ORCV Melbourne to Geelong (M2G on 11/09/10)

It just keeps getting better!

It is a celebration now, for sure! So a big thank you to all entrants. As of 08/09/10, we have 65 boats lined up for the M2G. 41 in Racing, 21 in Cruising with Spinnakers and 3 in Cruising without Spinnakers. The latter is simply fantastic news, for now they will be their own complete division. Joining Ignazio Parolini with his Republica are Russell Walton with San Miguel (once owned by the late Gary Clapham - miss you mate) and a certain Patricia Laverty with Graf Spee. Patricia is of course our current FDU Poster Girl. (See HERE for a reminder.)

Rusalka, Western Sun, Valiant, Tresor and Red Rocks are the boats that have made it a genuine celebration in Cruising with Spinnakers, by getting us up to the magic 21 number. Thank you all. I am sure boats from this division are currently reading about the new M2L Cruising Division, which you can catch HERE.

Mention must also be made of Ninety Seven who have gone from question mark to completed entry and it looks like Stampede was the latest entry in the Racing Division. Mistress seems to be AWOL presently... Along with Tigris, Swordfish Trombone and Mitchy with Horizon Sprint.

Ninety Seven obviously did not want to be named anymore as a non-entrant and completed their documentation for the 2010 M2G. You too can still be on the start line. BTW, I 'heard' that it may be all racing off first and then all cruising to get away. Cool!!!!

You can still enter the division of your choice.  We have a new NOR V1.20 and new SIs V1.10 (former valid as of 08/09/10 and latter valid as of 04/09/10). Please read ASAP.

RIGHT THEN - the M2G is nearly upon us and you can still put your entry in now, right HERE.

Need more convincing??? Read on.

CRUISING - with and also without Spinnakers

You may wish to join all the other vessels heading off on this great passage event and yet not want to have to organise a massive crew or get too busy to have a whole lot of fun. Solution - join one of the Cruising Divisions, even if you have been in the Racing Divisions previously.

Pretty Woman was the first to cross over to a cruising division for this particular event, then 2009 Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster racer, Biddy Hu II showed up on the cruising roster and won R5 of the MWS to boot. ORCV favourirtes Magic and Independent Endeavour did the same, as well and Caledonia moved from a possibility to starter, just recently. As of now, Ocean Safari have booked in, so that leaves Vantage (who went last year too) and Dream from our original wish list and we'll add in White Swan, just for good measure.

No matter what you have done previously, you can choose from either the Cruising with Spinnakers Division or Cruising without Spinnakers. Our first entry from the latter is Republica of RBYC and she now has two more pals and you can get in that mix too. So if you don't want to be fussed getting the coloured rags out, then get the boat out of the pen, the wine from the cellar and the cheese and biscuits from the galley bench and come have a sail.

RACING - IRC, AMS and PHS

Now whilst we're at it, yet another reminder that as R6 was the last of the laid course events, it is only the penultimate of the 2010 MWS. The final event is the M2G on 11/09/10.

There's even a few of those in the 41 that are even coming out of their Winter retirement, just to be amongst it all. So it shows that you do not even have to have been doing the whole MWS to join for this great passage race. Look at Peregrine, Remedy and Yoko!

All the extra Racing Division entries have helped to have you well in front of the new Cruising Division, of which there are now 24 entries. Last year, a total 51 boats went to Geelong. So if you want to be in it, then it's time to get a wiggle on, eh? BTW. FREE, yes we said free, so long as you entered the entire MWS. FREE!!!!!!!!!!

OK. If you entered the entire MWS, then you're already automatically entered into this race too, but you do need to complete some more information for this particular race. As highlighted, you can also just enter the M2G race only, if you like, but I guess that means you're giving the game away about your favourite pastime after sailing - partying!!!

The full MWS results to date are HERE.

Click HERE to go and complete your online entry if you're already doing the MWS.

Click HERE to go and complete your online entry for just the M2G race only and it looks like this, below:

If you' ve got the boat tied up to the quay and think you should give it a run, then do. The M2G is a passgae race and if you do not want to be in with all the racers, even if you normally are, then go in one of the Cruising Divisions. While you're at it, get your clubmates to come along as well. Why? Party. That's why...

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	The Colts (Sydney 38s) are having their own fight within the battle - many thanks to Ullman Sails for providing the prize.
Thank you to Monica Tonner and Richard Hunter from SYC for ensuring Steb had a ride and we, therefore, had imagery.		We'll be seeing the team at Geelong, pretty soon indeed.