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After such a huge race in the 50th MPONR in 2018,
expectations were high for the 2019 Keeley Marine Supplies Marlay Point
Overnight Race. With new sponsors, a new team guiding the race planning, onshore
activities and supports, the 130 race entrants were looking forward to another
great race.
Three Explorers headed down to Lake Wellington to race.
Emily (Frank Strickland with ace crew Michael Baker – an Explorer sailor from
way back), Swallow (Sue and Trevor Burke) and Captain Phasma (Ric Lamont and
Guy Hansson).
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| Ric Lamont on Captain Phasma pre-start |
The detailed forecast had us expecting a light to moderate easterly
to turn north and light a few hours into the race and then completely die at
9am. It was imperative we finish before the wind completely died as no-one
wanted to be bobbing around getting hot.
A spectacular sunset, made even more dramatic from the smoke
of the nearby bushfires, heralded the start sequence. At the white-flare, we
set off in one large fleet. Officially the slowest class in the fleet, the
first 10-15 minutes were spent trying to find clean air as the larger boats
powered over the top of the Explorers, who were already spread out across the
line.
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| Smoky sunset heralds the start of MPONR 2019 |
Captain Phasma, going slowly on starboard tack, watched as
Emily sailed through her lee and climbed above. After realizing a spinnaker
sheet was dragging behind, they picked up pace again and stayed with the pack. By 11pm, with the wind now down to 4 knots,
the tail of the fleet was nearing the entrance to the dreaded McLennan’s Strait.
In the straights the tall boats can pick up breeze at the top of their sails,
but the little boats have to rely on the current to push them through, the odd
puff and the apparent wind created by being pushed by the current. Average
speed through the straights was 1.8knots and before long we were greeted with 3
knots coming out of the North West at Hollands Landing.
With the spinnaker set, it seemed to take forever to reach
Storm Point, where the fleet took a more northerly course to head up Lake Victoria.
At this point, most boats pointed straight for the next mark – sailing 500m
from the lee of the northerly shore, whilst others ventured further south to seek
clearer air.
In the pre-dawn light, the Explorers spotted each other,
again amazingly, within 100 metres of one other after 9 hours of sailing. Captain
Phasma led Swallow around Point Turner by 10 boat lengths, which was quickly
erased and the position changed, followed by Emily another 10 boat lengths behind.
A couple of supposedly faster boats were in the mix causing all kinds of wind shadows,
and with the finish line in sight, a highly tactical sprint to the finish was
underway.
Sailing high and fast, with her tri-radial genoa filling
beautifully, Emily sailed right past the other two Explorers as she reached
Montague Point, 300 metres from the finish line. And then…..
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| Swallow drifting in the final stage of the race |
The wind stopped. Really stopped. As in, not a breath of
air.
This wasn’t right! It wasn’t supposed to die off until 9am!
And now we were stuck. Swallow smartly turned down an offer of a spare paddle
from Captain Phasma and the Explorers watched any chance of taking out the
handicap places slowly slip away.
A large crowd of early finishers on the docks at GLYC were
urging us on, or egging us on, not sure which. Emily picked up a sniff of
breeze and started to make ground. Great drifting sailing techniques from Frank
and Michael kept their boat speed up and they finished at 8:30am. Captain
Phasma followed 7 minutes later (a gap of only 50 metres) and Swallow a further
7 minutes behind.
Final placings on handicap for Group A, where there were 53
starters:
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Emily 11th
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Captain Phasma 13th
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Swallow 17th
If only the breeze had stayed in. At least there’s always next
year!
