THE 51st Melbourne to King Island yacht race has been run and won and once again crews thanked islanders for their hospitality.
THE 51st Melbourne to King Island Yacht Race got under way with blue skies, sunshine and easterly winds at seven to 10 knots.
Last Friday night, 32 boats left Queenscliff to make their way across Bass Strait to Grassy.
The light conditions prevented the large boats from getting away, and Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Paul Buchholz’s Cookson 50, Extasea had a slower start, but one hour in, started to move through the pack and chased the leading group and proved its power and went on to take Line Honours in Grassy.
The fleet endured a very light, and somewhat frustrating night at sea, with the lead boat only advancing 36nm in the 10 hours. Tai Tam skippered by Jeremy Cooper retired early due to lack of wind at 23:20 Friday evening and motored to Grassy. By morning, the larger boats, Extasea, Scarlet Runner and Ruyjin, with MRV and Hartbreaker were looking to take advantage of the first sign of new and more consistent breezes expected closer to the top of King Island by around 9am Saturday and focussed on crossing the line first.
Extasea found wind first and pulled away from the leading pack and
took line honours and received the first crayfish of the day and enjoyed
a much-anticipated steak sandwich. The handicap honours were still wide open on Saturday morning as the lighter boats in the 40ft range headed to Grassy.
The wind finally came and overall winner was Another Chapter [B71] (based on AMS), finished the race at 19:12; skippered by Neil Sargeant with crew of Greg Blanch, Cherry Birch, Peter Demura, Julie Mckay, Jacob Stuchbery, Philipa Lamb and Ken Christensen. 2nd Scarlet Runner and 3rd Solera.
While the race to King Island is one of the shorter ocean races at
a mere 114 miles, it is a Category 2 race and part of the Offshore Championship and is regarded by mainland yachties as an ‘adventure’ and ‘unpredictable’.
Ocean Racing Club Victoria’s (ORCV) ‘Clean Oceans’ activity is a new initiative this year. Theclub water sample tested for micro plastics and plankton from two competing yachts. Immediate Past Commodore, Grant Dunoon (Blue Water Tracks) and present Commodore, Cyrus Allen (White Spirit), were entrusted with this task.
Once ashore the crews expressed their appreciation to the King Island Boat Club and their hospitality, and prizes of crayfish, steak sandwiches and cheese. A spokesperson for ORCV said, “The Mayor’s speech was lovely, no- actually it was fabulous.”
As in past years, about half a dozen boats almost immediately turned around and returned toVictoria – “We came for the steak sandwich.”
The KIBC changed shifts and the morning crew served up a hearty Sunday morning breakfast to the many boats which stayed for the Mayor’s trophy and produce presentations. All divisional winners and results can be found on ORCV Facebook page and website.