isn’t all high-octane starts and dramatic finishes. “You need to be detail-oriented. There’s a lot of time sitting in the van, watching boats come in. It can be monotonous—but it’s also deeply rewarding. You're the one making sure everyone gets home safely.”

  While prior sailing knowledge helps, it’s not essential. “You’ll get trained. You’ll learn as you go. What matters is being aware—aware of where the boats are, what’s happening, and what needs to happen next. It’s a chance to learn the other side of sailing.”

  Having crewed around the world, Catherine is now focused on developing her own sailing leadership skills. The Melbourne to Osaka race will be her first as skipper, and she’s soaking up everything she can. “Race directing is helping me understand the safety side, the logistics, the broader picture. I’ll take that back to the boat.”

  More than anything, Catherine is about empowerment—creating environments where people can stretch themselves and discover just how capable they really are. “That’s the greatest thing I’ve learned: we are stronger than we realise, when someone gives us the space to grow. I want other women to experience that.”

  Her advice? “Talk to the people doing it. Talk to the club. Ask questions. You’ll find there’s a huge amount of support. Just put your name down—you won’t regret it.”
  
  

  L-R Rik Head (back of photo), Catherine North, David Schuller (front) at the 2024 Devonport Race

  Be Part of the Team That Makes It Happen

  Whether it’s on the radio, behind a camera, tracking boats online, or helping hand out trophies—this race is a celebration of what’s possible when women step up behind the scenes.

  You don’t need a lifetime of sailing experience. You don’t need expensive gear. You don’t even need to know how to tie a bowline (yet). You just need curiosity, a bit of courage—and a willingness to give it a go.

  👉 Want to volunteer? Visit orcv.org.au There’s a spot waiting for you.

  Because the real magic of sailing? It’s made by the people who care enough to show up.

• Sailing instructions for the ORCV Winter Series have been published.

  We are well underway with our preparations for this year’s ORCV Winter Series, which commences on Saturday 22ndJune, 2019, and we hope you and your team join will join us for what is set to be our best winter series yet.

  We are pleased to inform you that the Sailing Instructions for this year’s series are now finalised and published on our website, and can be downloaded here

  Similar to last year, Race One is our Short Passage Race with at Tower Start from RMYS. Races Two to Four commence via a Tower Start from RBYC, with race details outlined in the Sailing Instructions. Race Five will commence simultaneously from several different locations, designed to offer convenience to each participant from all around the Bay. 

  Remember, you can now enter the full series, or join us for the individual races that suit your winter schedule.

  Registration for Series Entry and Race One Entry can be found Here:https://www.orcv.org.au/online-entry-winter

  We have also scheduled two return races from our Blairgowrie and Geelong destination events. The Women’s Skippers and Navigators Race (WSNR) will be run on Sunday 7th July, 2019 as a return from Blairgowrie, and a Novice Skippers Race will be run on Sunday 1st September, 2019 as a return from Geelong. 

   

  2019 ORCV Winter Series Dates:

  22nd June 2019- Race One (RMYS - Short Passage Race).

  6th July, 2019 – Race Two (RBYC Start - Blairgowrie Passage Race).

  7th July, 2019 - WSNR (Blairgowrie to SYC)

  3rd August 2019 – Race Three(RBYC - Short Passage Race).

  31st August 2019 – Race Four (RBYC Start - Geelong Passage Race).

  1st September 2019 – Novice Skippers Race (Geelong to RBYC)

  14/15th September 2019 – Overnight Navigator’s Challenge (Various Start Locations – HBYC Finish)

   

  The divisions available for this year’s Winter Series are as follows: 

  • Monohull: IRC, AMS and PHS

  • Women’s: PHS

  • Double-Handed: IRC, AMS, PHS

  • Multihull: PHS

  • Cruising: PHS (non-spinnaker )

  • 4 + Autohelm for all monohull divisions

   If you any questions, please contact ORCV Race Champion This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..