Ocean Racing Club of Victoria
Steb Fisher

ORCV_IconLR

Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)
Ocean Race of 1885 nautical miles
 
Race Start is off Portsea Pier at Slack Water, Port Phillip Heads.
 
Category:
 
 
1+
 
Description:
Held every four years from 2006, this is Australia's longest Category One race and starts on the first Sunday in July. It was conceived as an idyllic way to escape the Southern Winter and often attracts a strong two-handed division of racers. The race always has a Humanitarian Aid component attached to it and there is a container with medical, school and apparel supplies that accompanies the fleet to Vila. Please see the Notice of Race on this website for the specific starting time.

2014 Melbourne to Vanuatu Race - Weather Outlook Wednesday 2 July 2014

ORCV resident weather gurus Andrew Roberts and Robin Hewitt provide their observations on current weather outlook: 

 02Jul14 1-Bathymetry

The nice and fast off the wind sailing conditions are set to continue through the week with prevailing west-southwesterlies through Bass Strait and into the Tasman. Confused seas have been noted in the latest skeds and not unsurprising considering the windy conditions of the last week. Bathymetry and current effects are also likely contributors, with the nearby Bass Canyon a significant underwater sea feature. The Bass Canyon sees a steep drop off to the Tasman Abyssal Plain, with sea depths plunging from around 100m to 2500m with associated horizontal and vertical water movements often affecting surface currents and sea state. Jets and eddies of the East Australian Current (EAC) also often reach into Eastern Bass Strait further mixing things up. 

 

02Jul14 2-Directional Spectra for Eden

 The Low that passed south of us on Sunday tilted and intensified between Tasmania and New Zealand and sent a southerly ground swell running up the Tasman, sweeping the east coast of Tasmania and NSW. The fleet should expect to see more of this swell the further east they go, interacting with the local southwesterly sea waves. It is currently showing up on the Manly Hydraulics Lab wave buoy off Eden – the spectral analysis below for Tuesday morning showed a SSE direction, Sig Wx 2.2m, Max Wx 4.1m.

 

02Jul14 3-4 Day Forecast 1Jul14

 The weather pattern providing the prevailing west-southwesterlies can be seen in the 4 day maps. The development of the Low off WA, as mentioned in previous posts, has become clearer and looks the main feature to watch as it migrates east to Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea this weekend.

 02Jul14 5-MSLP 1000-500hPa Thickness

 

There seems to have been some fairly unpleasant weather and sea conditions for the fleet, undoubtebly mixing it up with the East Australian Current eddies and following winds. The outlook should present some fairly pleasant conditions in contrast and pleasant over the weekend. This is in comparison with our Victorian conditions which will again deteriorate over the weekend. The drivers off WA are still active with jets assisting to spin up lows which then march along to us here. Although a complex low develops off Gabo and NSW, it is expected to fill and any associated front to be fairly mild. Wind predictions are of the order 10-20kts and should allow the yachts to settle down and tidy up for the next few days. We can expect good progress along the route and some demeanour reports of a happier nature.

 

 

By Andrew Roberts and Robin Hewitt

 

 

2014 Melbourne to Vanuatu Race - GEOMATIC Report Day 3

 

Following from our upbeat update yesterday, today is a complete contrast... Blue skies, gentle breeze from the west, dolphins everywhere (see image from onboard below) and a very calm sea state

Geomatic 02-Jul-14

.... But unfortunately Geomatic and its fearless crew (who are all well) are limping into Sydney with a jury rig courtesy of a broken boom....race over. Just before 11.30pm last night Geo was running the angles downwind making good ground in over 40 knots breeze and a very messy sea state when she crash gybed.

Resultant damage was initially thought to be a blown Main Sheet and the rig against the spreaders however further inspection showed a broken boom and suspected rig damage. Skipper Adrian Lewis assessed the risks too great to push on with a jury rig for the remaining 1500 odd NM. A wise decision particularly as we were at the stepping off point from the main land.

Good news is that crew is all intact, a little tired after recovering the damage, but in good spirits. The emergency beer rations have been declared open and the jokes are flowing as we plan alternate routes to Vanuatu....possibly via a road trip to Queensland to inspect the skippers new 67ft purchase...So it is with great sadness we sign off from the race but very thankful of no crew injuries. Pete Young has just informed that he will potentially shed a layer down from 4.5 layers as we head north.

Good luck and fair winds to the remainder of the fleet, we are having a beer for you right now.

 

2014 Melbourne to Vanuatu - JAZZ PLAYER Report Day 3

Report in from Jazz Player this morning. Seems like they are settling down into a good routine after what has been a challenging first couple of days.

 

 

 

Almost 48 hrs into  the race and we have settled in the rhthym of this 2-handed offshore racing thing.

It has been a fast start! Our sail  choice of #3 and 1 reef served us well along the victorian coast and past the prom,which we rounded at 2100 on Monday. The breeze was steady at 25-35kts from 210mag.

We continued ENE until 1000 the following day when we gybed for Gabo, bearing 13 degrees and 90nm.

The wind increased back to a solid 30-35, with gusts beyond 40kts from the SW. Seas too were building and a little confused. Boat speed had been in the low-mid teens, surfing 20kts+

We put #2 reef in the main just on dusk and a good thing too and the wind was 35 gusting 45kts at  times.

Once past Gabo,the sea flattened which allowed some more easy sleep.

We've managed sleep and food well so far.

We're now 115nm offshore and have just gone back to #1 reef as the breeze has backed to 25-30 and now from SSW. 

The sun is out and its getting warmer!! :)

.

 

 

2014 Melbourne to Vanuatu Race/Rally Update 2nd July 0800 hours

Another busy night on the trek to Vanuatu;

  • All boats now heading north except Myuna which is approaching the Gabo corner after successfully sorting out their leak problem.
  • Escapade, Trybooking, The Secretary and Cartouche hugging the NSW coast.
  • Alive well out to sea and Jazz Player heading out to join them.
  • One Cartouche crew member suffered bruised/cracked ribs during an unexpected gybe last night but resting and ok. Boat pressing on to Vanuatu. ORCV doctor in touch with them.
  • Geomatic suffered some rig damage during the night and is now heading for Sydney and all ok.
  • Escapade managed to damage its sprayhood during the night and lost its tracker somehow; expect their tracker position reports now to be erratic or more likely non-existent!
  • The Jazz Player crew can already feel it getting warmer ( maybe wishful thinking just yet)!
  • Ariel ll slowly making her way back to Melbourne, off Wonthaggi and no doubt pushing against the wind and sea

2014 Melbourne to Vanuatu Race/Rally - Day 2 Update

It appears to have been a busy night in Bass Strait:

  • Alive managed to lose some gear overboard through the night but all ok
  • Ariel damaged their boom, are tucked up in Refuge Cove and will be returning to Melbourne
  • Myuna is also at Refuge dealing with a water leak. Ariel standing by if needed so we will see how they manage to sort out their situation
  • The bulk of the fleet is now well east of the Prom making good speed now off Lake Entrance. Looks like some good battles unfolding already!
  • Alive well out in front and just about to turn the corner and head north!

orcv logo reversed

3 Aquatic Drive, Albert Park VIC 3206 Ph. 0493 102 744 E. orcv@orcv.org.au