Club Marine Series – The video

by Rob Kothe on 17 Jul 2015 Every season since the early 90s, Melbourne’s Port Phillip has one windward/leeward regatta that stands atop them all. The Club Marine Series consists of seven rounds from October to April, and on each of those days you’ll do one race and sometimes two. It is an interesting way to find out which boat and crew are the best. Conducted across four divisions, so as to cater for everything from all-out grand prix racers to large production hulls and on to S80s and Diamonds, winning your Division carries a lot of kudos.

Over the last two seasons, Blue Division has continued to increase in both popularity and standing. Designed exclusively for the social racer, it still has a fleet start, but runs to fixed marks and offers longer legs, which allows for more time to get things organised. It is still very competitive and judging by the smiles from the crews, set to only get more than the near 40 entrants who engaged in last season’s racing.

Perhaps being around a busy club and sharing tales with all the other sailors has a lot to do with it. For spectators, having three courses running concurrently at the top of the Bay on the designated Saturdays really adds to the colour of it all, especially on the Division Two/Three track, where there are many a vibrant and kaleidoscopic kite to be seen.

Invariably you get a range of conditions from cool to boiling, blowy to drifting and the 2014/15 season did not disappoint. Hats off to the crew of Ikon for using the life ring as a table for drinks and snacks whilst waiting for sailing to commence. Others were just as creative, but often it was the result of bullets of wind and not rays of sunshine.

The spirit of co-operation amongst the five clubs is both terrific and a model for other locations to use. Thanks to all of them, their ROs and volunteers for making it possible and to all the sailors for getting out there and enjoying it. Details and full information about the series can be found at www.clubmarineseries.com.au


The Club Marine Series video was created by the event’s media team. Alex McKinnon shot the video and stills throughout the season and edited the video you see here. McKinnon used both a Canon 5D DSLR and the ubiquitous GoPros to capture her material. Her images of State, National and International events for everything from Off The Beach to offshore races have been published around the world. She is a former winner of the Yachting Victoria Media and Publicity award and this year collected a Silver Medal at the Victorian Institute of Professional Photographers Awards for this image of Ikon.

John Curnow’s unique style has led to him becoming the most read Australian in the business. His delivery of content across offline, online and social media platforms has been deployed by both events and classes alike. For this video he utilised skills from his 20+ year experiences in the mainstream advertising world, where he had been both in front of and behind the camera for the production of TVCs and corporate videos. In addition to all that, he also drives the media boat that captures the material.

If you would like your event or class featured, then please go to www.alexmckinnonphotgraphy.com to review her work and make contact to see what can be done for you!