Ecstasy or Extasea? Queenscliff to Apollo Bay race

by Tony Bull on 4 Jun 2007 The Queenscliff to Apollo Bay race is a race that has become a very popular event in Victorian waters with this year being no exception. Thirty one entries braved a wintry Bass Strait in the race from the historic town of Queenscliff, located just inside Port Phillip Heads and westward, to the picturesque town of Apollo Bay some 52 miles down the coast.

Race officials of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria were on the horns of a dilemma because a gale was forecast for all Bass Strait waters.

A quick chat to the weather bureau promised that, in the short term, no more than 20-30 knots could be expected and so the race was on. Sadly, twelve entrants chose not to start.

There's one unique feature of Victorian ocean racing and that is, that all races must firstly sail out through the notorious Rip at Port Phillip Heads and secondly, it must start at slack water. This is vitally important because conditions can, and do, get extremely nasty in this treacherous piece of water. This means that for shorter races, which are ideally based around a weekend’s duration, they have to start at an ungodly hour of the morning.

This year there was no exception and, at 3 am yes, 0300, in the dark, well rugged up crews and nineteen yachts set sail. Our reporter, Tony Bull was onboard the Royal Geelong Yacht, 'Extasea' (a Sydney 40 owned by Paul Buchholz), skippered by Jamie 'Nudge' Bennett in Paul's absence. Despite the gloomy forecast it was almost perfect sailing conditions that greeted the fleet in an 8-12 knot north-westerly wind which meant sprung sheets (everything eased) all the way to Apollo Bay.

'Extasea' got away to a good start and was in the lead as Port Phillip Heads approached. Then Mike Hiatts much travelled Cookson 50 'Living Doll' came flying up behind and slipped past to leeward to leave 'Extasea' watching the rest of the race seeing 'Living Doll's' stern light and silhouette get smaller and smaller as she disappeared into the gloom.

The race was sailed in an offshore wind which fluctuated in strength and direction, before it increased to thirty knots, swept down the valleys and disappeared under the headlands. On the foredecks, many calls were made for spinnaker and headsail changes only to be quickly cancelled as the breeze swung back and forth.

The gaps between yachts varied under these conditions as first one then another caught the line of breeze to carry it for a while as the others languished.

'Extasea' sailed most of the race in close company with the Farr 47 'Ninety Seven', but as the wind built to the expected 30 knots, 'Ninety Seven' was able to move away and finish in second place behind 'Living Doll'. Geelong boat, 'Extasea' took out third place across the line even as the distinctive big roached mainsail of 'Spirit of Downunder' was closing fast.

On AMS, 'Extasea' took out 3rd place and were 4th on IRC. That was not a bad race considering that the conditions didn't really suit the Sydney 40.

Most competitors took the opportunity to head back immediately in an effort to make Port Phillip Heads before the forecast gale force winds struck. 'Extasea' had a very quick and uneventful run until they were about 10 miles out from the heads. The wind finally caught them and gusts of 50 knots forced hurried reduction of sail area to a No.4 but only after retrieving the shredded No.3 and lowering the mainsail.

Apart from the damage, the timing was perfect as 'Extasea' rocketed through the heads doing 14 knots right on slack water just before the seas really built. The boats behind would have certainly had a much tougher time of it as 'Extasea' motored into the Queenscliff Cut.

So it was a few Bundy and Cokes in the local while waiting for loved ones to take the crew home. It can honestly be said that everyone slept VERY well that night!.