It's all a game of catch up!

by John Curnow on 13 Jun 2009
Races One and Two of the 2008/20009 Melbourne Latitude Series (MLS), the Bass Strait and BYS to SYC Pursuit races were initially scheduled for the weekend of November 22 & 23, 2008. At that time, they were postponed due to adverse weather conditions, which were deemed not suitable for Category 3 yachts - just look at the recent Melbourne to Apollo Bay for an example.

Finding a suitable date to re-schedule these races proved very difficult with the number of yachting events around the Bay. Ultimately, the weekend of June 13 & 14, 2009 was chosen.

The withdrawals. Well if anyone was missing ocean racing, some did not want to find out how much. I do not blame them, as my hands are cold just on the keyboard here in Newcastle... 'Addiction' withdrew before even leaving the quay, as they were concerned about cold conditions. 'Biddy Hu 2' had a problem with their main sheet traveller overnight and are tied up in Queenscliff - all the crew are fit and well thank you (and a damn sight warmer in front of a fire at a really nice pub if it was me). If they can get a 19mm deep socket to repair the traveller, we'll be seeing them at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron later today and they'll be able to race in the Blairgowrie to Sandringham Latitude Pursuit race tomorrow.

Most yachts had a very quick trip down the Bay yesterday afternoon or evening to this morning's start off Shortland Bluff, Queenscliff. Winds were from the North at 20-25 knots, which was pretty much the forecast for the race area today, perhaps decreasing during the day.

The MLS Bass Strait race got underway at 0500 hours in very fresh and no doubt ultra-biting Northerly of some 20 knots. Crews will definitely be rugged up as much as possible, as the mercury struggles to get above 8°C, before wind chill even comes into the calculations!!! These conditions will be providing the novices onboard some yachts, who are sticking their nose out of Port Phillip Heads and into Bass Strait for the first time, a taste of what ocean racing can be like at the more savage end of the scale.

On a positive note however, those very same cold and fresh winds will provide for a quick race for the first part downhill. Concurrently, the unique tactical and navigation challenge that the Latitude Bass Strait race provides, will be keeping navigators busy deciding what angle to sail to their designated latitude, as whilst travelling due South will be the quickest way to their turning latitude, it presents a hard and very ugly beat, straight on the nose on the way back to the finish line.

Accordingly, some compromise will reduce the pounding into the Northerly on the way home and may keep the breaky and lunch in its correct place, i.e. warming you up on the inside! Given the 'brisk' (read freezing) temperature on deck, we may find many of the navigators spending a significant amount of time downstairs in their smoking jackets and slippers performing the numerous tactical computations required to get these angles correct.

At the 07:05hrs Radio Sked in the MLS Bass Strait Race, all yachts had elected to sail a course that has taken them well West of a due South Rhumbline to their designated Latitude, with the notable exception of 'Spindrift'.

Dichotomously, 'Spindrift' is in fact well East of a due South Rhumbline, with 'Beyond Outrageous' closest to their turning latitude, followed by 'Spindrift' and 'Yoko', it will be interesting to see whether the tactic to head West or East will be favoured in the end. Of course, the latitude turning point is just half way and the fleet has to then smash back into the Northerly (hence the pic). At least the waves won't be too big for the ride home, but those showers at BYS will look amazingly good later tonight/early tomorrow. Conditions onboard at the nav desk are reported as a tad toastier than on deck. As boats are now close to there turning points the crews would be advised to have there breakfast before the boats turn around, as it going to be a bit bumpy on the way back.

Wind Observations since the start of the race are:
• South Channel North at 28-29 knots
• Aireys Inlet Nor-Nor-East at 10-11 knots
• Cape Otway North at 19-21 knots

Hot of the press!!! The boats reached their turning points in the following order, with the first boat turning at 07:43hrs -

1. 'Beyond Outrageous'
2. 'Yoko'
3. 'Remedy'
4. 'Mrs Overnewton'
5. 'The Secretary'
6. 'Spindrift'
7. 'Magazan 53'
8. 'Caledonia'.

http://www.orcv.org.au/