ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

Light Weather Specialists.

... are going to love the 2010 M2AB race from 0100 on Saturday 15/05/10. Having said all of that, I am very quickly reminding myself of the recent MTH race and the fact that the weather will do precisely what it wants, when it wants... Note to self - plenty of thermals!!! (cold and damp - not good for former ocean yachties with lung issues). Note to catering officer - HOT DRINKS! (and lots thereof).

Wicked is one boast to watch out for... Pic © Steb Fisher

The wind models show the race starting with winds from the NW at around 5knots and by Saturday evening, it has clocked all the way through the Southern quadrants to the NE and is around 10-15knots. There is a 1m sea on top of a 2-3m SW swell. You would want to correlate all that with your Tidetech information, as the clever Naviguessers will have the boat in the right spot at the right time for the Trimmers to get a bit of poke out of the sails. Remember that there is a strong current that runs along the beach here and even extends out to sea a little. Some may even be able to get the light Aces up and working, so I will be very keen to get the onboard intel from the likes of our HCOTW holders, Audacious, Geo and Robyn on The Secretary and of course, Mystery Man on whatever boat he's travelling on.

This anticipated light weather will suit the more modern and lighter boats and so Extasea, Beyond Outrageous and Audacious should no doubt be up front. Wicked will be the one to watch, as she is light and has an experienced crew onboard. Remedy has also got be looked at, as she will represent the smaller boats and if there is the anticipated seabreezes, then she could bring home the handicap bacon. Chikara Outlaw is another boat that will be keen to receive anything, as long as it includes sprung sheets or kites. Of course the B45s have a great rating, so if the crew on Schuss get the boat to sail to rating, then they'll have to be a feature on the scoreboard.

Bombora are joining us for the M2AB.

One of the factors worth mentioning here is the fog. If it get's burnt early, then there'll be an earlier and stronger seabreeze for the afternoon. Where the boats are, relative to the fog clearing, will determine finishing order, just as it did in last year's M2S.

The answer to all of this is fun and games. With so much riding on the results in so many categories, this is bound to be an interesting race.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB)

On the road to Gundagai...

... was how the song went, but this one is a bit different.

I've been involved in deliveries to and from some very exotic locations, so I'm used to a few questioning looks when I say something about moving boats around. However, nothing beats to puzzled expressions as when I said to people that I was driving a boat to Alice Springs. In the end it is quite simple to explain, as is the case with so many things. Very good friends are going fishing in the SW corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria and needed a hand getting the boat up into the Northern Territory. They actually wanted me to go with them, but we have a little season finishing M2AB race to contend with, so my adventure concludes at the airport for the trip in the kerosine canary back to Melbourne and yet more driving, as we get the van down to Apollo Bay for the finish.

This story qualifies as there is a boat involved. Many thanks to Admiral Richard for the excursion. What a country we live in...

There's even large expanses of water, albeit that this one is very shallow and oh so salty.

Land yachting only in this part of the red centre, however.

Now. Back to the racing. There is a lot of interest in our last event of the season, as there are places and trophies/prizes in many categories up for grabs. Perhaps this is why there is a good, strong 28 boat fleet set to march out the Heads at 0100hrs on Saturday morning. The first to get two McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship flags will get the wheel. Lord knows how it will be if one of the previous winners doesn't get another...

In AMS, Alien leads The Secretary and Addiction (whom I don't think are floating again presently) are there too. Extasea or Beyond Outrageous will get onto the podium I suspect. IRC has Alien in front, by more of a margin, then Extasea and The Secretary. Jazz Player and Slinky Malinky look too far out to strike, but there you have those famous last word again... In Performance, Beyond Outrageous leads, just, from Yoko and Slinky Malinky, but Alien and The Secretary are in a position to strike.

If it blows as usual from the SW, then Extasea, Ninety Seven and The Secretary will come into calculations well. Beyond Outrageous and Chikara Outlaw will be praying to get a bag up and they can take Peter Blake's old record with Kaos, if that ends up being the case. Joanne Harpur is back with Spirit of Freya and another MLS competitor and now skipper is Kathryn de Garis, who'll be bringing Allegresse out for a spin.

The Dark Horse would have to be the Welsh's with their B First 40, Wicked. Out for swing too is our current HCOTW holders, Audacious and returning after a spell are Malcolm and the gang on Caledonia. What will their job descriptions be this time???? Schuss is coming along, as too is another boat that's been all over these pages, Remedy. Joining the previous Offshore Champions, Extasea, as an entrant from Geelong is Gigi. Good to see that happening! Sentimental vote is the old Cole 43, Full Circle. On the nose and with a bit of squirt, she'll be one of the more comfortable rides, just like the Bus (aka Bacardi).

Will it be mild, will it be blowing? Who knows, but don't let it blow too much, or it will blow away the opportunity for some very tight finishing to the season with it.

Yeah, yeah. There'll be more soon. I think.

By John Curnow

Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB) 15/05/10

Bananarama.

Had a hit with I heard rumour. Now so did I, just last night in fact, so I went to check it all out. Here are the facts.

As technology has moved on, the requirement for every vessel in the 2010 M2AB to have a functioning HF radio, has been removed for this race only, to see if this in turn makes ocean racing more accessible. It certainly removes around a $10k bill. Your VHF signal is now repeated all along the wonderful Surfccoast. There is also good Telstra 3G coverage for this stunning part of Victoria. Optus 3G have certain coverage there and then the other carriers fade away. You can hire a satphone too!

So if you're thinking about going and sticking your nose in it (Bass Strait that is), then this has to be for you. The 2010 M2AB race is now just Cat3, not Cat3+, as per previous years. The boat will need an EPIRB, but you don't need PLBs. Prudent Skippers will partake in the next Rip Tour on April 18, as there has been a few changes to lights etc., in recent times.

You'll also need to read the Blue Book and ensure you are Cat3 compliant. BTW, that means no liferaft is required, either, which is yet another saving. You can get assistance from experienced and qualified persons like Simon Dryden, call 0418 145 909 to sort that one out. We may even be able to find a mentor who will travel with you, to make it that much easier again. Of course, Sally and Dennis in the ORCV office will also be really glad to help you out, too.

Tell everyone please... This would be a classic starter ocean race for my perennial go-to boat, Crackerjack. Go get 'em organised Wally. David may be able to get a few motivated from HBYC too! I'm sure Chris will talk it up, as well.

The beach at Apollo Bay is lovely, so too is the seafood.

The boat pictured here is Peter Blake's Kaos, which is now Matrix. She still holds the M2AB record at five hours and 24 minutes from 1999!!! Come out and break it. Not quite so long ago as dear old Bananarama, but long enough. I heard a rumour was released in 1987! Yikes!!!!!

Forget the Seppo spelling, how's the outfits????

Click HERE for the Rip Tour of April 18, 2010

Click HERE soon to go and get the NOR, which will be available shortly.

By John Curnow

Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB) and

Melbourne Offshore Championship (MOC)

Done! Dusted!...

...engraving goes on the trophy.

They've worked hard all year - well done 'Extasea'. Pic courtesy of Terri Dodds.

So then, in the process of officially cancelling the Melbourne to Apollo Bay (M2AB), the Melbourne Offshore Championship (MOC) was also decided. The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Race Director, Simon Dryden explained, "We just could not find a suitable weekend to run this race. There's the ORCV Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS), the Women's Keelboat Regatta and of course, the ever-popular Melbourne Winter Series (MWS) starts on July 5 with the annual flare firing. This is where the ORCV has arranged with the necessary authorities for sailors to learn and reacquaint themselves with the use of both parachute and hand-held flares. It certainly is a bit of a spectacle."

In the end, the 2008/2009 MOC standings are: IRC 1. 'Extasea' - Paul Buchholz 2. 'Ninety Seven' - Alan Saunders 3. 'Spirit of Downunder' - Laurie For AMS 1. 'Extasea' - Paul Buchholz 2. 'Addiction' - Richard McGarvie 3. 'Spirit of Downunder' - Laurie Ford   'Addiction' was one of the boats aiming to do well in M2AB and thereby improve their Championship aspirations.
and PHC 1. 'Mirrabooka' - David Bingham 2. 'Spirit of Downunder' - Laurie Ford 3. 'Chikara Outlaw' - Bill Trueman and Jo Norbury   David Bingham will accept another trophy soon for the PHC Division of the MOC to add to this one earned at M2PF

No surprises then, that Paul Buchholz and the very accomplished crew of 'Extasea' win the 2008/2009 MOC and in doing so get their name on the cabinet that holds the magnificent etched glass vase, that is the trophy for this revered Championship for the second year in a row.

By John Curnow