Ocean Racing Club of Victoria
Steb Fisher

Select a news topic from the list below, then select a news article to read.

The ORCV Committee needs you

We need you

The ORCV Committee is losing some great people at this years AGM.  We are very sad to see them go but are confident they will join us racing in the future either on a boat or at the finish line.

The Committee needs good people to run effectively and to take it forward into the future. We are looking for people who have a passion for Ocean Racing and would like to help provide the opportunity for others to compete and gain knowledge through our training program.  Committee members help set the direction for the club and help deliver the program of events.

If you would like to join the Committee, please look at our Governance page on the web site and forward your application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

 

AS

Offshore Championship jury decision is published

The ORCV referred the decision on the awarding of the Offshore Championship to an independent Australian Sailing jury.

An ambiguous Notice of Race was published, this was due to an administrative error where the correct updated NoR document was never posted.  The are no excuses, the ORCV apologises to all affected parties and has taken steps to ensure this never happens again.  The result was that the published document could be interpretted in different ways, with each interpretation resulting in a different winner of the championship.

To be fair to all parties, the ORCV referred the issue to an independent Australian Sailing jury for determination.  The results of the determination are publically available, refer ORCV Offshore Championship Request for redress decision.

Congratulations to the winner for three years in a row, Daniel Edwards and the crew of White Noise for taking out the 2017-18 ORCV Offshore Championship.  Daniel is a fiercely competitive skipper with a great crew and it is a well deserved win.  The final series results will be published as part of the AGM, we hope to see you there to help celebrate Daniel and his team's achievements.

 

WhiteNoise

 

 

 

 

Learning from recent incidents, MOB at sea

Platino

Photo courtesy Sail World

There was a good recent article in Sail World (https://www.sail-world.com/news/208089) which reflected on a number of recent fatal incidents at sea involving yachts.

Whilst each incident has individual factors, which we would not like to comment specifically on while investigations are underway, we do make the following observations.

Many incidents involved a person falling overboard, the dreaded Man overboard call we never want to hear.  Mull over on your own boat:

  • What might cause a person to go overboard (gybing, big waves, headsail changes) ?
  • What could you do to avoid that (eg tethers, training, policies) ?
  • What would you do if someone went overboard on your yacht (does your MOB button take time to activate, do people know that) ?
  • Would your crew know what to do (when was the last time you did a real MOB drill, not just pick up a lifering on a nice day) ?
  • How would you locate someone if you lost sight of them (likely at night, rough seas or when your travelling fast) ?
  • How would get them back on board (assuming they were unconcious and heavy) ?

People, process, tools or often a combination of all three approaches may help reduce the risk. 

  • People - clarity of command, training, skills
  • Process - standard policies and procedures, for things like sail changes, gybing, wearing of safety gear and in particular for MOB drills
  • Tools - PFDs, Tethers, MOB buttons, AIS SART units, PLBs

It got us thinking so hopefully flagging this gets you thinking too.  While your thinking, consider our upcoming Safety and Sea Survival Course (SSSC) where we cover this in detail or our SSSC Revalidation course where we run through some recent incident reports.

 

 

Melbourne to Hobart Past Results

The Heemskirk trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the Westcoaster on corrected time using the measurement handicap system with the largest number of entries. Measurement handicap systems have evolved through time. In the past 20 years the most popular measurement handicap systems used in Victoria have been the International Measurement System IMS, The International Measurement System IRC and the Australian Measurement System AMS. For the past 4 years the overall winner has competed under both IRC and AMS rating systems and has been the leader in both of the Measurement Handicap Divisions. Results since 1999 are given below.

The Heemskirk trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the Westcoaster on corrected time using the measurement handicap system with the largest number of entries. Measurement handicap systems have evolved through time. In the past 20 years the most popular measurement handicap systems used in Victoria have been the International Measurement System IMS, The International Measurement System IRC and the Australian Measurement System AMS.  For a number of years, the overall winner also 1st on AMS and IRC. Results since 1999 are given below.

Heemskirk Trophy

 

Overall Winners 

2022 Maritimo USA16 Michael Spies 1st AMS, 1st IRC, 1st ORC, 1st PHS
2021 Faster Forward R6155 Matt Fahey 1st AMS
2020 -   - -
2019 Archie SM35  Jeff Sloan 1st AMS, 1st IRC
2018 Whistler L77 David Alpin 1st AMS, 1st IRC
2017 Alien R880 Justin Brenan 1st AMS, 1st IRC
2016 Cadabarra 8 R420 Paul Roberts 1st AMS, 1st IRC
2015 eXtasea  G4646 Paul Buchholz     1st AMS, 1st IRC
2014 Seduction M406 Richard Nichols  1st AMS, 1st IRC
2013 Tevake II H101 Angus Fletcher   1st AMS, dnc IRC
2012 Tevake II H101 Angus Fletcher   1st AMS, dnc IRC
2011 Alien       R880 Justin Brenan 1st AMS, 2nd IRC
2010 Enchantress SA346 John Muirhead 1st AMS, 1st IRC
2009 Alien       R880 Justin Brenan 1st AMS, 2nd IRC
2008 Shortwave           52052 Mathew Short 1st AMS, 1st IRC   Record Time
2007 Race not run      
2006 A Crewed Interest SM8008 Eddie Ragauskas/ Martin Vaughan Ist AMS, Ist IRC
2005 Quetzalcoatl 2001 Joshua Ey dnc AMS, 1st IRC
2004 Under Capricorn B120 Phil Bedlington   1st AMS, 1st IRC
2003 Wavelength SM220 Keith O’Donnell  1st AMS, dnc IRC
2002 De Je Blue H621 John Nielson 1st AMS, dnc IRC
2001 Island Trader SM7681 John Chatham 1st AMS, 2nd IRC
2000 Tevake  H101 Angus Fletcher 1st AMS, dnc IMS
1999 Cadabarra 7   Nigel Jones Only boat to finish

Between 1972 and 1999 the Heemskirk trophy was awarded to the winner under the premier handicapping system of the day  but the handicapping systems varied and the system applied in any given year was not necessarily in common use nor system with the most entries.                                                   

The Overall winners in this period are listed below.

1998 Back in Business M Sabey 1984 Eastern Morning A J Collins
1997 Island Trader J Chatham 1983 Morning Hustler J H Cowell
1996 Brighton Star D Gotze 1982 Solandra W Escott
1995 Second Term Ian Twentyman 1981 Apollo II J Becher
1994 Scarborough of Cerebus P Briggs 1980 Relentless Niel Searle
1993 By Order of the Secretary F Billings/J Collins 1979 Hot Prospect Niel Searle
1992 Quit for Life J Saul 1978 Hot Prospect Jim Searle
1991 Friction C Laker 1977 Hot Prospect Jim Searl
1990 Paladin Njones/P Sajet 1976 Monsoon J Atwood
1989 Hummingbird R Abikhair 1975 Rovama B J Mercere
1988 Prime Suspect R Abikhair 1974 Pagan R Hare
1987 Challemge 3 E W Wall-Smith 1973 Appaloosa R T Spence
1986 Seaulater P Gourlay 1972 Ailsa J Marion
1985 Solandra R Escott      

 

Results by Division

  AMS ORC Performance Line Honours
2022 Maritimo - M Spies Maritimo - M Spies Maritimo - M Spies Maritimo - M Spies
2021 Faster Forward - M Fahey Audere - J Thring Lord Jiminy - G Leroux Lord Jiminy - G Leroux
  AMS IRC Performance Line Honours
2020 - - - -
2019 Archie - J Sloan Archie - J Sloan Soiree Bleu - D Lithgow Lord Jiminy - G Leroux
2018 Whistler - D Alpin Whistler - D Alpin Whistler - D Alpin Oskana - M Pritchard
2017 Alien - J Brenan Alien - J Brenan Force 11 - Triston Goulay/ Jamie Cooper Spirit of Downunder - L Ford
2016 Cadibarra 8 - P Roberts Cadibarra 8 - P Roberts Cadibarra 8 - P Roberts Cadibarra 8 - P Roberts
2015 eXtasea - P Buchholz eXtasea - P Buchholz eXtasea - P Buchholz eXtasea - P Buchholz
2014 Seduction - R  Nochols Seduction - R  Nochols Seduction - R  Nochols Spirit of Downunder - L Ford
2013 Tevake II - A Fletcher eXtasea - P Buchholz Tevake II - A Fletcher eXtasea - P Buchholz
2012 Tevake II - A Fletcher Bandit - A Trebilcock Tevake II - A Fletcher eXtasea - P Buchholz
2011 Alien - J Brenan eXtasea - P Buchholz Alien - J Brenan eXtasea - P Buchholz
2010 Enchantress - J Muihead Enchantress - J Muihead Enchantress - J Muihead Gusto - Briar Pattinson
2009 Alien - J Brenan Jazz Player - A Lawrence Jazz Player - A Lawrence Jazz Player - A Lawrence
2008 Tevake II - A Fletcher Shortwave - M Short Spirit of Downunder - L Ford Shortwave - M Short
2007 Rudder Cup Centenary - Melbourne Hobart run via Eastcoast only      
2006 A Crewed Interest -E Ragauskas /M Vaughan A Crewed Interest -E Ragauskas /M Vaughan A Crewed Interest -E Ragauskas /M Vaughan No Fearr - M Hannaford
2005 Tevake II - A Fletcher Quetzalcoatal - J Ey By Order of the Secretary - G Shaw Helsal II - B Rawson
2004 Under Capricorn - P Bedlington Under Capricorn - P Bedlington Under Capricorn - P Bedlington Quetzalcoatal - J Ey
2003 Wavelengtth - J McGill Magazan 53 - G Roswell Rumbeat - G Henderson Indic Merit - D Gotze/I Treleaven
2002 De Ja Blue - J Nielsen Magazan 53 - N McGuigan De Ja Blue - J Nielsen Kontrol - P Blake
2001 Island Trader - J Chatham Anaconda - M Contessi San Miguel - G Clapham Kontrol - P Blake
2000 Tevake - A Fletcher Colour Solutions* - J Kellett Anaconda - M Contessi Wild One - g Smith
1999 Cadabarra 7 - N Jones Cadabarra 7* - N Jones Cadabarra 7 - N Jones Cadabarra 7 - N Jones
         
    * IMS - IRC introduced in 2001    
    Both IRC and IMS run in 2001 - IMS won by Tilting at Windmills* - T Gunnersen    
 

The 2018-19 Ocean Racing Season kicks off with the Stanley race, entries are now open

People are excited, the 2018-19 ocean racing season is about to kick off.

White Noise

People are starting to make Christmas racing plans.  Devonport maybe or the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster. Some may even cross to the dark side and do that other race out of Sydney. Regardless a season start typically kicks off with a race to Stanley over the November cup weekend.

The race provides some challenges, with the heads exit, currents and planning an approach which avoids wind effects from the “Nut”. Stanley itself is a great destination, a protected harbour with warm hospitality by the Lions Club. With the town of Stanley not far from the yacht harbour many crews find themselves the next day in the local pub for lunch after presentation and before heading for home.

Stanley is a popular race, an enjoyable race and definitely worth doing. Entries are open now, click here for the Notice of Race or here to enter.

orcv logo reversed

3 Aquatic Drive, Albert Park VIC 3206 Ph. 0493 102 744 E. orcv@orcv.org.au