Time to Go Cruising

With Christmas, funerals and boat jobs now behind us at last we were ready; no, more than ready, to start our Tasmanian Cruising!

2 other styles of Derwent River cruising observed as we at last left the RYCT!

Summer 2018/9 in Tasmania proved to be a shocking bush fire season. Fires were raging since before Christmas and were not letting up. Plumes of smoke were visible from any vantage point and our decks would often be dusted with ash - even in the RYCT Marina in Sandy Bay. We were unsure how this would play out down The Channel (the D'Entrecasteaux Channel) which separates Bruny Island from the Tasmanian SE Coast. We were very keen to return to some of our favourite bays.

 

 

It became evident that we'd be confined to Barnes Bay for some days. 

Even Kettering on the western shore was too smokey. 

Huonville was being evacuated. Vessels were leaving Port Cygnet.

  

The addition of smoke created some spectacular sunrises in Quarantine Bay

The sky reflected on still water

Unable to explore further down The Channel encouraged us to go ashore to visit the old Quarantine Station. The colourful tree trunks along the track were eye catching.

  

It didn't take long for play friends to arrive and join us as we shuffled from anchorage to anchorage based on the wind direction of the day.

Smoke on the water

A sundowner rotation was soon established among the vessels we'd traveled with to Tasmania. 

Other waifs and strays enthusiastically joined in our shenanigans.

 

The Tasmanian Wooden Boat Festival was soon to commence and we were delighted to spot The Raid - an immaculate vessel crewed by identically dressed enthusiasts from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. In case you are wondering, it wasn't sailed down. We later, spotted it's purpose-built crate at the RYCT in which it gets shipped down every 2 years for the WBF.

A total fire ban ruled out the possibility of a BBQ on shore but we did the best we could.

No prizes for guessing on which boat sundowners were being held?

 

A very Germanic Erika (actually Austrian) thought she'd host a late afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen and encourage an AFD (Alcohol Free Day). Her hospitality was faultless, yet she failed. We all drank coffee's and ate cake (including the ones brought) and then moved straight on to the wine we'd also brought. Mutiny? A nice thought though Erika!

Now just waiting for the fires to abate and for the Wooden Boat Festival for which a return to Hobart will be required in 10 days.