Bring it on at the Club Marine Series.

by John Curnow on 8 Feb 2014 The forecast had been very clear. It was going to be light and variable on Melbourne’s Port Phillip for Round Four of the Club Marine Series. Reading on, you saw that the BoM also offered an afternoon sea breeze and thank goodness for that. Even at midday, when the mercury had already started its inexorable climb to 40°C, the Bay had as many holes in it as some of Switzerland’s finest dairy produce.

Just after lunch, there were puffs of six knots that wandered down from say 160°, and whilst they flicked around somewhat, they were the harbinger of the Promised Land. A gentle 8 to 12 knots (absolute max) was to be delivered. Time to go racing. So bring it on, especially for those that could remember the springtime rounds of 2013, when the little icicles tapped at your face like mosquitoes on steroids.

Greg Sinclair was the Race Officer running the Division Zero and One course, which was just abeam of Sandringham Yacht Club and on the Eastern side of the main shipping channel. He set the course on an axis of 160°and a range of 1.7 nautical miles. Clearly the media team were not the only ones keen to bring it on. The sailors seemed to be set as well. Perhaps a little too set, as it would turn out… Whilst they were all very orderly from the moment the Blue Peter went up at the five minute signal, this all changed the deeper they got into the starting sequence. Alas, as the time ran out before the start, the energy levels climbed higher and many of the fleet were over before the gun, especially at the pin end of the line. A General Recall was signalled and back they all came.

Most were happy to have let the adrenalin dissipate after the first attempt, but there were a couple of crews still very pumped. As the stack of craft began to crowd the pin end once more, there was one vessel that tried a bit of barging, after gate crashing on port tack to this now very popular party. Keen to avoid splintering carbon, nearby vessels vacated the area, which meant they were OCS once more and could look forward to another trip back under the line and only thence set off for the top mark. One vessel that just escaped all this was Terra Firma. It was handy for them, as they were the boat nearest the pin and could have easily felt a lot of the pain being handed out just a little further up the line.

This very well sailed Cookson 50, Terra Firma, made the most of this and piled on the runs like Aaron Finch or Glenn Maxwell in the Big Bash League. On the second run, Terra Firma had 500m over Primitive Cool (ex SMB3.5), with Goldfinger trying to make an impression after being one of the craft to have been affected by the intruder to the earlier starting party. In that group there was also XLR8, the terrifically sailed Veloce, who were punching above their weight, and the new HH42, Simply Fun. Showing why they are the reigning Audi IRC Class B National Champion were Bruce McCracken and the crew of Ikon, who hung on as best they could to the other, fully dedicated race craft.
There was some sailing talent on board Terra Firma and it showed. Greg was also aware of this, as he commented on their great form. Sinclair also said, 'Smooth Criminal have been scored OCS for not returning after the second start. Goldfinger and Simply Fun did return as instructed during the broadcast for individual recalls.'

'All in all it was a tremendous day out there and this was complimented by good racing all round and a high level of skill being displayed. The breeze did move between 155 to 165° and may have spent more time left for the first two legs, but came back right as the race progressed. PRO David Leroy had set an hour for the elapsed time and the first boat crossed after their two laps in 59 minutes and 50 seconds. Good work by them and also my team of volunteers', Sinclair finished with.

Not surprisingly, Terra Firma would collect both the IRC and Performance Handicap System Division Zero wins for the day. Primitive Cool and Simply Fun took out the minor placings in the measurement category, with XLR8 and Goldfinger getting second and third respectively on handicap. Veloce must be wondering what they have to do to get on the podium.

Rush, who did not race today, still holds the series lead in IRC, with XLR8 and Terra Firma astern of her. XLR8 holds the handicap lead overall from Rush and Terra Firma, in that order.

It is no surprise then that Ikon did well today in Division One for both IRC, which they won, and the Australian Measurement System, to now hold a strangler’s grip on the silverware. Also doing well today were Wicked, Jazz Player, Mille Sabords and Addiction. All of these vessels also feature heavily in the series leader boards.

The Division Two and Three course was under the auspices of PRO, David Leroy, today. David commented, 'The breeze played its part and faded just a little for the last boats, when it was more like seven knots. It was so hot on land today, and I know everyone was happy to be out there on the Bay. The CBD was virtually obscured by the heat haze that did seem to get thicker as the afternoon built. No doubt the best place to be was the Bay and some good racing made it even better.'

'I did not have to adjust the course during the race and some good shifts were there to help the better sailors make the most of it. Both sides of the track were used, with plenty of the course being utilised, in fact all the way out to the corners of the envelope, when the shifts demanded it.'

'There was just the one On Course Side in Division Two. This was Under Capricorn. 2Extreme was just plain old late to the start. This was a flavour that extended to the Division Three start, with Take Five being just that, a little over five minutes late to the start. They would go on to score a result, so full credit to them for not giving up. In Div3 it was all about Watermark II, who had a superb day', Leroy added.

For Division Two it was a White Noise kind of day in IRC, with Top Gun and Wind Speed also in the mix. The ever-consistent Toecutter II took the AMS honours, which meant Wind Speed and Stitched Up had to stand on the lower places of the dais. Wind Speed did take the handicap gun, with Where’s Wal? and White Noise only up to 30 seconds out of the gold.

Even though they did not race today, the all-conquering Adams 10, Executive Decision, still commands the IRC leader board, but another Adams 10, Top Gun and Jason Close’s, White Noise, are closing in. Toecutter has a seemingly unassailable lead in AMS with White Noise and Executive Decision looking to hold out Wild Side from that party. White Noise leads Wild Side and Dark Energy in the handicap race for the series to date, but Where’s Wal? is in the mix and Under Capricorn could well rue today’s calamity, in terms of points. Doh!

As mentioned, Watermark II did well today, where they took both the IRC and AMS crown and a second in Performance Handicap. Overall they are third in IRC and leading both AMS and PHS. Intrusion and Good Question are part of what you might also call the usual suspects. They both had a good day, at the end of which, Intrusion leads the IRC battle for the Club Marine Series (Div3) and holds third in both AMS and PHS. Nice work, indeed! Today’s comment is all about Mood Indigo, the little S80, for they got up to take the handicap win. Well done, team.

Club Marine Series, Blue Division, now with fleet starts, spinnakers and even mini-passage races for the 2014 component, also had a sensational day on the Bay. Showing the way to all of the marks was Cartouche, but it would be Instant Karma that got the win, with Zardos and Andalucia taking out the minors in this handicap only division. This division has been created this season to allow for crews to build towards the four main White Divisions, and has been warmly received. The smiles are testament to that.

Hosted by the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, their Sailing Manager and PRO, David Staley said, 'The Organising Authority is delighted to bring this new set of opportunities for racing to the Bay. We're all very much excited about the pathway to take people from stern chasers and ultimately on to the Club Marine Series White Divisions. These are great amendments to enhance this sensational event, founded on the spirit of co-operation.'

If you're based in Melbourne and think the Club Marine Series sounds like great fun, then you’d be right. So come out and get amongst it. Casual entry is welcome and in fact, very much encouraged! Just use you home club's entry system and you are in... The next round is on February 22, 2014, and promises to be as entertaining as always.

Blue Division is a new initiative to get novice skippers and/or crew out racing from fleet starts and begin the process of learning their boat and the rules and nuances of racing. If you’re short of crew, perhaps see the Melbourne Sailing website, where there are around 40 sailors looking to get into sailing and out on the water. They range from beginners to intermediates, but all are keen. Full details can be found at www.clubmarineseries.com.au
Many thanks to all the participants for being involved in the Club Marine Series, but also and especially the many volunteers it takes to run two courses on the day, let alone the preparation beforehand. Thank you also to Yachting Victoria and Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, who provided the media vessels for the day.

The Club Marine Series is proudly sponsored by Australia's largest provider of recreational boat insurance - details and full information about the series can be found at www.clubmarineseries.com.au