The most colourFULL man in Australian yachting lives on

by John Curnow on 22 Nov 2009 The Melbourne Latitude Series, Bass Strait Latitude Race skippers and crews enjoyed the great hospitality that we have become accustomed to from our hosts at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron last night and again this morning. Many thanks again to the BYS Commodore, Brian Fitzpatrick, Vice Commodore Jenni Maclean, Rear Commodore Brian Smith and Manager, Gerard Clarke.

Ocean Racing Club of Victoria members and participants are looking forward to their sensational Mornington Peninsula hospitality again, after the Cock of the Bay race on Boxing Day.

Prizes were awarded for the Melbourne Latitude Series, Bass Strait Latitude Race to the following Skippers, at a BYS function last night:

1st. Kevin Robinson, No Fearr from RBYC

2nd. Joanne Harpur, Spirit of Freya from RBYC and

3rd. Burggraaf Hibbert, Remedy from RMYS

The other prize presented last night, was a very special one indeed. The inaugural Geoff 'Megga' Bascombe Novice Skipper Award. 'Megga' passed away on November 9th, whilst delivering a Volvo 60 from Darwin to Hong Kong.

His passing has been felt throughout the ocean sailing community and the ORCV is proud to honour the country's most colourFull character with this award. Kathryn De Garis, from RBYC with her Beneteau 35, 'Allegresse', is the first winner. 'It's an honour to have received this and from what Neville 'Nifty' Rose has told me about him, they're very big shoes to fill. I understand he was always there to help people like me, so I am sure he would find it very fitting', Kathryn commented.

At 08:05, the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron to Sandringham Yacht Club Pursuit Race pre-race Sign On sched time, the BOM forecast was for SW 10 to 20 knots. The actual picture at BYS was a little different, however. Heavy rain, very little wind and the online weather observations from around Victoria showed that the weather systems moving towards us had in fact slowed:

Result. Postpone for one hour. So where as the little S&S30 'Harmony' had been listed for a 09:00 start, they did in fact get away at 10:00, with the last boat to go, 'Schuss', crossing the start line at 11:22.

As Race Director, 'Nifty' would like to thank 'No Fearr' for going and visiting 'Chikara Outlaw' in the berth next door to them, to wake them (knowing them, they would have made a great night of it) for the pre-race Sign On sched. 'Chikara Outlaw' apologised profusely for their tardiness, but stressed that they were under the impression that the Race Director had actually advised everyone last night, that the pre-race sign on sched was in fact at 09:00.

Not likely for two reasons. 1. Radio silence time and 2. Designated departure for the first boat, 'Harmony' (It was on the same starting times list as their own spot).

As the adjusted starting time approached and the rain gave way to more of a misty shower and generally overcast view, 'Nifty' opted to call the Warning Signal and Start Signal times over the VHF radio, rather than fire the White and Green Flares, which were unlikely to be sighted by competing yachts given the conditions, or so he believed.

'Yoko's radio operator objected to this, stating that this was unfair, given the crews were required to be out in the rain and thought the race starter should also be out in the rain. Yoko's objection was duly noted, considered and then summarily dismissed. What would you come to expect from a Navi-guesser who's more inclined to being down below in his Smoking Jacket and slippers, than his wets!

Conditions had definitely improved as 'Harmony' began at 10:00, with the rain lightening right off and wind building from the SW at 10 - 15 knots. By 12:00, roughly near South Channel Mark #19, there was very close racing between 'Chikara Outlaw', 'The Secretary' and 'No Fearr'.

Shortly thereafter, our back marker,' Schuss' rounded the same mark, hoisted her spinnaker and headed North for home.