Melbourne's Tassie Trio Races set south
by Teri Dodds / John Curnow on 27 Dec 2011
Under Capricorn gets airborn in the race out of the Rip - 2011 ORCV Tassie Trio Heemskirk Consolidated Eastcoaster and Westcoaster Teri Dodds
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The ORCV's Tassie Trio set of Offshore Races got away cleanly from the Portsea Pier at 10.00am today, December 27. The combined fleet of 38 starters, set off in patchy 10 - 12 knots from the SE, which softened as they reached the turning mark off Queenscliff.
Apart from being a rather grand spectacle, it is also somewhat famous for the first award of the day - the Port Phillip Sea Pilots Trophy, which goes to the first vessel that makes it out the Heads. Going back in time, the Pilots used to have one of their vessels as the turning mark at Shortland Bluff, off Queenscliff.
Gusto won the Dash to the Heads last year and was fired up to do the same again. They certainly got out the Heads first this morning in the mild breeze and that could be a lot of what the sailors see. Veloce was next to follow around with Goldfinger and XLR8, in hot pursuit.
In training for their assault on 2013 Melbourne to Osaka Race are Rosie Colohan and Robyn Brooke, sailing Pretty Woman, who are today heading for Launceston.
If you're in front, you must be going well. If you've been the reigning ORCV Offshore Champion for three years running, you're doing better than well. Leading the 40th Westcoaster is Paul Buchholz and his DK46 eXtasea.
Leading the Eastcoaster to Hobart is Gusto, while Arch Rival currently is at the pointy end of the Helly Hansen Melbourne to Launceston fleet.
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