5:20 AM Fri 5 Mar 2010 GMT
Now King Island in the middle of our notorious Bass Strait is gastronomically famous for amazing beef, superlative crayfish and sensational cheese. This weekend, the annual Melbourne to King Island race gets underway and those culinary delights are going to be joined by Swan, which was a favourite of English Regals, not all that long ago.
Our Swan, however, is going to be a Nautor Swan 65, called Independent Endeavour and we're delighted to be seeing her make her way out into the big blue, for the first time in a long while.
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Caledonia takes on Melbourne's Port Phillip in the colder months. - Melbourne to King Island - John Curnow
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Joining her is Malcolm Mitchell's, Caledonia, who hold one of the McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship flags already and are keen for another, which may well be enough to see them walk away with the McConaghy wheel at the end of the season.
They also seem to be ultra keen on securing another much coveted Ocean Racing Club of Victoria title: that of, 'Happiest Crew On The Water', which is currently held by Audacious, who also went after it with much vengeance and passion. I say this because their exceptionally well-completed entry states the following as their crew roles;
. Malcolm Mitchell, Captain
. Paul Pascoe, Yeoman
. Paul Jenkins, Ship's Chaplain
. Kim Barnard, Purser
. Shane Davies, Cook
. Fletcher Johnson, Cabin Boy
We certainly hope the Cabin boy doesn't suffer a whipping and all I can say is that I am glad he is not named Roger.Perhaps with a name like Fletcher we should be more worried about a mutiny, which is why ORCV Race Administrator, Dennis Livingston, reminded me that 'Ship's Chaplains preside over burials at sea and can also perform marriage ceremonies - the nuptial only valid for the duration of the voyage', he added with a smile.
With all the marriages going onboard Audacious, perhaps they should be coming to King Island, after all. Try before you buy, you know.
Also sticking their nose out into it for the first time in a while is the Pacific 50, Magic Carpet. She's making the voyage two-handed and their entry states that Dean Coates is the Skipper and Steve Twentyman is the Co-Pilot, so I guess we now know who is going to be up in the clouds flying the carpet.
Roger and Michelle Wale and crew from Pretty Woman are going and they won the very first MMOC flag for the season opening Melbourne to Stanley race.
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Roger and Michelle Wale and crew won the first MMOC flag. Will they get another this trip? - Melbourne to King Island - John Curnow
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As Rosie and David are not going with Ing?nue, I fully expect them to rise to the culinary challenge and provide scrumptious meals for the voyage down and back. Let's see what happens there.
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Captain Malcolm Mitchell will take the happy crew of Caledonia to King Island. What will they win? - Melbourne to King Island - John Curnow
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While we remember, let's also thank our hosts at the King Island Boat Club who amongst other things, make all the amazing meals we eat down there.
In terms of winners, well ocean racing is. So thanks to all of the competitors for getting organised and being part of it. Look for Magic Carpet to be amongst it, Beyond Outrageous and Addiction to feature if the kites get an airing, last year's Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster winner, Jazz Player, will be the dark horse and finally, Independent Endeavour to put all her waterline length to good use if there's a strong breeze to lift her hefty skirts.
All of which is a marvellous segue in to the mysteries and cycles of Bass Strait weather. Presently, WNW winds of 10 to 15knots are expected throughout much of Bass Strait on a wave height of 2.5metres. It sounds lovely. Let's just see if it occurs as such!
by John Curnow
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
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