Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

A Toyota Hilux…

May well be unbreakable, but there was plenty of carnage going on during racing on Sunday, August 30. Seems the varying breeze and significant speed humps all over the course added to the day’s activities for most crews in some way from “Yikes” to “Now what do we do?”

Many thanks to Scott Nunn and Peter aboard ‘Blue Gum’, who provided us with these images and also ferried a sick crewmember from ‘Clockwork’ back to shore. No stress, it was all legal and done in between races.

‘Just A Minor Hick Up 2’ had a great day and performed well in the stiff breeze. She’s certainly one to keep your eye on, as her results have her gaining a decent foothold on the scoreboard, yet despite her name being in reflective media on the hull, she’s in just enough camo to go a little unnoticed. ‘JAHMU 2’ was one boat thankful for a bit of time in between races as they broke their kite pole on the start of the final run in Race Five. With the added impetus of adrenalin, they made a hasty retreat stage left and off to the RBYC marina, where a couple of the club’s crash boats contributed their boat hooks to join their own in “stronger than the original, but none too pretty” repair. A roll of world-renowned gaffer tape and a smattering of cable ties added to the embellishment. In a brilliant display of workmanship, this was all done by the time the postponement flag came down. Now just as the sails went back up, the jib halyard broke, so a new one was sent up. All in all, it was a pretty expensive day, not quite as bad as for others, but a great test for them and owner/driver, Peter Coleman, is still smiling – accordingly, it cannot have been that painful.

Aboard ‘Ninety Seven’, the always busy and getting a lot done, Neville “Nifty” Rose, tells me that he crashed last night and that all the crew would have earned their kip. Understandable as it sounds like everyone had a bit on in yesterday’s conditions. As the breeze was moving between 15 to 25knots, they chose to make their sail size calls as late as possible, to avoid getting to many reactions from their FDU members as they moved from and then back to their Medium (#2) and Heavy (#3). 2 and 3Ss were used downhill, so the packers would have had something to say as well.

Nifty had spotted the flick to the right just before the race got underway and recalls being surprised that the mark was at 300, when they had 285. A good start and correct side of the course to work on had them fifth to the top mark and sprung sheets out to the wing. The mark had been moved for the next work, but they had a huge, shiraz-style bucket wineglass around the forestay, that saw them loose two places and they were happy to see the course shortened to finish on the downhill leg. “Being a little late for the second start saw us play catch up as a result and that really sealed the day for us”, Nifty added succinctly of Race Six.

Bags, Bungles and Toyota Hiluxes (think of the ad that used only the one "B" word...), yesterdays MWS article and the originator of the “Oh what a feeling theme”, can be read by clicking HERE.

By John Curnow

Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Action Aplenty!

Yes it certainly was a big day out on Port Phillip for Races Five and Six of the Melbourne Winter Series. So I'm thinking it has to be: -

Bags, Bungles and Toyota Hiluxes (think of the ad that used only the one "B" word...).

Those that had a good day it would seem to include: ‘Cougar II’, ‘JAHMU 2’ (pictured), ‘Wicked’, ‘INSX’, ‘Godzilla’, ‘Alibi’, ‘Slinky Malinky’, ‘Clockwork’ and ‘Bombora’.

Alas, those that did not, comprise of: 'XLR8', ‘Audacious’, ‘Spirit of Downunder’, ‘Veloce’ (pictured when it was all OK), 'Audi Centre Melbourne', ‘Dream’, ‘Can Can’ and ‘Mirrabooka’.

OK. So down to some details, with many thanks to Robin Hewitt for getting the specifics to me. Yes there was meant to be wind and Fawkner Beacon indicated a fair bit did blow through around 03:00hrs on Sunday morning. Snow down to 800m and a strong wind warning with showers added to the bill. Some did not come out to play because of it. Those that did however, generally got the classic 15-20knots. Some showers and gusts and a breeze that built through to 25knots during the middle of day saw a few issues arise and also a couple of the fleet not show up for Race Six.

‘Challenge’ won the Yosemite Sam style Div1 start of Race Five, where ‘Sierra Chainsaw’ got an individual recall - Pic below is 'Challenge' ahead and to windward of 'Sierra Chainsaw'.

Div2 was more orderly, with ‘Addiction’ leading away from ‘Godzilla’ and ‘INSX’, who went across together. In fact, all day these three were to play dogs at the park… ‘Cougar II’ led at the wing mark and from then on, with Robin using the ‘flawless’ word to describe their effort for their day’s work. High praise indeed for Alan and crew, who no doubt used the shift to the right after the gun, to maximise the gains. ‘Veloce’ also had a good Race Five, but as mentioned above that was all she wrote for them and ‘Just A Minor Hick Up 2’ was the white ant for the both races and the scoreboard reflects that.

‘The Secretary’ did better as the breeze came in. No surprise there and George will tell you that too. Another wind shift brought on a course mark change, together with a stronger breeze and a shortened race, so place changes and a few dramas evolved.

Race Six and the smaller fleet had no real issues, unless you were aboard ‘Can Can’, who was OCS. ‘Gienah’ had the flyer in that race and got the gun to boot. Well done to Rod Miller and his crew. Good solid crew work pictured in this sequence here!

Robin informs me that some showers passed to the South, but no one missed out, as there was plenty of water in the air anyway. Hopefully, it was all on the way to the dams. Robin is also looking forward to the passage race and the benefits that style of race brings to boats that may not purpose built for the cans.

Pics and commentary on Monday morning, so come back to read and see it all - perhaps even some of the three MOB, who were all recovered thank you, or the "using the bag for krill fishing adventures", as demonstrated by 'Audi Centre Melbourne', 'XLR8' and 'Veloce'. Well done to 'ACM' for getting back on to the course and at the very least getting some crucial points and the sponsors happy, however.

Now as for how the MWS stands, IRC Div1 is 'Audi Centre Melbourne', then 'JAHMU 2' and 'Wicked'. Is 'Veloce' too far away to factor in the result??? Division Two is 'INSX', then 'Alibi' and then you could throw a life ring over 'Godzilla', 'Can Can' and The Secretary' for third.

In AMS Div1, ‘JAMHU2’ (Just A Minor Hick Up 2) is well clear of ‘Audi Centre Melbourne’ and ‘Wicked’ just behind in third, which is a great effort in their first season with the boat. Well done to Father and Son team, Mike and Mark Welsh and crew. It would seem the Doyen and his ‘Challenge’ are a bit to far back in fourth, but things can change during passage races, so you never know.

In AMS Div2, the mighty little 9.4m ‘Godzilla’ (pictured above) would be a safe bet above ‘Alibi’ and ‘Addiction’. The only other podium chance at this point would appear to be the little Beneteau, ‘Can Can’, currently residing in a very close fourth.

In PHS Div1, ‘Audi Centre Melbourne’ holds a small lead over the new ‘Veloce’ (great increasing result from them in the new boat too) and ‘Wicked’, who’ll battle it out with ‘JAHMU2’ to get on the podium in this class as well. Div 2 has a three way going with ‘INSX’, ‘Alibi’ and ‘The Secretary’, currently sitting in that order.

Detailed MWS results to date for Races One to Six can be found here. One drop allowed and included already - remember M2G CANNOT be dropped (see M2G NOR for details), so that is where the interest may creep in to the whole equation:

For 2009 MWS IRC results, click HERE

For 2009 MWS AMS results, click HERE and

For 2009 MWS AMS results, click HERE.

Just Race Seven, the Melbourne to Geelong (M2G) passage race and party, to go now in the 2009 MWS (and I know who to back for the latter prize on the evening of September 12).

By John Curnow

Melbourne Winter Series (MWS)

Go Figure Some More.

No two hoots and off to the pub here . We've got sun and breeze here in the middle of the land - So let's go yachting!!!!

As I mentioned yesterday in 'Go Figure',  I went and got the BBQ sorted and put some green and black cans on ice (not just for Smithy and The Girl, BTW). Now let's have a race... These pics  are from this morning - flat water and an offshore breeze, as you can see from the rooster tail off the piddly little shore break, with some 15 to 20kn for max squirts. It will probably build a little more as the afternoon progresses.

Anyway, they may be lucky (some say not likely) and get some racing in at H.I today, but right now we need to all focus our inner energy on providing the sorts of conditions you see here for Port Philip on Sunday. Race Five and Six of the MWS deserve to be run, not blown into the future.

Flat water all the way out to the bulk carriers anchored out in the Pacific... This is no brochure shot, I promise. Really, I do...

By John Curnow