Saturday Racing Report November 23, 2019 You could sense that there were high levels of anxiety pre-start on Saturday. Everyone had read the forecast, but as usual, and particularly in sailing, timing is everything. Our sport is so dependent on Mother Nature and she can be very unpredictable at times. Last Saturday was no different. It’s almost impossible to imagine that at one stage pre-start we had no wind and calm seas, and yet by the time the flags went up we had 25kts and some fairly big seas to contend with. The pre-start anxiety demonstrated how many sails some boats have onboard. There were more sail changes than costume changes at a Cher concert in some cases. Which head sail was the most common question being pondered by most crews? “Let’s go with the 2”; “No wait a minute lets go with the 1”; “fantastic the breeze is in at last”; “Oh no! Let’s go with the 3 and while your there put a reef in the main.“ The strong winds proved a handful for some boats, with a number of retirements early in the race. Hopefully no damaged gear or more importantly crew. Those that slugged it out were rewarded with some upwind discomfort, but incredibly rewarding downwind legs. The brave souls that flew spinnakers - I salute you. It was not without risk, with Endless Advice having a few problems and even Tub Thumper continuing their season of memorable broaches. For others there would have been some debate no doubt between the foredeck and the cockpit (dream world) regarding the value of gybing. Thanks also to our on-water race crew, particularly the crew of Hysport, who commented to me that we had it lucky sailing out there, compared to them bouncing around in a powerboat. I must admit their “drowned rat” look after the race made me re-evaluate things. Thanks to all our race crew volunteers for keeping us safe and making it possible for us to race. Final Results: Line Honours Division 1 : Morticia Division 2 : Arabelle Division 3 : Himalayen Women Handicap Results Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
AMS Results Division 1
Division 2
CBH Results Division 3
Regards, Tim O'Grady
Div 3- Class Captain
 Short and Sweet to Test and Try
“A great initiative” was the astounding feedback from both the seasoned ocean racer Peter Davison of Arcadia and the newcomer Aaron Marlow and crew onboard Ca Bouge as they reflect after completing the first ORCV Coastal Sprint to Western Port and return. “Short and sweet is what our skippers had been asking for allowing them to test and train crew in the close confines of the coast”. said Justin Brenan ORCV Sail Captain as he explained the concept and reasoning behind the launch of Coastal Sprint format last weekend. “With the Coastal Sprints the ORCV now offers a genuine Category 3 Coastal Championship open to a broad range of skippers whose boats and crew are not yet ready for competition in our longer Category 2 events. “ “These races, being 1 day and 50nm allow you to setup your crew and run your boat like you would any longer race. It allows you to test and check your crew have the right clothing and gear to keep them dry and warm. You don’t get that opportunity on a longer race and if you’re not prepared correctly a longer race can just be miserable”. said Aaron Marlow on his Inglis 38, Ca Bouge “We setup watch and shifts based on 3 on and 3 off, just like a longer race to once again give that overall experience. “My crew are largely new to the ocean, so these shorter races are a great way to give them that experience, giving them a taste for the ocean and yes I’m planning to do all the coastal sprints then hopefully some longer races too. I’m happy to be an advocate for what the ORCV is going here and I hope we can get 50 boats on the start line over time.”said Aaron. “With my main crew onboard and a few newcomers, the Coastal Sprints gave the opportunity to further train and practice, plus an opportunity to try some new crew. If ocean racing isn’t your thing, you don’t often know until you’ve experienced it. Fifty nautical miles means your only 3 hours from somewhere and better than finding it to be not your thing and suffering for two to three days” said Peter Davison a seasoned ocean racer on the Archambault 40 R C, Arcadia. “We still found a lot of variety especially up near the Western Port end.” Peter ended by saying, “I’ve done a lot of ocean passages and for those who wish to give ocean sailing a go will find these races perfect for just doing that. One day racing means you have time also to do more on a weekend and yes I even fitted in another race today here on the bay”. We congratulate Peter Davison on Arcadia 1st on IRC and PHS, 2nd on AMS. Justin Brenan 1st on AMS and 2nd on IRC and PHS, Aaron Marlow on Ca Bouge 3rd on PHS, Mersea 3rd on AMS and Maverick 3rd on IRC and 1st on Double Handed. Full race results for the West Offshore Coastal Sprint – Western Port and return can be found here https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2019-20/ Next West Offshore Coastal Sprint is 15th February 2020 and 10th April 2020. Entries will open soon. https://www.orcv.org.au/sailing/races/coastal-sprint-series  Last chance to enter our 'Member get Member' Draw. All you need to do is introduce a new member to the club and you both go in the draw to win a $250 Scotchmans Hill voucher 😍
Draw will be held on Friday 29th November!  A three race series for Lady Skippers as part of the Thursday evening Twilight Series on the following days: Series 1 - 21st November 2019 Series 2 - 30th January 2020 Series 3 - 26th March 2020 CALLING ALL BOAT OWNERS: Get going in the right direction and make sure you have a lady onboard to be the skipper for these races. Most boats in the Twilight Series have ladies on the boat, just nominate one and make sure that her full name appears on the Sign On sheet for each of the three races.
CALLING ALL LADY SKIPPERS: Ensure you get in the race and tell your boat owner that you will sail the boat in these three races. To win the Lady Skippers Trophy you must sail in each of the three races, first Lady Skipper in each race will receive a prize.  Saturday Racing Update 16 November 2019 Finally, a Saturday arrived when the weather Gods decided to be kind to us. Sunny skies, 15 – 20kts from the South and maybe a little cool for November, but after the weather we have had over the past month we were in no position to be picky. It was once again entertaining to see John and Tanya keeping competitors on their toes with a new event called “Flag Bingo”. When the Flying Fifteen flag went up first there were a lot of crews searching for that old tattered piece of laminated paper with class flags. You know the one, last time we used it for a beermat or stuffed it behind the stove to stop it rattling. It must down be there somewhere! We all waited in anticipation to see whose flag would be up next but wait a minute - No Flag ! What does all this mean ! Then after a short delay to draw the next flag out of Retriever’s lucky dip, the Div. 1 flag was flying, and we were surely back to comfortable sequence. Div. 1s got away cleanly, although there were a couple of crews that had a practice start with the Flying Fifteens. In a last-minute plot twist Div. 2 & 3 were combined. Flag Bingo is mentally exhausting! The race saw the fleet heading to E buoy on the first leg in a freshening breeze. Those boats that flew spinnakers on the leg from D buoy to the Start mark were rewarded with a great reach and fast sailing. The beat back to E buoy saw upwind boats crossing boats sailing downwind which can be a little hair raising when looking into the sun you miss read what tack the other boat is on. Thanks who ever you were for keeping clear. We didn’t quite catch your comments, but I am certain they were politely referring us to review our knowledge of the rules and the gestures possibly directing us to the correct sub-clause. It was great to be out on the water again and also to welcome Seduction back to the race course after wintering up North. I am sure after a scrub she will be back to her competitive best. Final results: Line Honors Division 1 : Apache Division 2 : YT2 Division 3 : Tub Thumper Handicap Results Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Regards, Tim O'Grady
Div 3- Class Captain A three race series for Lady Skippers as part of the Thursday evening Twilight Series on the following days: Series 1 - 21st November 2019 Series 2 - 30th January 2020 Series 3 - 26th March 2020 CALLING ALL BOAT OWNERS: Get going in the right direction and make sure you have a lady onboard to be the skipper for these races. Most boats in the Twilight Series have ladies on the boat, just nominate one and make sure that her full name appears on the Sign On sheet for each of the three races.
CALLING ALL LADY SKIPPERS: Ensure you get in the race and tell your boat owner that you will sail the boat in these three races. To win the Lady Skippers Trophy you must sail in each of the three races, first Lady Skipper in each race will receive a prize. Fantastic representation from MYC at Sail Country with 21 boats racing and many families enjoying relaxing on the shore!
Congratulations to the podium finishers: 420s - 1st - Chloe Harper & Anna Cripsey, 2nd Lilly & Matilda Richardson Laser Radials - 1st Brody Riley, 2nd Rhett Gowans Opti intermediate - 1st - Leigh Harvey RS Aero 5 - 1st - Sophie Jackson  Saturday Racing Update November 2nd 2019 I am writing this update feeling my age. Part of me is secretly wishing everyone else that raced back from Williamstown on Saturday is feeling the same. Every muscle in my body is seemingly rebelling against the sailing activities on the weekend. I’m not entirely clear if it was the 7 hours bashing into waves getting the boat to Williamstown on Friday or the fast racing home to Mornington involving lots of spinnaker work, where we sailed on our limit a lot of the time. That said I am happy that I only feel like I have done 10 rounds with Jeff Horn, while Tim Dixon actually looked like he had done 10 rounds with Jeff Horn. Sometimes we forget how physical and dangerous sailing can be. A fleet of 19 boats were at the start line for the annual Williamstown to Mornington race which has such a long and rich history both on and off the water. Royal Yacht Club of Victoria once again made the Mornington boats welcome and there was some enjoyable socialising at the club before and after dinner. Unfortunately, the weather forecast of light winds and rain may have discouraged some of the RYCV boats as the MYC fleet made up 13 of the 19 starters. As usual the BOM were about 50% accurate with the forecast. The light winds didn’t eventuate, but the rain certainly did. A favourable wind angle saw all boats quickly hoist spinnakers after the start for a rainy beam reach to R2 and then a rainy run down to the spoil ground with boats setting a fast pace in 15 knots of wind. There were several entertaining gybes and broaches, one of particular note was Tub Thumper where their spinnaker ended up flying above their mast whilst simultaneously burying the foredeck under water. We were amazed that they were able to recover so quickly and continue racing. I understand from the Rear Commodore that a number of the larger boats had a fun time with kites just before the finish line also. Special mention also to the Vice Commodore who has clearly taken out a commercial fishing licence using his spinnaker as a deep-sea fishing net. I understand the catch was disappointing. A tight reach home from the spoil ground eventually moved astern and spinnakers were up again in a freshening breeze (and rain). The conditions saw near record race times with Javelin taking just over 2 ½ hours to finish the course. All boats arrived home safely with crews looking a little like drowned rats, but with big smiles as the sailing was outstanding. Well done to MYC with overall line honours and wins under every handicap system going to Javelin and her crew. There were also some great performances on handicap by the smaller MYC Div. 3 boats Mixed Nuts and Tub Thumper finishing 2nd and 3rd overall behind Javelin on PHS and Windsong 2nd and YT2 3rd on AMS once again behind Javelin. Results: Line Honours Division 1. Javelin Division 2. YT2 Division 3 . Tub Thumper AMS Results Division 1
Division 2
CBH Results
Performance Handicap Results Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Regards, Tim O'Grady
Div 3- Class Captain |
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