The plan was to sail to Southport and anchor in Deep Hole with a view to seeing the Ida Bay Railway in operation, then on to Dover and the reputed Swiss Bakery, before finishing Tegwen's Tasmanian circumnavigation in Kettering.
However, the forecast was somewhat daunting with even worse to come the day after next. The next two proposed anchorages were either more exposed or not as good a holding as we had at Coalbins, so the decision was taken to have a reading day. Many of the other yachts around us decided the same and stayed in the area.
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Friday saw us off by 8:00am heading straight to Kettering. Coalbins was very sheltered with only a light breeze but once out in the Bay proper the wind increased and as often has happened on this circumnavigation it was on the nose so motoring was the order of the day. A couple of other yachts heading north were also seen to be motoring. The wind increased as we passed Southport, Dover and the Huon River entrances but always on the nose. Once in the d'Entrecasteaux Channel itself the wind picked up further but still not as strong as predicted.
At last, with just a couple of miles to go, the course with respect to the wind enabled us to hoist sail and enjoy it.
And then Tegwen was at Kettering - the starting point for her Tasmanian circumnavigation.
Mark Smith, who crewed from Stanley to Kettering (and previously from Batemans Bay to Hobart), took advantage of our Friday arrival to return home early and enjoy the weekend with his much missed family.
