We spent Friday at anchor, reading and chatting most of the day, to let the strong winds and larger swells abate. The weather cycled around all day from sunny to howling wind to rain to hail and back to sunny again. Late afternoon we had a visitor, John from the yacht Esoterica anchored nearby. After some good conversation and a cup of tea, we relocated to Esoterica to meet Kerrin, John's wife, who had been patiently waiting for us all to arrive for drinks! One thing led to another and we ended up having a very nice dinner on their large cruising yacht with much talking late into the night.
Saturday morning we dragged ourselves out of bed to face quite a chilly morning for the start of a long days sailing. As we headed out of the Port Arthur area and proceeded to round Tasman Island, the swell came up with a bit of a sea on top but nothing like conditions we faced on arrival two days prior. Once around Tasman Island we went further out where it all settled down very nicely and we were able to sail for most of the day as opposed to motoring, as has been required so often before, to reach Triabunna some twelve hours later. It was a most pleasant days sailing with the wind varying at times from a reach to a run, a little cool when the sun hid behind clouds but nevertheless most enjoyable. One of the best day's sailing on the trip to date.
Triabunna harbour was fairly full upon arrival but Stan the Harbour Master approved the berth we had commandeered so all was well. A near disaster struck as we reached the pub as the meals service finishes at 7:30pm, the exact time of our arrival. However, the smiling proprietor reassured us it wasn't too late to order if we were quick to make up our minds - a disaster averted. Both of us ordered steaks but struggled to eat them all as they were so huge! Tomorrow we shall top up the water and fuel then visit the Triabunna Bakery previously established as worth the visit, before setting off for Bryan's Corner.
