Double Handed Joker on Tourer wins tough Melbourne to Port Fairy Ocean Race

Double-handed Joker on Tourer, Grant Chipperfield’s Elliott 1250 Tourer, has won the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) tough and gruelling 2023 Melbourne to Port Fairy yacht race, while Andrew Neeson’s Jaffa took line honours.

smaller Joker on Tourer winner of the tough ORCV Port Fairy Race. Photo Steb FisherJoker on Tourer winner of the tough ORCV Port Fairy Race. Photo Steb Fisher

Jaffa crossing the finish in Port Fairy Photo Arnold BrianJaffa crossing the finish in Port Fairy Photo Arnold Brian

“We knew from the start it was going to be a tough race” explained Chipperfield. “You need to do these sorts of races every now and then to prepare your boat and help sort things out and learn how to manage these conditions. The boat is well set up for double-handed racing so there are not a lot of sail changes needed and the physical side comes down to tacking and reefing”.

“As we headed out of the heads, the breeze was 30 degrees more east than our route had predicted. We started out flying the code zero and managed to get it goose-winged before changing to the headsail in preparation for the wind building which allowed us to quickly flip it over and overtake 4 boats as the wind built.”

winners 2Joker on Tourer winner Photo ORCV

“We thought this would be a race of 2 parts. Slow tacking into the wind to Cape Otway and then as we rounded the Cape, we could crack the sheets for a nice reach to the finish.” Chipperfield continued “As we rounded Cape Otway, we found the wind was still westerly and on the nose, where we saw winds of 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots with a decent swell, especially as we passed the Twelve Apostles landmark.”

Grant went on to say “I must admit that as we approached Apollo Bay, I did think the pub was looking good there, as the race at this point was gruelling, challenging ...and wet – but a good one to gain experience from as we set up our campaign and look towards Osaka in 2025.”

Lillian Stewart on the bow at the start of the Port Fairy Race Photo Cyrus AllenLillian Stewart on the bow at the start of the Port Fairy Race Photo Cyrus Allen

Tasmanian crew members Lillian Stewart onboard ORCV Commodore, Cyrus Allen’s, Beneteau First 50, White Spirit commented, “I loved the race, if you're doing offshore racing the Port Fairy had all the elements to make it fantastic, sometimes scary but in the best ways and totally exhausting but that’s what we do offshore racing for. Arriving into Port Fairy, which is stunningly beautiful and being cheered in by the club members, now that’s special and that’s why we do destination racing for me, so thank you Port Fairy Yacht Club.”

Joker arrives into Port Fairy Photo PFYCJoker arrives into Port Fairy and will now retired to a life of cruising.  Photo ORCV

Joker on Tourer will be retired now to a cruising life as Grant Chipperfield and Peter Dowdney prepare Joker X2, their new J133 boat and start the campaign with the upcoming double-handed race and 70th Apollo Bay in May, in preparation for the Osaka 2025

Race Results:

Overall Winner – Joker on Tourer (MY1250), Grant Chipperfield, 1st on ORC, AMS, PHS and Double Handed

2nd on ORC, AMS, PHS and Line honours, Jaffa, Andrew Neeson (R39)

Full results can be found here https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2022-23/2023M2PF/series.htm?ty=23566

Entries to the May Double Handed race and the 70th Apollo Bay race are open here www.orcv.org.au

Sunday, 09 April 2023 14:21

Double Handed Joker on Tourer wins tough Melbourne to Port Fairy Ocean Race Double-handed Joker on Tourer, Grant Chipperfield’s Elliott 1250 Tourer, has won the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) tough and gruelling 2023 Melbourne to Port Fairy yacht race, while Andrew Neeson’s Jaffa took line honours. Joker on Tourer winner of the tough ORCV Port Fairy Race. Photo Steb Fisher Jaffa crossing the finish in Port Fairy Photo Arnold Brian “We knew from the start it was going to be a tough race” explained Chipperfield. “You need to do these sorts of races every now and then to prepare your...

Friday, 07 April 2023 16:32

2023 Port Fairy Race Updates   Race Update - Jaffa, the first boat finished Congratulations to Jaffa, skippered by Andrew Neeson taking line honours in the 2023 Port Fairy Yacht Race, finishing the race at 2:50:54 on Saturday 8th April.   Race Update 11am – From the Race Directors on the Great Ocean Road. With intermittent sunshine and mist and arriving on the Great Ocean Road around the Bay of Isles, the Race Directors have spotted the leading boats, Jaffa leading and under close chase by handicap leader Joker of Tourer. Since rounding Cape Otway, all...

Tuesday, 04 April 2023 21:30

A Warm Welcome from the Port Fairy Yacht Club Hi Port Fairy race entrants, Firstly a big welcome to all the entrants in the Port Fairy yacht race from myself and all our committee and members of the PFYC. We realize the challenges in racing to Port Fairy and want to make this a rewarding experience for all that arrive in our harbour. The PFYC has hosted and competed in this event for many years, and will reinstate our reputation as a great host club this year and into the future. What we will offer is as follows, We will allocate berths for each yacht and will have tenders and rescue...

Saturday, 03 April 2021 14:26

Light Conditions make for a very challenging race Carrera S (AUS49005) a Marten 49, skippered by Gerry Cantwell takes 1st on AMS and PHS plus line honours in the 2021 ORCV Port Fairy race in what Gerry sums it up “as a very challenging race. It wasn’t a physical race and I must say and I don’t think I’ve ever had a race where the deck stay dried and was so comfortable. For the first few hours after the start, we found ourselves in a pack with Tevake II and Alien and it was frustrating trying to get away and find what breeze there was in the very light conditions.” As the boats come to...

Thursday, 01 April 2021 19:35

Tevake II crew honour Angus and Holly in the 2021 Port Fairy Yacht Race Tevake II crew at Queenscliff and ready to race tomorrow. It’s great to see TEVAKE II back in an ocean race, sailed by TEVAKE II family in honour of owner/skipper Angus Fletcher.   The crew of Tevake II are seasoned sailors although this race to Port Fairy has mixed feelings for them all, the first race since the passing of Angus. “We had planned the HBYC Sea Pilots race to be the celebratory race for Angus but that was cancelled with the recent Covid – 19 lockdown. Both Angus and Holly...

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