Melbourne to King Island: Just the one Jones!

9:52 PM Tue 3 Mar 2009 GMT

'DK46 'Extasea'. Paul Buchholz and crew race this boat very well and are always at the business end of the fleet - Melbourne to King Island' John Curnow

There will be only one Jones in the 2009 Melbourne to King Island when it takes off from just off Drapers Reef at 03:00hrs this Saturday morning. It is Jock MacAdie's 14m Jones/Hart 'Isuzu Marine'.

Why this is so important is because when she was Peter Blake's 'Kontrol' in 2002, she was just six minutes behind Don and Nigel Jones' 'Cadibarra' and they were the only two boats to break the old record.

'Isuzu Marine' will not have it all their own way however. Firstly, Jock and Hamish are doing the race two-handed. Please note that this is not necessarily a handicap, as these two are the current Melbourne to Osaka cup holders. Secondly, the DK46 'Extasea' is a starter. Paul Buchholz and crew hover around everything and are seasoned and competent ocean racers. They won the Centenary Melbourne to Hobart race and were well and truly at the pointy end of the fleet for 2008 Melbourne to Hobart East. Finally then, there's the weather.

Isuzu Marine as set up for two-handed racing - Melbourne to King Island - John Curnow Click Here to view large photo

Hhmmmm. Yes. Weather. It used to be only Christmas time where things went a bit skew-whiff. Now everything is a new chapter. It's meant to be blowing bags out in Bass Strait mid-week, which is good, as it gets it out of its system. It could mean that 'The Paddock' has been left as a complete washing machine and that's never fun. It could also mean that a drifter is install and there goes any chance at the record. Light Southerlies. No matter. It will be what it is and navigators will certainly want to have their sets of smoke and mirrors around.

So M2KI is a drag race that isn't a drag race at all! Correct tactics can take you from zero to hero very quickly indeed. The ORCV Yearbook will reveal that we have significant tidal and wind issues to investigate. For instance, in a full Southerly you may have come right West, past Lorne, before even attempting to make for Cape Wickham. The major things to pay heed are:

1. Prevailing wind of the day
2. West to East current in Bass Strait
3. North/South current along King Island
4. Localised wind on King Island
5. Keeping inshore at King Island and staying out of the swell, but working through strong gusts caused by the hills

Depending on conditions and tactics, we may see 'Ninety Seven' or 'Chikara Outlaw' in the lead and if a shy kite is on, then the Inglis 37 'Addiction' or Laurie Ford's 'Spirit of Downunder' could get a run on.

However. If it all turns to hell and Scotty can't beam you onto the 'Enterprise', then you may want to be on something like 'Yoko', 'The Secretary', 'Ing?nue' or 'Bacardi'. All of which will do well in a smash-on-the-nose kind of race and will be far more comfortable too. 'The Bus' is now owned by Martin Power, who was a former privateer racer at Mt Panorama and who definitely knows something about competition. I'm sure they'll be keen to live up to the 'Bacardi' mantle. She was, of course, campaigned tremendously for years by Graeme Ainley and John Williamson, before they moved on to 'Georgia' who's tied up in bed with Davey, which kind of rules her out in a definitive sort of way now doesn't it... Anyway, perhaps they will be about in the new beast by the time Melbourne to Apollo Bay comes around.

So no matter what Huey conjures up, you'll get there - eventually. Avoid Frog Rock just outside the entrance to Grassy Harbour and don't wrap the kite (should you have been fortunate enough to fly one) around the forestay like 'Cadibarra' in 2002. There's a good chance some super-sneaky photographers will be around.

In the end, I feel it crucial to remind everyone about where K.I sits on this marvellous ball of water and things from the Periodic Table and Tip#573 - No matter how little blood is in your alcohol system, if the locals are outside, then you can be too. If they move inside, follow quickly! All will be revealed shortly.

So good racing to all and standby for updates as the race progresses!