A day with an unexpected ending.The Bloke had checked the forecast in the night and the 4am predictions were for an easterly of around 15knots. We were heading north east with an intended destination of Tam O'Shanter Bay where we would anchor for the night. We let loose our lines at the change of tide from the Mersey Yacht Club courtesy jetty at 10:00 and headed down the river and out to sea. Once beyond the scope of the leads we unfurled the sails and looked forward to the day. We'd need to tack but one long one should just just about do it.
As we got further off shore it was apparent that the wind was not an easterly but a northeasterly; exactly where we were headed. Blasted noserlies! Worse still was that the wind gauge after an hour began ramping up with frequent gusts to 22knots. Hello, what's going on? We pulled in the mainsail thinking that we might even be reducing the genoa. I went below to check on the forecasts. The 10:00 forecast update completely changed the predictions to strengthening north easterlies, which we were already experiencing with a strong wind warning for good measure. Met-eye showed Cape Grim was already registering 31knots and it was headed our way. The good news was that conditions should be lighter inshore. We headed inshore accordingly and spent the day tacking, thus earning our rum ration.
It was very evident that Tam O'Shanter Bay would be too ambitious a target for a comfortable day sail and that somewhere up the Tamar River would be a suitable bail out option. Consulting the Tasmanian Cruising guide indicated an all weather harbour at Low Head Pilot Station and there were still other options further up-stream if we didn't like the look of it. Luckily the tide was within 2 hours of high tide allowing us to get in. We could be safely tied up before dark and then revise our plans. Getting through Banks Strait and on to the east coast of Tasmania within 3 days was definitely a plan written in the sand at low tide and the notion was now well and truly washed away.
It's not all bad news though. It happens that Low Head Pilot Station is a historical precinct that also includes a lovely lighthouse, maritime museum and a coffee shop for the Bloke. Golden!
All good at Low Head Pilot Station.
It's a small but sheltered basin similar in size to Christmas Cove at Kangaroo Island.
The scene is a bit different at high tide.... but 3m will do that!
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