2009 Notice of Race for Melbourne to Stanley available now

9:58 PM Thu 20 Aug 2009 GMT

'This is what the locals refer to as 'The Nut' and this granite headland dominates Stanley’s panorama. - Melbourne to Stanley' John Curnow

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Sailing Committee have now published the 2009 Notice of Race for Melbourne to Stanley. So if you're heading South in any of the races this Christmas, you know what you have to do...

Yep! Get out and cross that Paddock one more time or arrange your own qualifying jaunt. It's your call, but whatever you do take warm clothes. Sun was out for my last one and I still froze, but then again, ever since the disease I've ended up soft.

’Kontrol’ departs Constitution Dock with the Matt Allen’s then ’Ichi Ban’ looking on. Peter and Kate Mitchell went on to buy the latter and name her ’Goldfinger’, of course. Actually, if you look hard enough, it is Kate on the wheel of ’Kontrol’. It’s the hat that gives it away.... - Melbourne to Stanley - John Curnow

Trainspotters will love to know that Peter Blake's 'Kontrol' still holds the record for the Melbourne to Stanley Race at 14hrs, 36min and 15 sec from back in 2002. That boat just loves to surf and?literally?screams down waves. I've been faster on boats, but have never been on anything that accelerates like it. Just awesome - Yahoo! 'Wild Thing' holds the old Melbourne to Burnie race record of 16hrs, 1min and 42 seconds and thank God the ORCV moved it from that place...

'Shogun' (the ex-'Living Doll' Cookson 50) won last year, just five seconds in front of the late 'Georgia', who had it in the bag up until the breeze moved and 'Shogun', together with 'Chutzpah' flew in from out East. 'Goldfinger' was third, then 'Chutzpah' and the old 'Secret Mens Business 2', now called 'Shamrock', out for a shakedown having just been rebuilt.

As a result, 'Chutzpah' took out both IRC and AMS. The Sydney 38?'Cinquante'?got third in IRC. The little 'Godzilla' got second in AMS. 'Wild Side' picked up second for IRC, third in AMS and also won PHS. 'Mirrabooka' and 'INSX' were second and third in PHS, respectively.

So when you're out there, just remember there's another farmhouse on the other side of the Paddock and they serve cold beer, crays and burn Tasmanian Oak in the fires to warm you up!

ORCV website: http: www.orcv.org.au

by John Curnow