Now on the south side of Bass Strait

Departure from Port Philip was in late eveningMonday 4 Feb, transit of rip about 2230 and very dark but uneventful.  Light or non-existant winds meant motoring toward Cape Schank.  Conditions were good despite the darkness and thenkful for an easy start

Tuesday 5 Feb

Light cloud, warm weather and little wind, but what there was came from SE so still motoring, trying to sail but with poor success.  Plodding on slowly but surely.  Watches turned around but the day passed with little change, and the view was all much the same.  Visited 5 times by pods of dolphins, dancing around the bows, sometimes squeaking, surfacing for a quick breath, then down and around.  All very visible in lovely clear water.  One with a dorsal fin bent over at an angle – something like a boxers crooked nose – I wonder what happened to him.  The one with a paler ventral surface, flashing brightly as he rolls and even swims up-side down; the larger and braver one that dodges directly across the bow – how do we manage to miss him every time? All fascinating to watch.

No attempts at fishing.

Winds picking up late, and on darkness, the wind strengthened again and by the very last of daylight I put the second reef in the mainsail; the headsail was long gone, and using the small staysail on the inner forestay.  Good progress, even though to windward, as we pushed at 6-7 knts for about 5-6 hrs, bounced around markedly pitching into the rising seas.  Then it all dropped away and we were motoring again by dawn.  Weather forecast from Mary Kay in Smithton via HF led to discussion and decision to make for Devonport if dark arrival and Beauty Point if daylight, due to difficulty at entrance.  At least it was a good sail overnight, although DARK until moonrise around 0100.  At least the darkness preventing seeing the seascape which would probably have been somewhat scary.

Wednesday 6 Feb

The progress all morning was by motor, and with little wind again.  Very overcast initially, and with a sea-fog making visibility poor.  As that cleared and the sun warmed us again, a little E-NE breeze came up around lunch time and we put up the Spinaker..!  Yes, we flew the kite in Bass Strait.  Never thought I would say that.  What followed was several hours glorious sailing in brilliant conditions shy kite, making 5-6 knts on a flat sea.   Memorable.  Low head was visible only late, from about 7-8 miles out only due to haze, so we saw that about 1600, entered into the Tamar river 1730 with a hefty incoming tide – low RPM but still making 6-7 knts –and went into Georgetown to tie up at the public jetty in York Cove.

A mandatory bottle of wine  to celebrate the crossing, a lovely casserole (supplied by Fiona Dea), then a walk into the town to discover the Bass & Flinders centre.  What a treasure, and the curator allowed us in for a look even though it was 7.30 pm.  A place worthy of time spent contemplating the sailing problems of old.  A well earned, deep sleep