ORCV finds perfect partnership with ‘Save the Children’

Photo Courtesy: ORCV

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) is pleased to announce it has partnered with Save the Children, the charity founded in 1919 whose vision is for children around the world to attain the right to survival, protection, development and participation - and the Club feels that sailing is the perfect fit for this charity.

“Each year, ORCV sailors take on one of the greatest challenges on earth, testing their wits, skills and courage in a race across some of the harshest oceans. At the same time, children around the world are experiencing even more dangerous challenges,” ORCV Commodore, Martin Vaughan, says.

“Save the Children, the Club’s Official Charity Partner, is a great catalyst for the sailing community to come together and give back, a partnership that provides benefits to all involved. ORCV has set a target of $1,000 per yacht, with the hope of helping as many children as possible.”

From 26-31 December 2018, ORCV fleets will set sail in the Melbourne to Hobart (Westcoaster), Cock of the Bay and Melbourne to Devonport races.

It is a first opportunity for every boat, every sailor’s family, friends and work colleagues to make an impactful difference by raising money for the global charity. It takes as little as $10 to buy 50 bottles of water purification solution - enough to make 5,000 litres of clean and safe drinking water – something we take for granted.

And, says Save the Children Corporate Partnerships Executive, Emily Dienhoff
“Save the Children will invite one crew member of the yacht that raises the highest amount (over $5,000) to join their annual remote trip in Australia, to see first-hand the impact your donations can make.”

For donations to please visit: https://melbournetohobart2018.raisely.com

With entries already flowing in for the three major events around Christmas, the time is ripe for competitors to donate.

ORCV Rear Commodore, Justin Brenan, is among those headed south in the 440 nautical mile Melbourne to Hobart. As defending champion with his Lidgard 36, Alien, there was no way he would miss the race this year.

Brenan will be hard to beat, having also won the 2009 and 2011 races, but he and the rest of the fleet will come up against a new foe from Tasmania, one with a full trophy cabinet. Oskana is Michael Pritchard’s canting Cookson 50 and her rivals should be on guard.

To give you a clue, Pritchard is a man who feels the need for speed. He is a regular Targa rally driver who took line honours in last year’s Maria Island Race, and is lining up again for the 16 November race – which will be telling.

Pritchard bought 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner last year. As Evolution Racing, it won line honours and won the 2007 Sydney Gold Coast race overall. Renamed Jazz, it finished second overall in the 2010 Sydney Hobart and placed fourth to win Division 0 in 2011. This is just a snapshot and Oskana will no doubt be the benchmark boat.

Some others headed to Hobart are doing so double-handed or have opted for ‘Four + Autohelm', meaning four crew and an autohelm, introduced by the ORCV in July.

Rod Smallman finished the ORCV’s double-handed Melbourne Osaka Yacht Race earlier this year and can’t think of a better way to do the Melbourne to Hobart. Tom Vaughan is his co-skipper. Vaughan, who turned 22 on Monday, is the son of Commodore, Martin Vaughan.

Photo Courtesy: ORCV

“It’s challenging sailing two up, that’s what I love about it,” says Smallman, whose Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 bears the ideal name - Maverick. “You’ve got a three or four day race in which you’re guaranteed a bit of everything from no wind to harsh conditions. Sometimes we snare a podium place, sometimes we don’t, but we enjoy trying.

“You’re virtually sailing single-handed, because each one has to have some rest,” explains Smallman, who has sailed with Tom in the past. “We’ll do the Latitude Series in late November to get up to scratch,” he says.

The Victorian sailor says they will have ding-dong battle with fellow Melbourne-Osaka competitor, Annette Hesselmans, who has entered an all-women crew on Red Jacket in 4 + Autohelm: “We had close racing with them in the Melbourne Osaka. We swapped positions four or five times over the last half of the race and even crossed tacks with them coming up to the finish.”

Smallman reckons there is nothing like the finish in Hobart. “There is nothing finer than coming up Storm Bay and arriving in Hobart. At the end, sailing in front of the Taste of Tasmania is awesome. We arrived during the day and the cheer went up. When they realised we were sailing two-up, the cheer got louder. It’s the greatest feeling.”

In the lead-up to all three races, the Club has organised Safety and Sea Survival, Revalidation and other courses, which can be found on the ORCV site.

For Notice of Race and entry, please go to: http://www.orcv.org.au/for-competitors/nor

For all ORCV information, please go to: www.orcv.org.au

Di Pearson/ORCV media