Leg 39 - Fortescue Bay to Port Arthur

15.3 Nautical Miles

Before we left Devonport, the Bloke printed out a map of Tassie to assist in breaking up the balance of trip to our next important destination (Hobart Airport - grand-baby coming, tic-toc, tic-toc) into manageable passages and with approximate dates. We've managed to follow that rough plan quite well in terms of timing even if 2 destinations were skipped and Tamar added in.

Rough passage plans

We left 'Walkers' in Fortescue Bay around 08:00. The anchor took a little encouragement to come up. Watching Gus on 13Beaufort depart a day before made it quite apparent that the anchor would likely come up with half the sea floor still clinging to it. We had a bucket at the bow in anticipation and it took 2-3 goes to remove the silty mud. What a good place to anchor! With great reluctance to leave such a fabulous bay, we made for the ocean and what we expected to be a spectacular trip past the Cathedral Rocks at Cape Pillar.

Looking North as we exited Fortescue Bay

A gap between 'The Lanterns'.

Just sticking out of the water like a needle.

A closer look at the pipe-like rock that's prevalent around here.

In places it's like pages in a book.

We motored in almost glassy conditions quite close to the shore and completely protected from any swells until we approached Tasman Island where the swell, although a lot lower than previous days, was still a healthy 2.5 - 3m and beginning to wrap around. Initial plans to sail around the southern and more picturesque side of Tasman Island were abandoned in favour of the more sheltered but heart-stopping route under the Cathedral Rocks at Cape Pillar. Wow factor? Ten out of ten.

Tasman Island Lighthouse.

We could see it from Maria Island.

The now disused landing site on Tasman Island.

How men once managed to build this or even access the Island at all had us boggling.

Birds nesting on Tasman Island

Approaching the gap between Tasman Island and Cape Pillar.

Ooooh it does look a bit squeazy!

Depth is between 10-12m and and the gap around 300m.

Cathedral Rocks at Cape Pillar.

Nasty rock in the passage between the Tasman Peninsula and Tasman Island.

Nasty rocks on the other side too!

The sea was beginning to fizz with current and backwash from swells as we went through the passage.

Plenty to look at.

From a distance this looked like a man made cairn but its a natural formation at the top of the Tasman headland.

The Bloke focusing  on the task.

We were motoring in case you are wondering.

The wind had become southwesterly and COLD!

Phew! Good to get that behind us.

Beyond Tasman Island and all the way to Budget Head below Arthurs Peak, Port Arthur, the sea was vile. The swells disintegrating on the steep rock faces and back-washing against one another, made for a horrid sea state - as bad as the inshore areas of the Zuytdorp Cliffs near Shark Bay, WA. Remember that? We were not sure if wind would have been a help or made the transit any better. With all the pitching and yawing it would have been difficult to keep a sail usefully trimmed in the wind that was mostly only 5-8knots. We were a motor cruiser until we rounded the corner into protected waters.

Happy to leave that behind us, as we turned into Port Arthur and a totally new view.

The Isle of the Dead.

Notice the changed geology and calm water.

The Port Arthur Historic Site coming into view.

We'll be here a week with more cluster fronts predicted. With so much to see, and time up our sleeves that should be 'No problemo'. We are only 1 days sailing from Hobart now and on track.