Reuniting with Easy Tiger

Much banter and email traffic has been exchanged with Easy Tiger over the past weeks. They have resumed their around Australia adventure and reached Lakes Entrance a couple of weeks ahead of us. They were of course claiming bragging rights for having come the furthest East. We needed to convene a protest meeting to discuss their failure to round the marker buoy at both Port Fairy (they sailed right on by) and Constitution Dock, Hobart (they didn't travel south)! There was much to prepare....

The sewing machine was dragged out to quickly sew up a protest flag.

 Since we'd spent 6 months in Tasmania, we'd obviously had plenty of time to grow a second head.

We attached our 'second heads' and put on our Tasmanian 'Stormy' jackets to complete 'the look'.

 Quick, quick. here comes Easy Tiger!

 

 Leanne and Steve, both overcome by the arrival committee.

It's time for hugs.

They were very courteous and acknowledged our protest flag... but where was theirs?

 

 Leanne, enjoying a drop from our 'Taste of Tasmania' glass.

Evidence of our journey.

Having last seen them on June 30, 2014 when we sailed away from Pt Lincoln, we had much to catch up on and the race dispute hearing was convened later on at the pub. Our only misstep was to have another Catamaran owner, in Rob from Easy Rider, act as adjudicator, Doh!

Why the Hurry?

When you know there is bad weather on the way you don't want to dilly dally (e.g. stay out in Bass Strait to sight-see on Deal Island) and getting into a safe harbour is imperative. We were so pleased to be on a jetty when Bass Strait was being visited by a serious Cold Front this week. Solid 35knot winds created a nasty fetch.

 

Our mooring lines were doubled in anticipation. 

Every last fender we could find was employed and we held our breath until it all went away.

 

Staying on board was incredibly unpleasant but we didn't like to leave the boat. 

The good thing is that bad weather is always followed by good weather.

Lakes Entrance - Our First Bar Crossing

Being at the end of a long and sometimes rowdy overnight passage across Bass Strait from Flinders Island, our dawn arrival at the Lakes Entrance ocean bar was a test to be reckoned with.

The Lakes Entrance bar is notorious and has claimed 150 lives and not to be messed with. We were certainly paying attention; no risk of nodding off.

Prior to leaving Hobart and in anticipation of this moment we had made multiple enquiries of people with experience of the bar. Indeed our new Club - the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) has a super resource document on the subject. We poured over the contents. Andy Fullard who we'd met at the Tamar YC at Beauty Point had also sent some important links from Gippsland Ports. From him we learned that the bar is extensively dredged these days and does not represent quite the hazard of former times. 

We also phoned the Paynesville Coast Guard a few days before departure from Flinders Island both to advise them of our trip plan and to glean any extra information. The Coast Guard would not commit to a 'best time' as such and advised that the ocean bar is subject to not only the tide state but also the wind and sea state (swell) and recent rainfall so it wasn't quite as simple as the state of the tides. Besides, they asked, did we prefer to come in on an ebb or flood tide? Never having crossed one before, how could we have preference?  The 'most safe time' was our preference thank you very much!  It was agreed that we'd contact them again for advice when nearing the entry.  

If the bar entrance channel is unknown the Flagstaff LED's are unlit. If it is closed, the green light is changed to a yellow one.  Then you do not pass GO; do not collect $200; and are in a 'hell in a handbag' situation because there is NOWHERE to go for near 100nm in either direction; only Port Welshpool to the West or Eden around Gabo Island to the NE.

We had deliberately allowed our boat speed to drop some hours out when it was apparent that continuing at 5knots or better, would have our arrival coincide both pre-dawn and low tide.

Arriving 15 minutes ahead of us, Easy Rider made the first contact for the day with the Coast Guard and were informed that the conditions at the bar were calm and there was 6 knots of breeze. We had already looked at the webcam plus the winds tide and weather pages. They were also advised to consult with Gippsland Ports. That's a neat way to dodge a bullet. We could imagine the pre-dawn conversation with a public servant that would in all probability continue the formation of a circle that would then be closed with the rider that Mariners should exert extreme caution and judge for themselves.

We watched the feint outline of Easy Rider's stern view dance through the heads and in no time at all their mast could be seen turning sharply to starboard as they proceeded towards a jetty somewhere up a welcoming and sheltered waterway.

OK, our turn. They'd got through. Hoping that 15 minutes didn't make a difference, we called in, had the same non committal conversation and proceeded.

The blue triangle (flagstaff) was lit and the dredged channel alignment indicated by the vertical blue line. No indication of a yellow light. Officially, it was open. We were already clipped in with our life jackets on, as we had been all the trip. Nothing for it but creep towards the target. Getting the camera out was unthinkable - the Bloke was already so tense he could almost deform the helm with his fingers. We surfed this way and that as the small swell pushed us slightly off course first one way and then that. Those blue markers just had to align!

We don't remember breathing until the smooth water was all around us and it was time to turn off up the channel.

 A most welcome sight - calm, calm, still water.

Looking back at the data, we should have waited until around 10:00 if focusing only on the tide. We had transited the bar with a 3.1kn ebb tide at around 08:40. With the expectation of poor weather on our heels, we didn't really want to hang about. The wind was very light (6 knots) and the swell under 1m. We got through just fine, even if our knuckles were white and we could smell the rubber of that new V belt burning - the Bloke had just revved the motor right off the dial!

Actual and predicted Tide and Current measurements.

A great general article of the subject of bar crossings is to be found at http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/getting-over-river-bars-safely

Sausage roll table of fame - Update March 2015

The Bloke here,

Well you have not heard much about sausage rolls lately and you would be forgiven for thinking that I had fallen out of love with those tasty morsels and had been seduced by the Tasmanian Curried Scallop Pie. I would admit that at times I was tempted by their seductive flavour and alluring shape, however I have remained faithful to my first love and the sausage roll is still my favourite mistress.

Seductive Curried Scallop Pies.
Petty Sessions - Franklin.

The sausage roll from  Jackman and McRoss is a standout and I have sampled it many times. Marvelous Miles however, had other ideas and introduced me to a new suitor. Trying to temp me away from my current love by introducing the very flavoursome Moroccan sausage roll from Daci and Daci His attempt, although worthy, was not successful, Jackman and McRoss still remain at number one, however the Moroccan sausage roll comes in at number two.

Miles tempsme from my current love

My current love

The Orford Angus Beef sausage roll was recently sampled and while a good, almost fantastic sausage roll, the pastry was a little too sweet. The filling and form were great and as a result the roll now appears at number 6.

A worthy roll but not tempting enough.

You will remember that Tasmania's reputation hung in the balance -

"Now it is on to Hobart and to say that Tasmania's reputation hangs in the balance is an under-statement. Forget the beer, scenery and that yacht race, if they can not come up with a reasonable sausage roll then no amount of glitz or tourist promotion will save the Apple Isle." (blog - November, 2014).

Well Tasmania came through and its reputation stands tall. We have crossed Bass Strait again and now stand on the verge of sampling more of the sausage roll delights of the 'North Island'. No matter what happens from now on, I will never forget the delightful sausage rolls of Tasmania. It was worth the trouble of sailing there and the people, that yacht race and the scenery were great too.

Table of Fame

Leg 47 - Crossing Bass Strait Back to the Big Island and Ships in the Night.

Many is the time that a night on anchor can be quite still and relaxed, but not so the night we were at Royden Island. Apart from the fact that we were incredibly keyed up about the first overnighter since October last year, the boat rolled fiendishly as swell and current worked us over and fought the wind. We were bleary eyed to begin a long passage and even the anchor seemed to be defying us. We had swung through so much of the clock that the snubber had become wrapped around the anchor chain and needed some fiddling to release.

 Crazy anchor-watch track

Adding to our agitation, the tide was down. Had we calculated the tidal range, the depth etc carefully enough? Certainly, when we'd anchored the previous afternoon, we hunted for good sandy spots in appropriate depths, hence the multiple diagonal lines in the screen shot.

Easy Rider radioed through that they were ready to leave after also having a disturbed night, theirs due mostly to an anchor drag and re-anchoring. What will the day hold when it starts like this we wondered.

Royden Island disappearing from view.

Sea birds wheeling and swarming about at dawn.

Here we go, here we go, here we go! Once we'd carefully looped around the bottom of the small group of islets and rocks that form Royden and the adjacent Pasco Group we popped out the headie in a brisk 20kn SE wind. The tide was helping push us northward too and 8knots boat speed easily achieved. So far predictions were consistent with what we were experiencing. This buoyed our mood and the sky clearing to blue, gave the water a fabulous turquoise look. This was meant to be an establishing High Pressure area. The 'sweet spot' looked to be ours. 

George from Southern Belle called over the radio after they'd heard our log-on with Tas Maritime and seen our AIS signal. He and his crew had left Killicrankie a little north of us and were experiencing 30knots. He suggested that we might find ourselves reefing once we were out of the lee of Flinders Island. He was right and our glee of an exhilarating ride was short lived as we furled in so much of the headsail that we had only the equivalent of our Number 2 'Frilly Knickers' up. It wasn't until the wind died away to almost nothing 15 hours later, that we changed our sail set. And this is how our Bass Strait crossing, back to the big island began; 30-35knots from the SE with 3m seas up our jaxie.

 Looking back at Flinders Island.

We didn't see it at all.

This was going to be a rowdy ride across Bass Strait. We sort of always expected it would be. It is so very effected by the water movement associated with a 3m ebb and flood tide across a relatively shallow sea floor (remember that it was once a land bridge between the Australian mainland and Tasmania) it's inevitable that the water will stand up against any wind when the tide is running in and out. In fact, it is moving more than it's still. The wind direction did at least mean that we were going to have a 'downhill' ride - a beam reach which our big bummed boat loves.

The Bloke nearly gave himself RSI rolling his wrist over, time and time again, to check the barometer function on his watch. 1014, 1014, 1014 hPa ... why wasn't that High Pressure ridge settling in. If only the barometer would rise. The wind velocity would ease a bit. The sea state would improve. I could stop thinking about when I should next dose on the Sturgeron and we could think about eating something more than ginger biscuits. What about the goodies I'd pre-prepared? Why wasn't the weather reading the forecast?

4 hours in, Easy Rider seemed to be pointing West and not North. They radioed to inform us they were headed to Deal Island 4 hours to the West to sort out a bilge pump issue.  We worried for them. Like us, they had no appetite for being holed up there in the middle of Bass Strait during a big blow. Nothing that we could do. It's always nice to see another boat when you are passaging and also to be close enough to communicate on the radio, but except for moral support, there is nothing one can do. We kept to our target of Lakes Entrance, due North.

By 19:00 we were pretty much at the halfway point and the sea state had eased. The Barometer had finally risen to 1017hPa and the forecast was proving true. We just happened to be moving along the very edge of the pressure patch at the same speed. In anticipation of arriving at the shipping lane at this time and only 30 minutes before sunset, we'd heated and eaten our lasagna and were both on watch 'in case'. We'd already had 2 northbound ships traverse diagonally behind and in front of us. They must have used Deal Island to our West as a turning point. The AIS was earning its keep.

Mr Murphy and his quirky Law didn't disappoint. Right after sunset our AIS signaled a target we needed to watch. It wasn't long before it was clear we were in an intersecting course. We were crossing the shipping lane from South to North. ANL Windarra was traveling West to Adelaide. You'll never outrun a ship doing 15.5knots and there is not guarantee that they will 'see' you on their AIS or radar. We radioed to inform them that a) we were out there, b) that we would avert to starboard, c) pass them port-to-port before passing behind them. Oh, and one more thing... d) would they please confirm they intended to maintain their existing heading of 106 degrees. The Asian sounding radio operator jabbered something that we hoped was a confirmation of our plan. The Bloke started the motor and fanged us to starboard.

Here is what it looked like.

Luckily, once we'd completed our little dance with ANL Windarra were were pretty much across the shipping lane. We'd crossed it at a turning point where hopefully there was a little more vigilance and we knew as we traversed the oil and gas fields, that the likelyhood of encountering another boat of any sort was very low. We took it in turns to have a sleep and worried about the fate of Easy Rider.

3/4 of the way across, the wind had decreased to the point that the Bloke had to pole out the headie. We traveled on for another 1  1/2 hours, creeping along like this at just 3 knots. The forecast had predicted that the wind would peter out. It did and we completed the journey under motor. With about 10nm to the bar crossing into Lakes Entrance we unexpectedly got an AIS alert. It was Easy Rider! They had made it to Deal Island, made their checks to their bilge, determined it was just a float switched that had jammed open in all the jostling and then motor sailed as quickly as they could thinking that we would have been through the bar and in Lakes Entrance a few hours ahead of them. We on the other hand, were happy to have slowed down through the oil rigs as we did not want to arrive before daylight and low tide.

 Oh joy! They made it.

 Happy sailors!

Rob and Henma - so glad to be back

 Tied up to a jetty at the end of a L O N G day!

Leg 47 - Bass Strait to Lakes Entrance. Deal or no Deal!

We will be off line while we focus on crossing Bass Strait in what we hope will be a weather 'sweet spot' to take us across the ditch in 24 - 30 hours and ahead of a big blow.

We never wanted to visit Flinders Island. It just happens to be in/on the way.

We should be in Lakes Entrance Wednesday Midday.

Standby!


Phew! Arrived safe..... will update later :)

Leg 46 - Trouser Bay to Royden Island

Waking to the smell of burning is never a good thing and although we were meant to be sleeping in we just had to go topside to assess what was going on.

  

The outlook was very dramatic indeed with plumes of smoke 

merging with clouds and the pink light of dawn.

Something was on fire when we left Trousers Bay

Two decaying cyclones are making a mess of the synoptic situation... and our plans! A visit to Deal Island is beginning to look iffy. Front of mind is that we DO NOT want to sit out the predicted next big blow (that would trap us here for at least another 4 -5 days) either at Flinders Island or more particularly at Deal Island. Reports are mixed about holding at the Deal Island anchorages and internet is meant to be bad too, reducing the chances of the most comprehensive range of weather forecasts and just when you'd most want it. Of course there is our satellite communicator but more info is better, right? And what do you think the chances are of the Bloke putting ashore in a dicey anchorage, to climb the hill and sit on the bench where it is reported that if one sits EXACTLY in this one spot, that internet and phone reception is available? Hmmmm methinks exactly 'no chance' at all. 

So the updated plan, written at low tide, is to leave with the predicted morning wind shift and make for Royden Island. A weather window is looking better by the hour to make the 24 hour run to Lakes Entrance, and furthermore, to rhumb-line it! It hardly seems natural. 

Our departure from Trouser Bay was quite rapid. The breeze was swinging to the South placing us on a lee shore with a falling tide and 50m of chain to pull up. We'd chosen the anchorage for NE protection. Anchored in 6m to begin with, now there was less than 1m below the keel. The Bloke made that measurement very audible even if the wind was whistling in my ears. Even the brand of out anchor winch was giving me the same message; its a 'Quick'!

One thing is for sure, setting foot on Flinders Island is not going to happen and almost as if sulking, the Island shrouded itself first in smoke, then clouds and then rain.

 

 

The Royden Island anchorage is meant to be quite good.

We'll see!

How Long is a Piece of String?

Some passages are reasonably uneventful and conditions make it possible for me to simply admire the Blokes wonderful skippering while simultaneously occupying myself with another task. Raising the anchor at Trousers Bay I noticed that some whipping had come undone on the snubber. I felt inspired to make a repair and set to work. So far, I've whipped the end of almost everything on the boat barring the Blokes end.

I needed something a bit more 'heavy duty' than the regular whipping twine and sought out an enormous spool of cord we'd purchased, what seems like a zillion miles away, in Port Lincoln. I dont know how, but the spool's end came away and caused this.

Some jobs start off small and then things go wrong.

 

With any luck we won't ever need 200 continuous metres of twine. Somewhere towards the beginning, middle or end, there's now a bit missing. Oooops!

Looking at Trouser Bay

With a NE wind freshening to 30knots we were happy to we well anchored in a sandy patch and free of the ribbon weed. We do have a secret weapon for that though. We bought a Marsh Stockless Anchor through Marevelous Miles at Sparks and Spanners in Port Lincoln for exactly the day we'd be in ribbon weed again. Seeing as there was an abundance of sand we decided to keep that weapon holstered for another occasion and 'stick with what we know' - our Delta plus a 'shed load' of chain!

Our anchor-watch track reveals the arc of the wind shifts

The wind strength meant that walks on the beach would not be possible so the dinghy stayed up and we chilled out and enjoyed the view.

Easy Rider settled for the night.

Clouds rolling in.

 

 

A dramatic sunset

During the night 2 more yachts arrived around 02:00. The Bloke on one of his nocturnal visits topside to check the depth (note: boy code), spotted red and green navigation lights and switched on our deck light to hopefully assist. Two yachts come across from Tamar. There is a general exodus of boats from Tasmania. The Van Diemens Land Circumnavigation is over and the RPAYC Cruise has concluded too. Some yachts are staying though. Some were delayed 3 weeks in Eden getting south because of the weird Low Pressure system in January and have hardly enough time to cruise about and are hoping for a better summer next year. For some it take them 12 months to gather up the courage to go home after a bruising trip down. Certainly there is much in Tassie to stay for and we ever-so-nearly did too!

Southern Belle arriving 24 hours after us

By mid afternoon Southern Belle pulled in making 5 boats in the bay. We'd stalked her on Skipr.net and met the crew of George and Gail subsequently. Channel 16 sparkled with 'Hi George" and "Hi Brian" after the customary "Zofia, Zofia, Zofia this is Southern Belle, Southern Belle"  etc. Gail had flown home to Sydney and left the delivery home to George and some pals who will no doubt relish a 'boys own adventure' across Bass Strait to Eden. Very blokey. We on the other hand, considered to be 'short handing', are approaching this cautiously and with some trepidation. We are probably a bit more than coastal cruisers but our hops are not really long enough to get into the swing of a 'watch' pattern so 'overnighters' are tough going.

The forecast is for the wind to swing through the clock placing us on a lee shore, so the Bloke and Rob from Easy Rider, have conferred and mulled over several scenarios of where to hide next and how to claw a bit more distance off the major Bass Strait sector. Every 20nm reduction is another 4 hours, so let's scratch it off where we can. Next stop Royden Island at the top of Flinders Is. ahead of maybe a day at Deal Is. Best of all though, we can sleep in and get some more sleep in the bank.

Leg 45 - Across Banks Strait from Eddystone Point to Trousers Bay, Flinders Island.

If we left at 07:00 we could reach the Banks Strait with the flood tide. We nearly missed our agreed departure rendezvous time with Easy Rider. We had slept like bricks and woke with a bolt at 06:15. We were late already! We negotiated the dressing up in a synchronised ballet for 2.

Getting dressed for a day out at sea for us is a bit of a performance. This is not shorts and T-shirt weather and our cockpit is really quite exposed. Being properly kitted up is one of our routines and really important for our safety as much as our comfort. So the layers begin with undies, then there is our base layer - think long johns and long sleeve skivvy, next a shirt and long trousers, followed by a fleece or maybe two (for me). Next comes our Musto Fowlies; of salopettes and jacket. On our feet are explorer socks and our Dubarry sailing boots. Once we go topside we'll put on our life jackets, sailing gloves and possibly a beanie. This all takes ages to put on. With each layer, our limbs get progressively heavier and joints harder to bend. Ultimately we plod about the boat as if held down by super gravity! One always thinks twice about going to the loo after the gear is on.

Luckily we've got back into the groove, never really having stopped dressing-up all summer, due to the lack of lovely warm days. We had our tea and toast and were ready to meet the tide, as the saying goes, it waits for noone!

 Rob and Henma slept in too.

Goodbye Eddystone Lighthouse

Spectacular Sunrise.

Surely a good sign.

 

 Crazy rocks like Rodin sculptures and Georges Rocks

Swinging wide of Georges Rocks to avoid the craypots that The Bloke had observed the commercial fishermen were working on, we headed for the Strait. Our timing was perfect. We scored a trifecta for our punctuality: A 2knot flooding tide running westward, SE swells and SE winds to whisk us up the coast and around the top of Swan Island. SOG readings showed lots of 7.5-8 knots.Woot woot! It was a different story as we got closer to our chosen anchorage. This time the tide was ebbing southwards and the wind had swung through to the north. Never mind, we took it while it was going.

Goodbye Cape Portland and Swan Island

Weird rock outbursts near Clarke and Cape Barron Islands

Our new reality. 

Trousers Bay, Southern end of Flinders Island.

Trousers Bay became our home for the night. As the Cruising Guide advised, a very large bay with plenty of good anchoring spots in among the ribbon weed.We anchored in around 6m of water which allowed for the 2m tidal range. Seems OK, and we could stay 2 nights.

*** Patchy phone reception and OK internet