Melbourne to Vanuatu - A record (of sorts)

by John Curnow on 6 Jul 2010 With midnight approaching on day two of the Melbourne to Vanuatu yacht race, the leader, Scarlet Runner has covered 273 miles at an average of 7.3knots, during the 36 hours that have elapsed since the start.

The whole fleet are in good spirits, with some around 90 miles astern and the last boat, Slinky Malinky, around 150 nautical miles behind the leader. A gap like that means that there have been variances in both the strength and bearing of the breeze.

The lighter boats have certainly made use of these conditions and the crews have got some sun on their bodies to thaw them out from the very cold conditions experienced overnight. In fact, it would be a safe bet that tonight will be no warmer. For that, they may have to wait quite a few days indeed, given the modest progress the whole fleet is achieving in the slight conditions.

Other pieces of equipment to come out earlier than expected were hats, sandals and BBQs. The latter has even been a source of inspiration for the crew of the 51st Project, who are now using the installation of the cockpit table as a drill, for which they are keeping very accurate timing.

Lex O'Connor, the Navigator onboard says, ‘We enjoyed a BBQ on day two of the M2V. Current conditions 2.3 Knots of breeze, somewhere from the Northwest. So, the BBQ was the best tactical option - record time to set up the cockpit table that we have achieved to date! Plan is to ensure we can get better at it.'

From onboard The Secretary, Robyn Brooke also tells us, ‘Although I was thinking of somewhere like Vanuatu when I said, 'take me somewhere warm George', you certainly can't complain about 15 degrees at 6pm in Bass Strait, in the middle of Winter. As expected, we have a diminishing breeze and a very sloppy sea, both heading the same way we want to go, so it's a little bit rock 'n roll and very slow. Thank goodness for the boom brake, which is stopping any accidents.'

Getting back to their Masterchef Division race with Ingenue, Robyn added ‘I whipped up some Kiev medallions for lunch, with a japanese red cabbage salad - nice and light, so looking forward to a good Italian fettucini with meatballs and shaved parmesan for dinner (and maybe a really nice glass of red).'

‘It was a fun family night at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron on Saturday, thanks to everyone who came down and the great send off from Portsea yesterday. It was wonderful to see such a big crowd.'

With the race leader about to round ‘the corner', as Gabo Island is for this race, we received this report from onboard a little while ago. ‘Nearing Point Hicks at 5pm. Sunny but cold. Beating into a 9 knot SE. Will be at Gabo (Island) before midnight. Most asleep and dinner soon.'

To find out who's where in the chase of the container full of humanitarian aid going to Vanuatu, please go to the Tracker at www.orcv.org.au