Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne races - You just have to love ideal!

8:49 AM Sun 27 Dec 2009 GMT

'The was no room to get it wrong during the start and all boats had plenty of way on. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart' John Curnow

The two Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobarts and the Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston races got away into the best kind of sailing conditions earlier on today. Healthy 15 knot Southerly seabreezes, warm temperatures, mostly sunny skies, flat seas and yes - spinnakers!

Tidetech information is presented to the fleet during the briefing this morning. - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - John Curnow

After a well-rounded briefing in the morning, it was soon time to leave our hosts at the delightful Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron and head for the Portsea Pier start, a little further on down the way on the charming Mornington Peninsula.

The start got everyone fired up - a little too much so in the case of 'Veloce', 'Extasea', 'Caledonia' and 'Icefire', all of whom were OCS. A quick exit, stage right for them, and they were back to go through again and head after their colleagues.

Shortly thereafter the kites started to appear, but the gorgeous looking IY60 'Belle' had already put her waterline length to use and opened up a lead. 'XLR8' and 'Ocean Skins' possibly concentrated on each other a little too much and caused each other to overshoot the Point Lonsdale rounding mark and they did not catch 'Belle' before the Heads. As such, David Currie's 'Belle' collects the Port Phillip Sea Pilots Trophy for being the first out into Bass Strait.

From the evening sked we learn that 'Belle' is leading the Melbourne to Launceston race and she is keen to get the record and the cash for doing it. Behind her are 'Extasea' and 'Akatea', pretty much as you would expect in the stronger breezes. If it goes quiet overnight, the lighter flyers could well overtake her.

Onboard 'Caledonia', Paul Pascoe informs us that they are clipping along the beach at Gunamatta, doing some seven knots, while others in the Eastcoaster race have tacked out to sea. Early leaders in this race were Rosie Collahan and David James, going South two-handed aboard 'Ingenue'. They have been met and passed at the front, by the hot three of 'XLR8', 'Veloce' and 'Ocean Skins'.

Over with the mighty Westcoaster race it is Irish Stew for dinner aboard 'Audacious'. They are second in their fleet, punching directly into some 13 to 15knots as they head directly South. Greg Clinnick, her Skipper has emailed me that they, 'Had a cracker of a start at the boat end of the line and were the first boat legally over. We're currently the closest to the rhumbline, praying the wind doesn't die in the night and we can get to tomorrow's expected westerly winds as soon as we can.' Thanks for the onboard intel Greg.

There was a reminder that safety comes first with the ORCV as the fleet moved off to the start - Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart - John Curnow

Jazz Player' leads the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, with 'Tevake II' and 'Spirit of Downunder' amongst the leaders too. If it stays on the nose, you would expect 'Jazz Player' and 'Audacious' to open up some distance to the others.

So as all the boats fall into watches for the night and we head to Tasmania to be ready for the boats, we're happy that it was ideal and glad to see the three news choppers out to watch it all unfold.