ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Tropical Cat.

Kim McKee, Samskara's now Tropical Cat, has checked in with a story and pics. Let's check it out...

"We have finally arrived in the Tropical paradise of Vanuatu."

Samskara's Crew - Left to Right are Jesse, Rick, James, Nick, Capt Stoopy, Mike and our Ship's Cat, Kim McKee.

"After a loooooong slow day with very little breeze Huey (wind god) dropped out the 0.00 knots as we drifted over the finish line doing 0.01 knot - (thank the current/tide god for us finishing on the right side of the harbour leads) at 22.10 on Thursday night! Grrrrr - frustrating to say the least. Most importantly though we did make it and were all VERY happy to tie up alongside our fellow competitors (Tevake, Turbo and 51st Project) about 11pm Thursday night."

"The obvious happened.......... bottles and cans were cracked and the stories got bigger and better and both cans and stories flowed until the wee hours of the morning. This cat hit the rack at about 1.00am and awoke to stories of roosters being purchased from the markets and planted on various boats. Crew forgot where they were and went in search of Souvlaki and kebabs rah rah rah. All in all it was the usual post race lies, fun and frivolity."

The fellow competitors are parked and awaiting the whole gang. A jubilant Angus Fletcher keen for more...

"Customs, Quarantine and Immigration did their thing (in their own island time of course) and we were free to get amongst it in Vanuatu on the Friday. Most of the crew then checked into Irriki Resort and had our first sleep in a real bed for a few weeks - very pleasant indeed!"

"Thanks to all those who have tuned into the cats tales and I am glad to hear most of you have enjoyed them. The Vanuatu Races are on today and given my winning gambling form, we are going to hit them with gusto! Frocked up, feeling good and signing off for one last time on behalf of all the Samskara Crew."

Over and Out! - The Ships Cat.

When I saw this I thought the Tropical Cat would be happy...

Then I saw this and knew this would much more fit her style and requirements...

PS: "I have just been informed by the crew that there is no prize for winning the closest ETA. Ripped off or what?! Apparently there is just a loser (the one who was furthest out), which is Captain Stoopman, who now has to write 'KNOB' in slippery nipples on the bar for the crew to then enjoy. OK. That's sounding a lot better!"

Our Cat obviously like the little Citroen 2CV. Aircooled, maybe that's why? Perhaps it is because it's small and just perfect for curling up in, away from all the crowd?

More soon... (but you knew that, too).

Please remember, that if you want to find out where everyone is in the chase for the container of humanitarian aid that APC Logistics sent to Vanuatu for us, then please go HERE. Sked times are 4.30am and pm EST.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Off and running - literally.

The Slinkies have just emailled in 10 minutes ago with news that the Trades have found them again! WooHoo all right.

"Slinky has enjoyed her time sight seeing New Caledonia. Now that land is out of sight, Slinky is keen to get to the next tourist destination, which, lucky for all aboard her, is Vanuatu!!! We're enjoying a perfect morning, sailing under the kite with 15 knots of wind pushing us along at about 8knots."

"The lures are set out the back. We have had three hook ups for the morning, but all three have managed to free themselves. Might have something to do with the speed we're going and Slinky is certainly not slowing for anything, even the chance for some freshly cooked fish. Maybe this afternoon will provide better luck."

"We only have, circa, 160nm to go and Slinky is well positioned well to be in Port Vila tomorrow!" (160nm at 8kn = 20hrs, so I got the email just after 12noon, which means revised ETA of 0800hrs, Sunday 18/07/10.)

All of that is great news for all to hear and we do hope the Trades stay your friend for the rest of your journey.

Slinky at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron before the M2V start, which seems like moons ago. Many thanks to Rik Head for the image.

More soon... (but you knew that, too).

Please remember, that if you want to find out where everyone is in the chase for the container of humanitarian aid that APC Logistics sent to Vanuatu for us, then please go HERE. Sked times are 4.30am and pm EST.

By John Curnow

ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Morning (No) Glory.

The morning of their thirteenth day at sea probably was a glorious and colourful affair, but it has revealed no glory in their progress overnight. It would seem that Garisenda will make it Port Vila very late tonight and Slinky Malinky around lunch tomorrow. The light, variable and shifty breezes that have plagued them are going to give way to the Trades again, so we can hope that their VMG's will not look as disastrous as their overnight courses do wayward.

VMG stands for Velocity Made Good and it refers to the actual speed in the desired direction, directly towards the proposed desitination and well, yesterday we showed Slinky's dog-leg and today, it is Garisenda's turn. The price you pay, in order to keep moving...

Grarisenda in the darker gold and Slinky Malinky in the brighter yellow, who I trust have enough way to get through these difficult little stretches, as there are currents in the area to be considered...

ORCV Rear Commodore, Simon Dryden, piped in this morning with "Looking at the wind models, the two remaining boats final day and night are just going to get better and better, so I am expecting a finish sooner than our Tracker is predicting. Note, however, that it will be shorts and plenty of sunscreen." All right then, let's do the Warner Wolf.

Saturday AM in the area and there are plenty of 10knot Southerlies, with the odd appearance of a 15...

Saturday PM and the SE Trades are kicking in now - it's virtually all 15knots for them.

Sunday AM and there's even the appearance of some 20's.

Sunday PM and once again it is as Captain Cook described back then.

I created this grab to show that they are still a way off Vila, even in a straight line, which they can do, when the SE Trades return. The other thing I hope they have plenty of is food and water to complete this last stretch.

AC/DC - it's a long way... Probably playing it to death through the speakers lately. This is the whole journey, effectively two weeks long and won't the drinks that their fellow competitors will flood them with when they arrive taste good!!!

In short, as of Saturday morning, Garisenda has 107.5nm and Slinky 185nm left to travel, as the crow flies, however... Now if you're doing three knots, like Slinky was this morning, it is still 61.5hours left to run. Food for thought!

Perhaps Kim McKee should get the book back out and have a punt. Perhaps too, it might just provide for a glorious finish or the Dark Horse and the Seamanship Poster crew.

More soon... (but you knew that, too).

Please remember, that if you want to find out where everyone is in the chase for the container of humanitarian aid that APC Logistics sent to Vanuatu for us, then please go HERE. Sked times are 4.30am and pm EST.

By John Curnow and Simon Dryden

ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Down, but not out.

Rowan Pollard and the crew aboard Slinky Malinky may be wishing they were in at Port Vila with the rest of the fleet, but thankfully, humour has not left them yet. They have been good enough to fire up the HF radio and send me a short email at 1545hrs AEST.

"We've decided that Slinky loves to do a touch of sight seeing, first it was at the Prom (Wilson's Promintory, all the way back in Victoria), when she wanted to stay the night, now it's New Caledonia, were slinky has decided that she needed a rest for couple of days! We currently have 2kts of wind, which, believe it or not, is about the most we've had for the day. Boat speed is an equally impressive 1.5kts. The direction of the wind appears to be from just about anywhere..."

"The galley has been working over time to keep up the crew spirits. Unfortunately tuna will not be on the menu tonight, as we don't have enough boat speed for the lure, even."

Well. This morning we did say they would be getting a good look at the islands and alas, such is the case. Seems the PredictWid models we displayed HERE, were very much correct. We can only say thank you for making the effort to keep us in the loop and we hope you get some lovely breezes in the night, as the land cools, to get you moving along.

The Slinkies. Our current Seamanship Poster Crew and what seems to a be very jovial bunch too! Pic © Steb Fisher.

More soon...

Please remember, that if you want to find out where everyone is in the chase for the container of humanitarian aid that APC Logistics sent to Vanuatu for us, then please go HERE. Sked times are 4.30am and pm EST.

By John Curnow