ORCV Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)

 

Desire.

As in a Streetcar named, Desire.

Aidan Geysen from Streetcar, a Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 from RBYC, has been kind enough to share his thoughts with us on being relatively new to the game and the joy he and the entire crew got from being involved in Bay's best fun bash, the event simply known as Melbourne to Geelong.

"The M2G was the second race for Streetcar, having bought the yacht in Pittwater only four months ago. As a keen windsurfer, I have been satisfying the sailing bug by getting out on the Bay on my windsurfer when I can, taking sailing courses and going for the occasional cruising holiday with my wife and friends", said Aidan.

"We were keen to take part in the Cruising Division of the M2G, in order to get our very first passage race under our belt. The plan was to take part in a couple of club races throughout the Winter season, with a view to entering the Melbourne to Geelong event at the end of the ORCV Winter Series."

B3200 is Streetcar, getting about their business - slab in, at this stage.

"It was quite a build up to the race, with both Seabreeze and the BoM providing an increasingly ominous forecast, as the week rolled on. The cancellation of the RBYC race the week before deprived us of some much needed practice, but the time was used to fit lazy jacks, which proved invaluable over the weekend of the M2G. As was plainly evident from our 'OCS', our starting procedures need work. There were also other 'Rookie' errors made, which we learnt from, thanks to the constructive advice of others."

"With the wind blowing from the South West at 25+knots, our priorities on the way to the start line were Safety, Fun and then Racing (Oh how The Brass are going to love to hear you say that...). If they were the other way around, the OCS would have soon dealt with that, but we were all still smiling at the end, and were pleased to get the boat to and from Geelong in one piece, with no mishaps and no breakages!!!" Ed. Nice work indeed, team.

"The latter stages of the race saw the wind drop and we had to take the reef out of the main, only to have to put it back in just 20 minutes later, and then take it out again as we approached the finish. We spent a bit of time near Pretty Woman and it was good to have the company, but they pipped us at the second last mark", said Aidan.

"Highlights for the weekend included seeing all the race boats out on the Bay, as they made their way down from the top mark; sailing downwind at 12.5 knots on the way home; having dolphins surf alongside us on two occasions and not to mention the cold beer and chicken parma at the RGYC..." Ed. Scott and the gang down at Geelong will love to hear that and it was great to see all the food, beverage and entertainment put on.

"Thanks again to the ORCV for organising a great event. With practice, we look forward to getting involved in future events on the other side of the Heads!"

Sticking Streetcar's nose in to the Port Phillip chop... Bass Strait here they come!

Just bet we'll see them on the startline of the Boxing Day Dash....

The M2G is now done and you can get the results for that race and the entire MWS, right HERE.

Follow it all here and via the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 179 Souls already have and thank you to all of them.

Stay tuned - we do indeed hope to soon see Streetcar go and stick her nose in it...

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	Celebrating its 41st consecutive running - the Winter Series was first run in 1972 and is still the same format today! Be a part of the Bay's hottest racing at the coldest time of year or just pop out at the end, for the Bay's favourite bash - the event officially known just as Melbourne to Geelong, but you may have other names for it...
	In September, the Melbourne to Geelong event  finishes the Winter Series off and there will be presentations at RGYC for it. Of course, by the time Stanley comes around,  you just know Silly Season proper is upon you...
	Many thanks to Hobbos and particularly Tony Dawson for getting our favourite shooters - Teri and Alex - out on the water aboard Privateer. Many thanks also to Jon Bilger and his PredictWind   team who provide us with great information for both Race Management and Marketing Communications, alike.

ORCV Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)

 

The Answer.

The Fool posed a question in Part One, when we could not determine who the bowman from Halcyon was, based on this pic, which was taken just before the start of the 2011 Melbourne to Geelong event. Blissfully, we got the boat name correct. It is Halcyon, whom we've been following since they hit the water at the start of the 2010 Winter Series. Her Skipper, Chris Tucker, has supplied the following information for us...

"His name is Dimitry. He is not our regular bowman, but did a great job on Saturday when our regular bowman was away. His wife, Tatiana, is the girl on the rail in the new 'Women in Sailing' Poster Shot photo from Even More Pics after Race Six of the Winter Series. They both started sailing earlier this year by doing a course at Royals and have quickly developed into valuable crew. BTW, the girl on the winch in the new Women in Sailing photo is Robyn, who has also participated in the same sail training program", Chris tells us.

The new Women In Sailing Poster Shot - © and courtesy of This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"Our crew on Halcyon has started to become more settled after our first full season. We don't have the depth of experience that is on some of the other boats, but racing against the good boats and crews in Div1 is a fast way to learn!!! Post-race feedback from other Skippers and crew at the bar certainly has been a big part of this learning."

"Thanks to the entire ORCV team for your continued interest in Halcyon and also to the other skippers and crews for a great series."

 

The M2G is now done and you can get the results for that race and the entire MWS, right HERE.

Follow it all here and via the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 177 Souls already have and thank you to all of them.

Now you know we just will....

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	Celebrating its 41st consecutive running - the Winter Series was first run in 1972 and is still the same format today! Be a part of the Bay's hottest racing at the coldest time of year or just pop out at the end, for the Bay's favourite bash - the event officially known just as Melbourne to Geelong, but you may have other names for it...
	In September, the Melbourne to Geelong event  finishes the Winter Series off and there will be presentations at RGYC for it. Of course, by the time Stanley comes around,  you just know Silly Season proper is upon you...
	Many thanks to Hobbos and particularly Tony Dawson for getting our favourite shooters - Teri and Alex - out on the water aboard Privateer. Many thanks also to Jon Bilger and his PredictWind   team who provide us with great information for both Race Management and Marketing Communications, alike.

ORCV Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)

 

Race Report.

Large, powerful, high and low pressure systems have dominated the barometric picture over Melbourne for days. So it was really no surprise when Winter finally arrived for the last race of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s 2011 Winter Series on Port Phillip.

A pool of super cold air brought very chilly, stiff Sou’westers out for the 0830hrs start. It was so grey in parts as to be thinking you might need a miner’s lamp on, just to see your fingers. Alas, you only had to wait a few minutes or move to another part of the Bay and you could be in beaming sunshine. One thing you never had a doubt over, was that with that cold air mass hanging over you like a chill vest used by sports stars on hot days, shorts were always going to be off the required gear list.

459 sailors aboard 63 vessels in three divisions was the recipe. It only got modified slightly leading in to the day, with just three vessels announcing they would not be taking part. The grey and threatening morning was enough to have a few more not make the start as well. Gear damage accounted for another three, with XLR8 the first to go with a broken headsail tack fitting, then Herbie Racing Team and FullyN’Pushing, both of whom uffered mainsail issues and withdrew.

Continuing with threes, there were three starts to match the number of divisions all of which raced on different courses to reach the same end goal at Geelong. In Division One both the Line Honours favourite, Goldfinger and Mille Sabords were on the wrong side of the line when the gun went. Division Two was an all-clean affair, whilst three vessels in the Cruising Division, being Reckless, Escapade and Streetcar all showed a little too much exuberance.

Goldfinger may well have been On Course Side for the start, but it did not stop her from taking Line Honours for Div1 at 13:38:14. From seven starts in the series, she has taken six, which is a wonderful effort. It was also great to see Dennis Hambleton's Alibi get up for Div2 Line Honours at 13:39:05 and as a result, the crew won all three classes within the division; International Rule Club, Australian Measurement System and Performance Handicap System. Bundaberg from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club took out Cruising at 14:00:23.

Racing in large waves, cold breeze and even rain was the theme in the end, but when the breeze went soft as the hours slid towards darkness and slowed the last few boats to almost nothing, it must have been very frustrating. Not that you would know from the crews who occupied the clubhouse, as the laughter and merriment won over.

Other winners and place getters in various divisions on the day, were vessels like Schüss, The Secretary, Laurelle, Addiction, Hush, Kerina, Dionysos, Pretty Young Thing and Spirit of Downunder.

However, the great result came from INSX who won the Lord Warden Trophy for the third year running. This prize is for the crew and vessel that attain the lowest points during the series and is a true mark of their skill across many conditions. Going in to this last race of the series, Toecutter 2 held a slender lead, but it was not to be their day. Ultimately, Toecutter 2 would tie for second with Jazz Player and Lou Abraham’s Challenge would take third place.

Above and beyond it all are the smiles you see from the crews and the warm conviviality on display wherever you look. That just has to be good for sailing.

Well done to all participants of the complete Winter Series and the M2G, as well.

 

The M2G is now done and you can get the results for that race and the entire MWS, right HERE.

Follow it all here and via the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 176 Souls already have and thank you to all of them.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	Celebrating its 41st consecutive running - the Winter Series was first run in 1972 and is still the same format today! Be a part of the Bay's hottest racing at the coldest time of year or just pop out at the end, for the Bay's favourite bash - the event officially known just as Melbourne to Geelong, but you may have other names for it...
	In September, the Melbourne to Geelong event  finishes the Winter Series off and there will be presentations at RGYC for it. Of course, by the time Stanley comes around,  you just know Silly Season proper is upon you...
	Many thanks to Hobbos and particularly Tony Dawson for getting our favourite shooters - Teri and Alex - out on the water aboard Privateer. Many thanks also to Jon Bilger and his PredictWind   team who provide us with great information for both Race Management and Marketing Communications, alike.

ORCV Melbourne to Geelong (M2G)

 

Fool and his DSLR - Part Two.

Well it seems to have been a success - letting the fool out on the media vessel. So here then for your perusal, is Pt. II of some fool with a DSLR and his pics from the 2011 Melbourne to Geelong event.

Now that's what I call sticking your nose in it! (We know where that lot's going to be in a second...)

This appears to be how Goldfinger have decided to clean the guano fest off the tip of the prodder....

See! All gone now.

A tack and it's on in to the Spoil Ground mark.

It's a long way in to the drink from a modern wide boat.

XLR8 pre-headsail tack issues, obviously...

The RP pencil slices in to it. The RP Red Ferrari was hoping to be out there, too.... but shesa not ready yet mate (below).

Back with XLR8 again.

The crew seem in good shape - currently.

Jazzy launches into a song.

Then hides behind another wave.

Arriving into the scene, with SoD in tow.

Crew from said Jazz Palyer.

Challenge sticks her nose in to it.

Lou Abrahams in the corner with Mark Bulka looking to windward.

Challenge arrives at the Spoil Ground mark with SoD in tow.

Challenge leads Ninety Seven and other Div1s in to P3.

Said Ninety Seven with SoD to leeward.

Audacious tacks just in front of Schüss right at the SG mark. 

One of the six Colts out there on the day, Cinquante leads SoD in to SG.

And seeing as they've been in nearly every shot for the last half dozen or so, here is Lozza's beloved SoD! 

Laurie 'Lozza' Ford's SoD leads a bunch of Div1s in to P3.

After gaining many a place on the wide reah in to P3, SoD gets set to go around...

Alex McKinnon shoots one of the Colts, FullyNPushing, as she approaches the Spoil Ground mark. (amost had you with the shooting of horses there, but this is not a jumps event...)

FullyNPushing just befor ethey had to retire with the broken mainsail.

Chutzpah38 rounds P3 and then it's back into it as you make for Point Richards...

 

We may see a bit of the fool along the way...

 

The M2G is now done and you can get the results for that race and the entire MWS, right HERE.

Follow it all here and via the ORCV Facebook page, so make sure you go and "Like" the page, now. 175 Souls already have and thank you to all of them.

© John Curnow, ORCV Media

Please contact me for re-issue rights.

	Celebrating its 41st consecutive running - the Winter Series was first run in 1972 and is still the same format today! Be a part of the Bay's hottest racing at the coldest time of year or just pop out at the end, for the Bay's favourite bash - the event officially known just as Melbourne to Geelong, but you may have other names for it...
	In September, the Melbourne to Geelong event  finishes the Winter Series off and there will be presentations at RGYC for it. Of course, by the time Stanley comes around,  you just know Silly Season proper is upon you...
	Many thanks to Hobbos and particularly Tony Dawson for getting our favourite shooters - Teri and Alex - out on the water aboard Privateer. Many thanks also to Jon Bilger and his PredictWind   team who provide us with great information for both Race Management and Marketing Communications, alike.