Dictated by the wind and tide requirements of Banks Strait, we departed Skeleton Bay at 5:25 am after a bit of a tussle with the anchor which had well and truly dug under some kelp. The sailing up around Eddystone Point and into Banks Strait was uneventful although the wind strengthened as we proceeded. The original thought had been to anchor off Swan Island but on arrival it was clearly untenable in the prevailing 20 knot conditions, so we sailed on to Foster Inlet with the by then 25 knot easterly and 3 knot current boosting our SOG to 9 knots along the way!
Safe at anchor by just after 1:00 pm, Foster Inlet provided great shelter and we had a quiet afternoon and early evening there, sharing the anchorage with a trawler. The rocks forming the northern end of the Inlet were well rounded and at times looked like a large colony of elephant seals slumped over each other.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tegwen to Tasmania - Wineglass Bay to Skeleton Bay
Wineglass Bay had a number of trawlers and two yachts overnight. It was a bit rolly but we still managed an early start for a potentially long day as we made the haul from Wineglass Bay up to Skeleton Bay just north of St Helens. The predicted strong southerlies never lived up to the forecast in strength but the wind picked up and we did have a nice run up the coast with a light swell and sea.
As we were going so well we diverted to Bicheno to top up the fuel and the larder. Of course Bicheno has a nice bakery as well. One of the local fishermen was on the wharf when we turned up and when we enquired about the proximity of the nearest diesel fuel, he lent us his late model ute to go and do all our shopping! The Tasmanians are definitely a friendly and hospitable lot that put Aussie mainlanders top shame.
Topped up with a "real" coffee and nice cakes the rest of the day was another good days sailing.
As we were going so well we diverted to Bicheno to top up the fuel and the larder. Of course Bicheno has a nice bakery as well. One of the local fishermen was on the wharf when we turned up and when we enquired about the proximity of the nearest diesel fuel, he lent us his late model ute to go and do all our shopping! The Tasmanians are definitely a friendly and hospitable lot that put Aussie mainlanders top shame.
Topped up with a "real" coffee and nice cakes the rest of the day was another good days sailing.
Tegwen to Tasmania - Freycinet Peninsular to Wineglass Bay
The morning was spent fiddling with the autopilot and enjoying the beauty and solitude around us. While still not working, the autopilot resolution has progressed and will be sorted as soon as the correct lubricant can be purchased. Another reason for taking the morning off was to await a more favourable wind which came in after lunch. We had a pleasant sail up to Wineglass Bay although there was the occasional rain shower. While there weren't many people on the beach there, no doubt due to the weather, we were able to enjoy the changing moods of the setting sun on the various hills around from our vantage point in the bay itself.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tegwen to Tasmania - Triabunna to Freycinet Peninsular
The morning started with a trolley run to get diesel and gas. Fortuitously on the way back the bakery was open too! Tegwen slipped her lines at 09:30 and we made her way down the "interesting" channel, only this time with the benefit of a recent high tide adding more water under the keel. We motored in light winds down around the points separating us from the wide expanse of water that leads up to the Freycinet Peninsula. Approaching Cape Bouganville, the last of the points, we decided to delay hoisting sail briefly while we enjoyed a cuppa along with delicious vanilla slices fresh from the bakery that morning.
Sails up, the wind by now blowing 10-12 knots and away we went! A beautiful sailing day with blues skies, thin cloud and Tegwen going to windward for probably the first time since she left Batemans Bay on November. We passed a dozing seal with its flipper held aloft, not unlike the dolphin seen in Bass Strait. After lunch, as predicted, the wind gradually increased as we made our way towards the sheltered beach at the south western end of Freycinet Peninsula just inside of the Schouten Passage. By the time we were pulling down the sails to moor, the wind was up to 24 knots.
Having anchored well in a relatively sheltered position we enjoyed the close of the day with snacks and then a nice dinner of lamb chops, cooked vegies and salad.
All in all, a most enjoyable day's sailing.
Sails up, the wind by now blowing 10-12 knots and away we went! A beautiful sailing day with blues skies, thin cloud and Tegwen going to windward for probably the first time since she left Batemans Bay on November. We passed a dozing seal with its flipper held aloft, not unlike the dolphin seen in Bass Strait. After lunch, as predicted, the wind gradually increased as we made our way towards the sheltered beach at the south western end of Freycinet Peninsula just inside of the Schouten Passage. By the time we were pulling down the sails to moor, the wind was up to 24 knots.
Having anchored well in a relatively sheltered position we enjoyed the close of the day with snacks and then a nice dinner of lamb chops, cooked vegies and salad.
All in all, a most enjoyable day's sailing.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tegwen to Tasmainia - Port Arthur to Triabunna
With a long day's sailing in front of us we left Carnarvon Bay, Port Arthur at 06:15 with next to no breeze and low mist swirling around the shores. Light rain ensued off and on as we made our way out of the Port Arthur area and passed between Tasman Island and Cape Pillar. Seals abounded on the rocks of Tasman Island and as we moved on out and up the coast the mist and light rain cleared quickly. Looking back we saw the Tasman Island Light bathed in sunlight for a little while.
The winds lifted to around 10 knots for most of the day but it remained overcast. Deceptively so as we all were a little sunburnt by days end. Along the way we saw dolphins, some small albotross and little penguins.
The approach to Triabunna was trickier than ever as we came in not long after low tide and there were Maria Island ferries coming the other way. We managed to come to a stop once at the side of the channel, which is missing many markers, but extricated ourselves OK. The depth warning alarms were going off continuously! Rafted up safely at the town wharf, we sought out likely places for a gas refill on the morrow when they would again be open. We had arrived after 6:00pm.
The Triabunna hotel lived up to its reputation and we all enjoyed a good meal there followed by a very sound sleep.
The winds lifted to around 10 knots for most of the day but it remained overcast. Deceptively so as we all were a little sunburnt by days end. Along the way we saw dolphins, some small albotross and little penguins.
The approach to Triabunna was trickier than ever as we came in not long after low tide and there were Maria Island ferries coming the other way. We managed to come to a stop once at the side of the channel, which is missing many markers, but extricated ourselves OK. The depth warning alarms were going off continuously! Rafted up safely at the town wharf, we sought out likely places for a gas refill on the morrow when they would again be open. We had arrived after 6:00pm.
The Triabunna hotel lived up to its reputation and we all enjoyed a good meal there followed by a very sound sleep.
Tegwen to Tasmania - Hobart to Port Arthur
A slow start to the day as while we waited for a fuel top up we ran into Jeremy Firth, an old Canberra Yacht Club member that Graham knew well. Jeremy also happened to be the editor of the RYC of Tas Anchorage Guide so much good advice about the proposed journey was to be had.
We sailed around 10:15am for Port Arthur. The day was cloudy. The wind was all over the place as we motored down the Derwent, depending on what landform we were passing, and also had quite a chill. Past the Iron Pot, as we entered and crossed Storm Bay, it steadied then increased throughout the afternoon. Approaching Tasman Island and the entrance to Port Arthur we saw dolphins and two seals swimming with them.
After arriving late in the afternoon we did a slow cruise past the wharf and main buildings for Steve to have his first sighting of Port Arthur, which was appropriately gloomy for a penal colony. Not long after anchoring around the corner in Carnarvon Bay it started to drizzle and become somewhat misty.
Our first day sailing together as a crew and we all had gotten on well and enjoyed each other's company.
We sailed around 10:15am for Port Arthur. The day was cloudy. The wind was all over the place as we motored down the Derwent, depending on what landform we were passing, and also had quite a chill. Past the Iron Pot, as we entered and crossed Storm Bay, it steadied then increased throughout the afternoon. Approaching Tasman Island and the entrance to Port Arthur we saw dolphins and two seals swimming with them.
After arriving late in the afternoon we did a slow cruise past the wharf and main buildings for Steve to have his first sighting of Port Arthur, which was appropriately gloomy for a penal colony. Not long after anchoring around the corner in Carnarvon Bay it started to drizzle and become somewhat misty.
Our first day sailing together as a crew and we all had gotten on well and enjoyed each other's company.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Tegwen to Tasmania - The Second Leg Preparations
Graham Giles and Stephen motored Tegwen up from Kettering to the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania at Sandy Bay where we met up over lunch with Steve Knight, the other crew member for this leg. In the afternoon we were offered a lift into Peter Johnson's chandlery near Constitution Dock which we took advantage of to get a few bits and pieces. Taking the bus back to Sandy Bay shops we raided Woolworths for provisions then walked back to the yacht. With all the stores put away Tegwen had an engine oil change and impeller check and we were then all but ready for departure on the next leg Tegwen's Tasmanian adventure.