Party Time @ RYCT

22nd February 2009

Had a busy week cleaning up BWR, and catching up with friends and family.
Tuesday started out with a 0315 start to get Jessica on the shuttle bus to catch flights from Hobart via Melborne to Christchurch NZ then on to Queenstown. Met up with David Pryce from Blizzard Expeditions (1998 Solo Trans Tasman Competitor).

Wednesday also started out with an early start at 0430 for Murray to catch his flights back to NZ.
Hobart was visited by the Queen Victoria and then the Diamond Princess Cruise Ships.
Thursday we attended the Media Launch for the Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race.
Bruce was put on the spot an hour before the start of the media launch to speak as to why we travelled all the way from Queensland to compete in the race, WIN TV and the Tasmania Newspapers attended.
Friday the local newspaper had our mug shots and a story covering the three peaks race.
Spent some time at Telstra sorting out a new wireless modem for the computer.
On Friday night we attended a BBQ with the local multihull builders and owners.
Saturday morning met up with Bruce’s Uncle Jim & Auntie Judy at the Salamanca Markets. Had a surprise visit from John Kent (one of our 3 Peaks Runners) & Michelle.

Hobart or BUST

Royal Yacht Club Tasmania

Denison Canal, Dunalley,TAS

POS S -42 53.820’
E +147 20.069’

16th February
Monday dawned with a light S-SE wind dying out to be replaced with a light NE. Motor sailed with main only for most of the day into Hobart via the Denison Canal. Arrived at 1600 @ Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, covering 495 nm from Bermagui in 55 hours @ average speed of 9 kts.

Another Tame Strait Crossing

Flinders & Cape Barren Islands @ 20 nm

Green Cape, NSW

14 & 15th February 2009
Motoring til 1530 in very light head winds. Just south of Eden wind changed to NE 15-20 kts, finally sailing with main & jib. Boat speed 14-15 kts for a couple of hours. Passed Gabo Island on dark, wind settled in at 10-15 kts for the rest of the night. Lighter winds of ESE for the next day. Sunday night got hit with a SE @ 14-17 kts for the last night at sea. Cold overnight at 14 degrees with rain squalls. During the reefing process early in the night we had a small tear in the main which ended up being 1” long, effected a temporary repair and continued with the first reef in.

Motoring South for Bass Strait Crossing

14th February 2009

Departed Bermagui @ 0900, wind SW 8 kts. Motoring south hoping that the wind will change soon. We have a good weather window for crossing Bass Strait for the next day or two. Weather cool and overcast.

Still More Head Winds

Montague Island

13th February 2009

POS S -36 25.539’
E +150 04.346’

Departed Batemans Bay @ 0635, Wind E 10-20 kts, raining and cold. The wind changed to southerly then to an easterly. It would rain and the wind would disappear and reappear with shifts of over 100 degrees common. All in all another very frustrating days sailing, lots of sail changing and reefing. The sea was very confused @ Montague Island, enjoyed a nice tight reach before having to motor sail with the main up. The wind seemed to change every hour. Once past Montague Island we had the reacher out until we arrived @ Bermagui, the sun was out and it was a lot warmer. We were met by Reg & Judy LeCompte from Judy Lyn (Chamberlin 13.5 Mtr) cruising catamaran.

More Head Winds…..

POS S -35 43.588’
E +150 12.348’

12th February 2009

Departed the Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay NSW @ 0840 Wind S/SE 5 – 25 kts with a swell of 2-3 mtrs. Still more head winds, lots of practice reefing. Another long and frustrating day with the breeze up and down and very shifty. Lots of rain and very cold <20 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">nm in 8 hrs when in a straight line it was only 40nm. Unable to make Bermagui so headed for Batemans Bay. Dropped anchor @1640 behind Observation Head near Snapper Island as it was low tide and we were unable to cross the sand bar.

Still Attached To The Mooring – Jervis Bay.

Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay NSW

Cape St George Historic Lighthouse Ruins, Jervis Bay NSW

11th February 2009

Spent the morning catching up on sleep after our long day yesterday. Still blowing southerly @ 25-30 kts. Went walking for 4 hrs on the fire tracks looking for the Historic Cape St George Lighthouse Ruins.

Bloody Head Winds

Pt Perpendicular, Jervis Bay NSW

10th February 2009
Departed Rozelle Bay (Glebe) @ 0455. Still dark with steady rain – Yuk…..
Bloody COLD @ 20.4 degrees. Out the Sydney Heads @ 0505 AEST. Wind SSW <10>Kts increasing to 24 kts during the day, and then dying off early evening then increasing to 28 kits when rounding Pt Perpendicular at the entrance to Jervis Bay. Lots of reefing practice, first reef, second reef then changing jib for stay sail, then pulling second reef out. Arrived @ the Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay NSW @ 2200 covering 148 nm in 17 hours – should have been 80 nm in a straight line.

Still in Roselle Bay

Had a lovely birthday dinner at a thai/malay restaurant in Glebe Point Road last night.
Still anchored in the Roselle Bay, Sydney. Had a meeting with Kevin Green, Editor of Australasian Yachting our backup sailor/runner for the Three Peaks Race @ Easter.

Met up with Bill Shead – Cutloose (Grainer 55) from Arajilla Retreat @ Lord Howe Island, anchored in Blackwattle Bay.

Double Reefed Main Overnight

Sydney Heads @ 1045 08/02/2009

Big Wave Rider doing what she does best – SURFING. Wind NE 18-29 kts, double reefed main plus jib. It was like being on rails for half the night until the wind eased. New boat speed record 21.2 kts. With only 130 nm to Sydney it didn’t take that long to knock them off. Birthday girl (Suzanne) had the 3.30am to 5.30am watch, what a sun rise…..
Southport Seaway to Sydney Heads in 47 hrs 55 mins. If only the wind stayed in longer.
Entered the heads @ 1045 and motored up the harbour passing the Opera House and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Currently anchored in Rozelle Bay (The Glebe, Sydney) near the Anzac Bridge.

Not much wind today

Jessica @ Top Mast

Little Nobby - Crescent Head

Motor sailing since midnight to late this afternoon. Wind NE <5 kts. Motored into Crescent Head and waved to Bruce’s mum & dad, auntie ruth and bess the dog. Had a little bit of wind off Crescent Head and reached off for half an hour before motor sailing as the wind died off again. Jessica practiced climbing the mast solo today plus mading a video dairy. Currently surfing @ 10-16 kts in 15–23 kts of wind from NE. Currently abeam of Taree. Sydney or bust tomorrow before the southley buster gets us late Sunday night.

Across the Border

Departed Blakesleys Anchorage Nth Stradbroke Island @ 0630. Met up with Bill and Sandy Brosnan on Foreign Affair (Chamberlin 47 Power Cat) in the Canaipa Passage. Headed down motoring via Jumpinpin to Southport Seaway. Sailed out @ 1045 with Main & Jib, Wind SSE 14 kts. Very lumpy tacking out to sea to clear Cape Bryon, much better on port tack along coast.

Currently abeam Ballina sailing on a tight reach 180M doing 10 kts in 10 kts T wind.

Bon Voyage Mooloolaba Marina

Departed Mooloolaba Marina @ 0910, onboard Bruce & Suzanne Arms, Jessica Watson, Sunshine Coast QLD and Murray Dick, Taranaki NZ. Anchored at Blakesleys Anchorage Nth Stradbroke @ 1845. Wind SE to ESE 10-15 knots. What a long day.!!!!

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