Saluting Onora

We've been able to synchronise and meet up with Onora again after first meeting Jim and Jean at the Port Lincoln Yacht Club nearly a year ago. The anticipation of their arrival was fantastic. We had great fun for 4 days and then they had to leave to head across the ditch to New Zealand to make their flight to NY to collect a cruising award. (Read about their achievement).

In between sampling sausage rolls and other shenanigans, Jim and Jeannie needed to get refueled and make other provisioning preparations. On the fresh food front, conservatism was key. New Zealand customs would likely 'confiscate' with a fierce reputation to uphold! To that end, we were re-gifted some Melbourne roof-top honey. Truth be known, it probably should not even have been brought to Tasmania! We'll open and consume the carefully waxed vials at sea.

Onora manoeuvring to the re-fuelling dock at RYCT

Previously docked on a outer jetty, Onora certainly attracted a lot of attention so close to the clubhouse. Yes, raining again in the 2nd driest Australian capital!

Jim held a small umbrella over the bowser while Jeannie called out the fill progress from the dials below. They might have done this a few time before!

Ric and Helve Murdoch hosted us all for a stupendous feast at their home in Sandy Bay. The boys were shown the highlights by Ric. On this occasion there was a cruise ship or two in port with a warship anchored out.

Jim, the Bloke and Marvelous Miles took a walk into town to organise Customs and Immigration formalities and then popped into the Hobart office of the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). They were on their best behaviour... no sniggering about 'Lying Bastards Dot Com', a term of endearment that springs to our lips on the arrival of unexpected weather. The BOM boys were so pleased to see 'real people' that they invited the troop upstairs to a room filled with LARGE screens. Jim was assured that the approaching pattern of 2 large high pressure systems would result in favourable conditions for their crossing of The Ditch to New Zealand based on the model that was most applicable in Tasmania at this time of year. A good omen but would it eventuate?

All too soon, it was time to leave.

Customs had arrived to 'clear them out'.

The Bloke gives Jeanie a farewell hug and Jim says he is ready to go.

We led the way out from the club. Three Aussies sorry to waive farewell. It wasn't long before 'Onora, Road Harbour', powered past and showed us her stern.

We watched from an increasing distance as the well-oiled machine, that is 'Team Onora' stowed, fenders and docking lines and prepared their vessel for the trip down The Derwent River, across Storm Bay, past Capes Raoul and Tasman, then across the Tasman Sea, bound for Nelson, New Zealand.

Onora leaving Mt Wellington behind.

Our last sight of Onora, after we'd turned into the D'Entrecasteaux Channel

with Marvelous Miles aboard Zofia.