Addiction and Apollo Bay

by John Curnow on 7 Apr 2010 Addiction is an Inglis 37 that was returning home to Melbourne, having taken part in the Melbourne to Port Fairy race, which had got underway at 0415hrs on Good Friday.

Early on Sunday morning, she decided to pull in at Apollo Bay, so as to get out of the weather in Bass Strait (what a good idea). They checked with the Harbour Master to ensure there was at least 3m of water in the channel at the entrance, which they were assured there was. Coming in on the leads, a system of poles and beacons are used to guide you in to a port, they ran aground and lost their way immediately. As a result, the boat was pushed towards the beach and firmly shoved into the sand. They deployed their anchor immediately and then made efforts to leave the vessel in the 'duck' that had come out to assist them. All crew were well and thanked the local authorities for their efforts, who in turn praised the crew for their skill and knowledge in activating their abandon ship procedures.

At the time there was at least 30knots from the NE blowing at Cape Otway and the sea would have been up to 3m with a 1.5m sea on top of that.

The ORCV has an impeccable record over the last 60 years that it has been running races in the notorious Bass Strait and to Tasmania. It is one the club is justifiably proud of. To that end, there are countless training and safety exercises, procedures and plans that all crews are proficient in, so as to be allowed to race. The positive outcome in this instance, in terms of human injury and life, is testament to this.

At 1500hrs on Sunday April 4th, she was afloat on the higher tide and inside the breakwater, alongside the quay. The vessel has sustained damage, most notably to the keel bolts that hold the keel to the hull and is to be removed from the water at Apollo Bay for inspection and clarification. She will most likely be brought back to Melbourne by truck for repairs. As such, the port was considered unsafe by the ORCV, who, in conjunction with Bacardi, set about advising other yachts in the area of this fact.

This year, the ORCV Melbourne to Port Fairy race raised $1500 for the Good Friday appeal. For the last 30 years, the ORCV has been proud to ask participants over the radio to donate and then collect the money at Port Fairy for sending on to the Royal Children's Hospital.

Pictures by Marc Tracy from Mrs Overnewton, out of RMYS. Many thanks to Mary Kay of Smithton Radio, Peter Clancy ORCV Melbourne, Steb Fisher, David Bingham of Mirrabooka, Marty Powers of Bacardi, Marc Tracy and the local SLSC and Rescue authorities for all their assistance, input and efforts.