Melbourne
to Stanley Race is Anniversary Swan Song for ORCV Commodore
(Melbourne
26-Oct-2005): This year's Melbourne to Stanley Yacht Race
is more than one major milestone for the Ocean Racing Club
of Victoria's Commodore, Angus Fletcher.
Angus will once
again take his place in the fleet of 33 yachts starting at
Port Phillip Heads south of Melbourne on Saturday, 29th October.
If the winds are fair to Angus and his crew on his 40' racing
yacht, Tevake, he will be celebrating his 60th birthday in
style at Stanley's Dockside Carnival the next day. Angus'
wife Holly, travelling down form Melbourne by air, will meet
him as they come in to the dock. They will be spending his
birthday in a small cottage just outside Stanley. Holly, who
often jokes that she takes second place to Angus' yacht Tevake,
sees this as a major concession.
This year's Melbourne
to Stanley Yacht Race will be doubly poignant for Angus as
it will be the last race for him on his beloved yacht, Tevake.
Angus built Tevake, an Adams/Radford 40', in 1986 and has
raced her hard over the years, culminating with a win in the
Melbourne to Hobart in 2001. However, the last few years have
seen more modern boats whittle away at her competitive edge,
leading to Angus' decision to move up to "something bigger".
He currently has Tevake up for sale but only to "a good
home".
Something bigger
for Angus is a Radford 45' which he brought over from WA.
His new boat, to be called Tevake II, is being prepared for
the hardships of Bass Strait and will be ready for the Melbourne
to Hobart. Angus intends to race her in the ORCV's race, the
Melbourne to Vanuatu Ocean Race in July of next year.
A strong fleet
of 33 yachts is preparing for the first Bass Strait crossing
of the summer Ocean Racing season, the Melbourne to Stanley
Yacht Race, which starts on Saturday 29th October.
Flirt,
a Corby 49, owned and skippered by Chris Dare are determined
to break the race record a time of 14 hours 36 minutes and
15 seconds set in 2002 by Kontrol. Flirt will not have it
all its own way as the crew of Kontrol battle against time
to get their boat ready and be able to defend their title.
In the meantime Shogun, a DK46, have stated they will do everything
to beat Flirt over the line. These are just 3 of the boats
to openly state their intention. Other front runners will
include Gusto, an 0pen 60, Dekadence, another DK46, Solitare,
a Roberts 50 and Icefire, a Mummery 45. These contenders will
make up a very fast fleet of very experienced ocean racers
CLASSIFIEDS AUSTRALIA
