Sydney to Hobart December-January 2015
Wed 4 Feb 2015 1230 hrs; Wineglass Bay Pos 42 10.4S 148 18.5 E
Flanked by the Hazards and Mt Freycinet rising a couple of thousand feet either side, Wineglass Bay is a mile long crescent of white sand backed by windswept dunes in the Freycinet National Park. Accessible only by boat or a couple of hours walk from the road head, it is a beautiful spot to shelter from the bitterly cold southerlies we are currently experiencing. We arrived here at first light yesterday morning after motor-sailing most of the way down the east coast of Tasmania into into a short southerly swell. Trish’s countenance reflects the temperature – warm and sunny, bright and smiling; cold and grey, glum and moody (mind you, Trish says the same of me)!! Go with the flow I say, you have to enjoy a bit of pain to enjoy the pleasures of the tropics. Another month or so and we will be back in the warmth and sailing north. Morgan doesn’t seem too affected at all – throws off his bedclothes at night and is slow to rug up for the cold on deck. They say it can reach 40 degrees in Hobart, but you wonder when!
We caught up with our new found friends off ‘Lahara’ again and they invited us over for dinner last night – hors d’oeurves in the cockpit (no clears, all rugged up and very corinthian – and curry and rice below, snug and warm. Three blokes in their sixties sailing the way it used to be before GRP, refrigeration and GPS (although they do resort to electronic navigation). The simple pleasures – while we sail in hug boots and fleeces behind dodgers and clears they are fully dressed in sweaters and wet weather gear exposed to the elements!
We will move on tomorrow night to round Tasman Island and Cape Raoul in the light – the land-seascapes are not be missed and last time Trish sailed around them it was in the dark. Should be in Hobart early Friday afternoon.
Fri 6 Feb 2015 1230 hrs; Pos 43.05S 148.00E
Left Wineglass Bay yesterday bound for Hobart. Covered 71 miles with the wind on the nose before retreating to Pirates Bay in the face of a 20-25 kn southerly gusting 30 kn around Tasman Island – Morgan wasn’t at all happy. Mike says I’m growing soft in my old age with too much consideration for my crew – of course they would say otherwise! There were no pirates at Pirates Bay – just fishing and fizz boats on moorings occupying the best anchorages – anchored out it was a bit rolly but respite from the wind and waves outside, though not from the cold – it is bitter – a miserable Auckland winter’s day, although the day itself was clear and sunny but with a bite to the wind. Pirates Bay is just south of Eaglehawk Neck where once ferocious dogs were tethered to prevent convicts absconding Port Arthur escaping off Tasman Peninsula – if you listen hard enough you can still hear their ghostly bays on the wind. We are now under way again, 6 mile from the turning point around Tasman Island into Storm Bay and 50 mile from Hobart. We are motoring with only 3 knots of breeze and it doesn’t look as it will strengthen during the day – as I said to Trish, you need to take the pain and wind as it comes while you have it when relying sail. We are getting low on fuel and will only just make Hobart after using up the reserve 40 litres we carry. Can’t really complain – we last refuelled in Coffs Harbour almost 3 months ago. Unfortunately we will miss the parade of sail which marks the start of the wooden boat festival – it is a huge biannual event and a lot of the northern participants will only make it today. The shitty souherly dominated weather has prevented even the James Craig from making the passage down from Sydney, and she is a big steel sailing ship (home, the Australian Maritme Museum). You have to take your hats off to the corinthians who have made the effort to get down here in their 50 – 100 year old yachts – nearly all men, nay a woman to be seen!
Sat 7 Feb 2015 0900 hrs; Hobart
Ended up having a beautiful sail from Cape Raoul to Hobart with 12-15kn behind us in a strengthening sea breeze. Anchored off the RYCT late yesterdy afternoon with fuel to spare! About to go ashore to do the laundry etc. Mike, Pip, Jemima and Archie joining us later today. The wooden boat festival looks very interesting and deserves a day or two before we head off for a few days local cruising. Will keep you posted.
12 Feb 2015 0830 hrs; The Duckpond Posn 43 08.2 S 147 21.3 E
Have spent the last few days in Barnes Bay on Bruny Island at the top end of the d’Entrecasteaux Channel with Mike, Pip, Jemima and Archie on board catching undersize flatheads and gummy sharks. Returning to Hobart today where we will be parking Mustang Sally at the RYCT for a couple of weeks. The Wooden Boat Show last weekend was fantastic – an amazing gathering of well loved wooden boats and great atmosphere with many onshore activities built around the festival. Thoroughly recommend the scallop pies if you are ever down this way. I fly back to NZ tomorrow for a week while Mike and family make their way back north to the ferry for the mainland. Trish and Morgan will join them for a few days ‘camping’ experience.