Melbourne to Launceston. An Experienced Hand.

7:15 AM Fri 4 Dec 2009 GMT

'David’s latest toy is the Simonis-Voogd designed IY60 that made it back to Melbourne late last year, just in time for the Entire Group Cock of the Bay. - Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston' John Curnow

Melbourne to Launceston - is a very good thing to have around, indeed! David Currie has been a part of the whole thing for a long time. Not as many years as the Rudder Cup, for sure, but long enough to have covered some serious miles.

David, the big 60 foot Cruiser/Racer 'Belle' and her crew from RBYC are going to be at the Port Melbourne start line again this year for the start of the Cock of the Bay on Boxing Day. However, this year, they are going to carry on and go stick their nose in it on December 27th and thereby have a crack at the Melbourne to Launceston record, as set by the Jones' with their 'Cadibarra (VIII)' in 2003. It stands at 19:55:43 or an average of essentially 10knots!

Now at 60 feet, you would have to think they are in the mix for the 'Dash for the Cash' across the Paddock aka Bass Strait, unless it is an absolute drifter, like this year's Melbourne to Stanley was. The $1000 prize for setting a new record will not go too far on bar tab for a crew from a 60 footer, so David may well find another deserving place for the funds - then again, nuh. Rum rules.

You would also have to think that as she rates well, 'Belle' may just get the 'Yellow Ribband' and be one step closer to that that magnificent carbon fibre wheel, which is the prize for taking out the McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship.

I had a chat with David last week, as he was bringing 'Belle' down from the Gold Coast to Sydney. They had taken her right up North for the cruising season, which must have been a six-star blast.

So what about all those miles then? Well it's not just the miles, you see. It's the names too! Just take a look at the shortened list below and you will see some serious craft and he's done a lot of races to Devonport (predecessor to Launceston as the destination for the race).

* 1976 - on board 'Winston Churchill' - 2nd across the line to Devonport behind 'Gretel'.
* 1977 - purchased our first ocean racing yacht, 'Damel', a Farr 1104 - 14th overall in the Sydney to Hobart of that year.
* 1978 - took Line Honours and Handicap to Devonport and won the Rudder Cup
* 1980 - won M2Devonport again
* 1982 - M2H Westcoaster
* 1983 - M2H Westcoaster
* 1984 - purchased 'Once More Dear Friends' and broke the mast in Sydney to Hobart
* 1985 - Victorian Southern Cross team, 5th overall in Sydney to Hobart
* 1986 - won Devonport and Rudder Cup, 2nd over the line
* 1991 - on board 'Cotton Blossom' (owned by Eddy Barron) - line honours and handicap for Melbourne to Devonport
* 2000 - purchased the Swan 60, 'Lady Godiva'
* 2006 - did the inaugural Melbourne to Vanuatu
* 2007 - Melbourne to Launceston
* 2007 - purchased 'Belle' and sold 'Lady Godiva' (a Swan 60)
* 2008 - cruised the Med on 'Belle' before shipping her home
* 2008 - did Cock of the Bay on 'Belle'
* 2009 - took 'Belle' North for the Sydney to Southport and beyond

Will David be showing up for the 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu or the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and Rally?

Good questions - let's see what happens. At any rate, great to see you getting into the Melbourne to Launceston, David, and we look forward to seeing you and your team out there from Boxing Day.

Bob ’Freight Train’ Williams and George Shaw hold up the Melbourne to Sydney trophy that hasn’t seen too much daylight since the late 70’s and will be back, as part of Bob’s 2011 AAORR. - Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston - John Curnow

by John Curnow