9:50 AM Tue 27 Oct 2009 GMT
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''Matangi' in Port Phillip Heads about to round the turning mark and head for home in the last Melbourne to Launceston - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship'
John Curnow
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The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's 2009 Melbourne to Stanley race is a qualifier for the annual Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston and the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster.
'Hummingbird' is a Farr37 that hails from the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart and lately they have been calling Sydney home. They are coming down to try out Bass Strait proper in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's 2009 Melbourne to Stanley race. 'Matangi' is from the Tamar Yacht Club, who is our host for the annual Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston.
This year, Australia's Oldest Ocean Race has $1000 up for grabs. All you have to do is break the record of 19 hours, 55 minutes and 43 seconds, as set by the Jones' 42footer (12.93m) 'Cadibarra' (VIII) in 2003.
Now that's a lovely segue into a piece we saw earlier about 'Caledonia', who are preparing for their first ever Silly Season race, the 2009 Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston. Also completing their mandatory Bass Strait foray before Christmas are 'Biddy Hu II', who we also saw in an earlier piece reviewing them as they prepare for their first big time event, the 2009 Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster. We wish both crews really well, as they prepare to get out there and stick their noses in it.
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'Caledonia' have prepared very meticulously for their first outing. - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow
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We heartily welcome both of our Interstate racers, joining all the rest of the forty strong fleet for the annual ORCV qualifying jaunt heading South. In that fleet will be the Lord Warden trophy winners (best overall in the MWS), Robert Sill's 'INSX' who are getting ready for the Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster this year. In the '45 feet and under' department will be boats like 'The Secretary' and 'Wicked', as well as 'Geomatic Joker' from Mornington, 'Chikara Outlaw', 'Ice Fire' and 'Jazz Player' - all of whom can really put some miles down if they get set into it. Angus Fletcher's 'Tevake II', the 13.7m Radford, will be a good bet too, if they can just get the breeze past about 110 degrees true.
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Lord Warden Trophy winners - 'INSX' - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow
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Small, but now terribly addicted to the blue water thing after their first effort last year, is the team aboard the Elan 434, 'Pretty Woman' from Brighton - and then there is also the petite, but big hitting 'Godzilla', also lining up in December for Hobart via the East Coast.
'Schuss' took care of their MOB training back in the Melbourne Winter Series, so they were set to go. As it turns out, we've just learned that the owner has indeed broken a knee and so are not going now. Neither is 'Merlion' where the owner has a broken elbow. Just what's up with these owner types then? To top it off 'Addiction' is also not a starter after a port/starboard issue during racing on Port Phillip last week.
'Magic' will be there however, after their heavenly guidance in the inaugural Melbourne to Geelong, as will be the boat that just keeps popping up in articles, 'Under Capricorn'.
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The sky mysteriously opened directly above 'Magic' - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow
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So welcome to all competitors in the 2009 Melbourne to Stanley and especially our Interstate friends - it's great to see you. Of course the McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheel is going to be of dearly sought after, especially for boats like the ones named in this article. Perhaps some are angling to get in early and we'll see a lot more of them over the course of the 2009/10 McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship. You never know, they may even lead some of their other brothers from their respective States into the mix.
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'Biddy Hu II' is set for their first ever run to Hobart - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow
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'Schuss' took care of the MOB Training in during the Melbourne Winter Series, but now cannot go to Stanley - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow
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We saw 'Addiction' arrive for racing without having flossed. they're going to need more than dental floss to repair a hole after an accident during racing last week. - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow
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by John Curnow
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