We finally left Eden at 5:49am on Saturday 4th December. There appeared to be a weather window to get around Gabo Island without the mighty winds it is renowned for and then on to Deal Island. We decided to hug the Victorian coast a bit then head out through the Gippsland oil rigs, avoiding some of the stronger weather further out in the Strait.
Initially we had a light breeze from the North and ended up motoring then motor sailing for several hours. We shut down the motor for dinner but had to motor some more afterwards. At one stage we saw what looked like a strong wind gust gradually coming towards us that turned out to be an upwelling of fish. By mid evening we were sailing with the stars reflected in the water. The wind increased and the seas became confused as the night went on. The second watch came across a sleeping seal draped in seaweed with just one fin flapping in the air. It woke with quite a fright and sped off as Tegwen got close.
Over Sunday we had winds mostly in the 20 to 25 knot range with lumpy seas but made good time. When we we were still a way off Deal Island the sun set and the winds remained strong. As we came into Murray Passage between Deal and Erith Islands, the two headlands were just delineated in the gloom and a line of lighter cloud showing on the distant horizon. It was much wider the next day than it seemed at the time but as we gained the Passage the winds eased and the seas smoothed off although there were some cross currents. Tegwen was anchored in the shelter of East Cove by 10:30pm and very protected although there were still 20 knots of wind coming over the saddle on the Island.
