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Tassie Trio Launch at Ocean Racing Club of Victoria

by John Curnow on 7 Dec 2010
Carpe Diem, designed by Joe Adams, is one of two South Australian boats taking on the challenging Westcoaster race in 2010 - Ocean Racing Club of Victoria - Tassie Trio Launch John Curnow
Tassie Trio Launch.

Just under 50 boats will take to the world-renowned Bass Strait on December 27, bound for Tasmania. The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s annual Tassie Trio comprises of three fleets. One goes to Launceston, which is Australia’s oldest ocean race. In 2010, the Melbourne to Launceston (M2L) event is 103 years old!


To celebrate that event’s centenary in 2007, the entire ocean fleet was diverted through the finish line at Low Head, at the mouth of the Tamar River, before the Hobart fleet then ventured on to Tasmania’s East coast to complete their own journey. It proved so popular with all its nuances and intricacies, which are the defining characteristics of the Eastcoaster, that in 2008 and with a now more direct course across Bass Strait, it became a race in its own right (the M2HE).

The third member of the ORCV Tassie Trio is the fabled Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster (M2HW). Since 1972, sailors with an eye for a challenge have taken on the waters down past Tasmania’s World Heritage listed coastline.
Heemskirk Consolidated is proud to be associated with the ORCV, for not only do they have mining operations near Mt Heemskirk in Tasmania, it was also the name of Abel Tasman’s flagship during his voyages of discovery.

There are many wonderful stories amongst the fleet that has done all the necessary preparations to take on Bass Strait proper. None would be more compelling however than that of Robin Hewitt’s, Yoko. In 2010 they will begin their 29th consecutive Westcoaster. Indeed, Trevor Huggard, who sails aboard her will be completing his 30th and lots of the crew are also well into the 20’s. She is a steel sloop, designed by Bob Miller and Craig Whitworth. The former would go on to change his name to Ben Lexcen and stamp an indelible mark on yachting’s greatest prize, with a 132 year breaking sledgehammer called Australia II.


Yoko still has her original mast and since doing her first Westcoaster in 1982, she has also completed one 1885nm Melbourne to Vanuatu, an 1100nm Brisbane to Gizo and two 5500nm Melbourne to Osaka races.

Elsewhere, the classic East versus West battle is set to continue with the Open 66, Gusto, in the Westcoaster, with Peter Blake and Kate Mitchell’s Farr52, Goldfinger having to travel 20 nautical miles further in the Eastcoaster. It’s all weather dependent and only Huey, the God of Wind, will know what is going to be the outcome. If there are strong Southerlies, then Goldfinger may well prevail. However, if Gusto can launch any of her massive spinnakers, then she will take flight, literally. Veloce and XLR8 are also there to ensure those two vessels remember the golden rule, that in order to finish first, first you have to finish.

Joining Gusto for the Westcoaster are two entrants from the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron. Enchantress and Carpe Diem are looking forward to taking on the challenge afforded by this amazing race.

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Over with the Goldfinger in the Eastcoaster is another pair - a pair of Swans to be precise. Nautor Swan manufactures the nautical equivalent of Rolls Royce. Dream Catcher III has recently arrived from Europe, where she did extensive cruising and racing in the Mediterranean. Built in 1996, nearly 20 years, six feet and six tonnes separates the Swan 60, Dream Catcher 3 from her cousin, the Swan 66 ketch (which means pair of masts), Independent Endeavour. The latter weighs in at a sizeable 34tonnes and accordingly, takes the prize for having the most mass amongst the fleet.

To get the fleets down from Melbourne to Port Phillip Heads there is the Boxing Day Dash race on December 26th. After their respective ocean races, the M2L fleet sail in the TasPorts Cup on December 29th to round out the Ruder Cup Series. Both M2H fleets compete in the King of the Derwent on January 2nd to complete their own three-race sets - the Sovereign Series (M2HW) and Salamanca Series (M2HE). Winning any one of these is a mark of a crew’s all-round ability.

Information about all of these great races can be found at www.orcv.org.au


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