Planning for a successful Hobart race

With Christmas racing done and dusted, the Geelong and Lincoln regattas behind us, many skippers and yachties thoughts are turning to the year ahead. Some choose a year off, focusing on bay racing. Others set their sights North, heading to Queensland for the various regattas, perhaps doing an ocean race on the way. Many others are focused on doing “a Hobart”.

For many that will be a Sydney to Hobart, for others a Melbourne to Hobart. They are both iconic races and offer different challenges. The Westcoaster has a long history and has the added bonus of two handed if people wish to try that. Some campaigns which lack experience and training involve a two year program with Devonport as the destination year one and Hobart year two. Whatever the plan, a successful campaign is a long term proposition.

Sure it is possible to buy a good boat and stack it with experienced crew and tick off getting there. But we are talking racing, basically doing your very best and finishing knowing you left nothing behind. Some people focus on a podium result, problem is if you don’t get one then people get disappointed. We found focusing on a realistic result and trying to beat that was a more enjoyable approach and any podium result was a bonus. For us it was knowing you sailed well together, had good tactics, made minimal mistakes and were proud of your achievements. For us it was the friendship and comradery, the lifetime bonds formed which were important. That first beer, always together as a crew, proudly wearing the team shirt, that was what it was all about.

Finding crew is tricky, realistically you need every job on the boat being able to be covered by two or more people, that includes navigation etc. Crew need to get along too, so the style of person must match the dynamics of the boat and skipper. Strong, fit, experienced, don’t get seasick, ideally with SSSC and other quals, sounds easy doesn’t it ? We noticed, to attract crew and keep them, you need a long term program for them to commit to. Good crew don’t like ad hoc programs, they tend to sign up to those with a long term program.

Typically for the year ahead, the program lists all the lead up races (ORCV ones of course), these are used to bond and train the crew as well as shake down the gear. A typical yearly program will kick off with the King Island, a relatively short ocean race with a great destination, which is handy to test for basic skills and seasickness. A sprint race to Apollo bay and an opportunity for a longer Port Fairy over Easter perhaps, they are all good testing grounds. Avoid the temptation to tough it out without watches, test them too by trying different ones. Test the 2^nd Watch lead, test the navigator/tactician and of course the trimmers, helm and bow.

By the time it gets to the Stanley race over cup weekend, you should have ideally had a few training days. Everyone should know the basics of a sail change, reefing, navigation and helming. Stanley should be a serious race, a trial run for the Christmas racing. Plus, the added advantage is getting all the compliance stuff like the safety audit out of the way.

Boats don’t just magically get to the start and the finish lines. Maintenance, preparation and deliveries become the shared responsibility. For those lucky enough they can be cheque booked, for most of us it is hard, time consuming work. The question to our crew wasn’t “can you help” but “which days will you help”. Many owners ask for a modest contribution to costs, not only does this help the owner but we noticed that crews felt more ownership of the campaign if they contribute. Don’t underestimate the power of a branded crew shirt, it builds pride and makes people feel part of a team.

And the race itself, well that bit is up to you. It’s a great feeling to cross the start line, and an even better one to cross the finish. Live the dream, if you want to do it we will help.

If you need advice or a hand just ask us at the ORCV.

Medical kit alert

On 20 December 2016, the TGA released its final decision regarding the rescheduling of low-dose Codeine medicines from over-the-counter (OTC) to prescription only. From 1 February 2018, Panadeine (or low dose codeine medications) will be obtained by prescription only. Panadeine now falls under a schedule 4 drug. TGA have released a fact sheet, click here.

What does that mean for you and your boat's medical Kit for Cat 3 -1 ?

In order to obtain Panadeine, ORCV has been in an advantageous position where we have worked with the Department of Human Services and their Drug and Poisons Regulations, pre 2005, and have a PROTOCOL FOR LAWFUL SUPPLY OF SCHEDULE 4 OR SCHEDULE 8 POISONS TO RACING YACHTS IN VICTORIA. Many of you have used this rather than obtain a Doctors script to fulfill your medical kit via the participating pharmacies that are currently listed on our website. Not familiar with this protocol, jump on our website, its under Medical Information on the Safety menu. You can find the protocol document here" http://orcv.org.au/index.php/club/admin-editing/upload-document/safety/3182-supply-of-schedule-4-and-8-medication/file along with a list of participating pharmacies http://orcv.org.au/index.php/sailing/race-documents-forms/707-medical-kit-pharmacist-information. If you know of other pharmacies who would be willing to participate, please let the ORCV office know.

Also from 1 February 2016 Naloxone for treatment of opioid overdose is in Schedule 3 of the Poisons List (pharmacist only medicines). The down-scheduling to Schedule 3 applies to all brands, strengths, presentations and pack sizes of naloxone products. This means a doctor’s prescription is no longer necessary to obtain Naloxone, but it may be obtained upon consultation with a pharmacist. Naloxone, which is given by injection, reverses the effects of opioid drugs such as Morphine and Oxycodone.

For further information please contact Marissa Chalkley, ORCV Safety Officer and Chair of AS Medical Kit or Rosie Collahan, ORCV Chief Medical Officer.

2016-17 Double Handed Offshore Champion announced - Lord Jiminy

The ORCV is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016-17 Double Handed Offshore champions - Lord Jiminy. 

Congratulations to Chris Barlow and Jamie Christensen who proved a formidable team taking out a first place in Double Handed division on the Melbourne to Stanley and Melbourne to Hobart races and a second place in the Melbourne to Port Fairy Race resulting in a three race aggregate score of 4 points.  Lord Jiminy is an entrant in the 2018 Melbourne to Osaka Double Handed Yacht Race, their preparation is first rate and the yacht is performing well.

Well done to Annette and Andrew Hesselmans on Red Jacket who came a close second with an aggregate score of 6 points.  Special mention to Double Trouble and Trybooking.com who also performed well but didnt reach the threshold three race aggregate.

The overall championship has been awarded on PHS results, there were insufficient entries for IRC and AMS for a series result.

The inshore championship results have yet to be finalised, we are waiting on the Winter Series Geelong race, which is the final race in the series.

Thanks to our season sponsors 38 Degrees South and Jeanneau yachts.  This is the first season the ORCV have run a Double Handed Championship series, we will review the season as a whole and look forward to running a modified championsip for the 2017-18 season.

Winter Series will proceed as scheduled

Thanks to a number of last minute entries and a couple of phone call promises, the 2017 Winter series will proceed as scheduled.

We have opened up entries until tomorrow night, please encourage your friends/arch rivals to join in the fun.