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.
Friday, January 21, 2011
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.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tegwen to Tasmania - First Leg to Hobart Achieved
The route as sailed is shown below. We logged 637 nautical miles over seventeen days. A lot of the time was spent waiting for suitable weather windows. Our main concern was not to set out if winds of over 25 knots were being forecast. As it happens, a high pressure system sat over or just off the east coast of Australia for an inordinately long time resulting in flooding rains for a lot of NSW and strong northerly winds over our route - hence the delays.
After the three crew departed for home, Stephen took Tegwen to a marina at Kettering south of Hobart and she lies there awaiting the next leg to Stanley in the second half of January.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tegwen to Tasmania - Triabunna to Hobart
Thursday 16 December at 5:10am Tegwen departed Triabunna with a light breeze behind, pretty smooth seas and a slight long spaced swell. We motor sailed down the coast and around Tasman Island with the NE wind increasing gradually over time. There was some thoughts by the crew of going between Tasman Island and Cape Pillar and although the conditions would have allowed it, to get so close and not round Tasman Island wasn't on.
As forecast the wind swung around but always to our advantage. Leaving Tasman Island behind and out of the wind shadows of the coastal cliffs the wind went back to the NE, for some time rising to 20 knots as we headed across Storm Bay - sufficient to turn off the motor but still maintain the over 6 knots we were aiming for to arrive in Hobart while there was still light.
Storm Bay lived up to its name and we had the odd rain shower come across our path. On entering the Derwent it was back to motor sailing. We tied up at the Royal Yacht club of Tasmania around 8:30pm thus marking the end of Tegwen's sojourn from Batemans Bay to Hobart.
Going up the Derwent there had been sufficient yachts coming down to suggest there had been a twilight race that evening and this turned out to be the case. The Yacht Club's back bar was chockers and even better there were buffet meals available. The thought of cooking dinner went overboard instantly and we were quick in getting off the boat and into the bar, only to find they had just stopped serving the food! However, the staff offered us whatever we wanted from what remained in the food warmers at no cost so we dined well and at a great price. A nice finish to our day and our journey.
As forecast the wind swung around but always to our advantage. Leaving Tasman Island behind and out of the wind shadows of the coastal cliffs the wind went back to the NE, for some time rising to 20 knots as we headed across Storm Bay - sufficient to turn off the motor but still maintain the over 6 knots we were aiming for to arrive in Hobart while there was still light.
Storm Bay lived up to its name and we had the odd rain shower come across our path. On entering the Derwent it was back to motor sailing. We tied up at the Royal Yacht club of Tasmania around 8:30pm thus marking the end of Tegwen's sojourn from Batemans Bay to Hobart.
Going up the Derwent there had been sufficient yachts coming down to suggest there had been a twilight race that evening and this turned out to be the case. The Yacht Club's back bar was chockers and even better there were buffet meals available. The thought of cooking dinner went overboard instantly and we were quick in getting off the boat and into the bar, only to find they had just stopped serving the food! However, the staff offered us whatever we wanted from what remained in the food warmers at no cost so we dined well and at a great price. A nice finish to our day and our journey.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Tegwen to Tasmania - Lady Barron to Triabunna
The wind having died down early in the morning as predicted, Tegwen departed Lady Barron wharf on Monday 13th at 05:25 just around sunrise.
The tide behind us carried us forward as we wended our way down the channel. Having passed the tricky, shoaling bits that form the passage out between Flinders and Vansittart Islands, we turned south with a westerly of around 10 knots behind us with no swell and a gentle sea of around half a metre.
As the day progressed so did the wind speed. The winds crossing Banks Strait were 20-25 knots but seas and swell not too bad. Once in the lee of the Tasmanian coast line the winds eased and as we passed St Helens they were down to around 15 knots, sometimes a bit more, with the seas fairly calm. By 11:00pm Monday night we were motoring due to lack of wind and thought we would be able to continue direct to Hobart. The crew were by now hoping to get there at the earliest opportunity as we had had larger than anticipated delays and Christmas was sneaking up on us with its attendant family responsibilities.
However, the winds were forecast to pick up Tuesday afternoon and there was a strong wind warning around Tasman Island for Tuesday night, when we would be in that vicinity, so we elected to take shelter in Oyster Bay on Maria Island and wait out the front and following strong winds. We arrived at 4:10pm to await the predicted strong winds. The holding wasn't great with lots of weed but for the first time in the voyage we had an idyllic sunset with just a gentle breeze and smooth waters. As expected the wind came up later.
Tegwen started dragging her anchor over night and by 6:00am our planned sleep in was lost as we got up to re-anchor. Did it twice but on each occasion the anchor just wouldn't grip properly. Lots of weed was being ploughed up which then clogged the anchor and in 30+ knots of wind it didn't do too well. There were big winds being reported around the Tasman Peninsula so we decided to head across to Triabunna for shelter rather than spend all day re-anchoring or motoring to take the pressure off the anchor. We motored into and across the seas being whipped up by 30+ knots of wind as we back tracked a little to reach Triabunna. Tegwen handled it well and we were pretty dry but progress was slow over the 8 nautical miles involved.
Triabunna has a delightful town wharf with a small number of floating pontoons, disability access ramp, town water, power and the Information Centre staff immediately over the road from the wharf came out and gave us a local map and lots of advice. After using the Information Centre's excellent facilities to shower and shave, then watering and fueling Tegwen and connecting her to the power to top off the batteries, we headed off to the pub for a good dinner.
That Wednesday night we had another wonderful sunset, tucked up in a very quiet, almost still berth. Next morning everyone was wondering if we should have gone on rather than hole up for the night but we checked the current observations at Maria Island just 8 nautical miles away and it had been gusting to 33 knots. Tasman Island had been much stronger. We all felt vindicated that it had been a good call to stop.
The tide behind us carried us forward as we wended our way down the channel. Having passed the tricky, shoaling bits that form the passage out between Flinders and Vansittart Islands, we turned south with a westerly of around 10 knots behind us with no swell and a gentle sea of around half a metre.
As the day progressed so did the wind speed. The winds crossing Banks Strait were 20-25 knots but seas and swell not too bad. Once in the lee of the Tasmanian coast line the winds eased and as we passed St Helens they were down to around 15 knots, sometimes a bit more, with the seas fairly calm. By 11:00pm Monday night we were motoring due to lack of wind and thought we would be able to continue direct to Hobart. The crew were by now hoping to get there at the earliest opportunity as we had had larger than anticipated delays and Christmas was sneaking up on us with its attendant family responsibilities.
However, the winds were forecast to pick up Tuesday afternoon and there was a strong wind warning around Tasman Island for Tuesday night, when we would be in that vicinity, so we elected to take shelter in Oyster Bay on Maria Island and wait out the front and following strong winds. We arrived at 4:10pm to await the predicted strong winds. The holding wasn't great with lots of weed but for the first time in the voyage we had an idyllic sunset with just a gentle breeze and smooth waters. As expected the wind came up later.
Tegwen started dragging her anchor over night and by 6:00am our planned sleep in was lost as we got up to re-anchor. Did it twice but on each occasion the anchor just wouldn't grip properly. Lots of weed was being ploughed up which then clogged the anchor and in 30+ knots of wind it didn't do too well. There were big winds being reported around the Tasman Peninsula so we decided to head across to Triabunna for shelter rather than spend all day re-anchoring or motoring to take the pressure off the anchor. We motored into and across the seas being whipped up by 30+ knots of wind as we back tracked a little to reach Triabunna. Tegwen handled it well and we were pretty dry but progress was slow over the 8 nautical miles involved.
Triabunna has a delightful town wharf with a small number of floating pontoons, disability access ramp, town water, power and the Information Centre staff immediately over the road from the wharf came out and gave us a local map and lots of advice. After using the Information Centre's excellent facilities to shower and shave, then watering and fueling Tegwen and connecting her to the power to top off the batteries, we headed off to the pub for a good dinner.
That Wednesday night we had another wonderful sunset, tucked up in a very quiet, almost still berth. Next morning everyone was wondering if we should have gone on rather than hole up for the night but we checked the current observations at Maria Island just 8 nautical miles away and it had been gusting to 33 knots. Tasman Island had been much stronger. We all felt vindicated that it had been a good call to stop.