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.

Marvelous Milestones

The 12th of February is our wedding anniversary. 38 years now. Some say that's 2 life sentences! It's also the anniversary of our completion of our Great Australian Bight crossing from Middle Island to Streaky Bay. That's a lot of stuff to recall so we enlisted some help from Chris and John who were actually at our wedding and they volunteered to represent all the other guests who attended. A big job they claimed, but someone had to do it.

Our original plan for our celebrations was to meet up at Peppermints, a waterfront restaurant that promotes the fabulous produce of the district; seafood, berries etc... It was a plan hatched some weeks before but abandoned in an instant on the news that our friends Jim and Jean would be sailing 'Onora' into Hobart to complete their 2nd circumnavigation of the world! Additionally, Marvelous Miles was arriving from Port Lincoln to celebrate Jim and Jeanie's stunning achievement.

With so much going on we shortened our time in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel by one 1 day to head back to the RYCT after first of all, being hosted for a wedding anniversary eve dinner aboard Sheokee. It was a gourmet feast and a night to remember. David prepared duck breasts in a cherry jus. I made panna cotta on a plum and cherry jus, topped with shards of almond brittle. It was proof positive that it's possible to make splendid meals in our little galley kitchens with stuff we just had lying around in our bilges and fruit baskets. The biggest treat of all though, was the gift that Pam had made, a memento of our time anchored at Dover behind Rabbit Island.

We are impressed beyond words both with the gesture and outcome.

 Sheokee and My Way2 silhuetted against the sunrise.

Waking to a Quarantine Bay glass-off, we felt sure this was going to kick off a day to remember.

Lunch was reconvened at the Mount Nelson Brasserie, a fine table with views out across the Derwent was reserved for us. Chris and John collected us from the yacht club at noon. We needed to have an early lunch to accommodate Marvelous Miles' arrival plus that of Onora mid afternoon. From our dining vantage point we should be able to spot Onora sail past. Did I mention that this was a busy, busy day?

 Celebration lunch with John and Chris

 The appearance of this yacht, although not Onora, alerted us that Lunch needed to end.

 What happens when your friends don't get into the 'selfie' moment.

Planning was almost faultless. We enjoyed the company of two of our original wedding guests with wonderful food and views of their new home town. The sight of a yacht sailing by plus a text message from Jim alerted us to skip coffee and rush back to the yacht club. Miles had arrived in his hire car from the airport only 5 minutes ahead of us and just in time to collect Onora's lines. Phew, we just made it in time to finalise all the tying off and time for more champagne!

Part of our planning for Onora's arrival was the purchase of some Chicago White Sox supporter paraphinalia. The Bloke and Jim share a birthday and the gift exchange last year resulted in the acquisition of a St Patrick's Day version of a White Sox cap. Miles had been given a cap for Xmas. All that was needed was some shirts and we'd give Jim a fun surprise.

The Bloke in his kit.

Miles switches to his shirt too!

The Bloke, Jim and Miles.

Jeanie getting stuff stowed and happy to have arrived.

 Parked in the lee of Mt Wellington.

Jim and Jean Foley.

Two time world circumnavigators on Onora, toasting their achievement!

Jim sharing technical info with John while Jeanie showed Chris around the 'Ship'.

It all came together on the day, despite fears that it was getting too complicated. Marvelous Milestones were being celebrated and we didn't want this enchanted bubble to burst!

Raising awareness for beyondblue at the Wooden Boat Festival

Beyondblue is an organisation devoted to promoting mental health and in particular highlighting anxiety and depression. Mental illness and depression affects so many people in our community.  They say, upwards of 3 million! Neither young nor old are spared. It can be debilitating for the sufferer and can destroy families too. In the worst instances it can result in suicide.

The Wooden Boat Festival was seen as an opportunity to raise awareness for beyondblue . This is how they did it.

The notice says "Proudly supporting beyondblue".

The living 'statue' thanked me for the donation with his eyes.

1. If you need help - Call 1300 22 4636

The Wooden Boat Festival

This extremely popular 4 day event is much anticipated and is convened in Hobart every 2 years. Considerable effort has been put in by exhibitors and attendees alike. Exhibitors have had to not only prepare their vessels for display but also deliver them to Hobart, often from interstate and a good number of attendees took the WBF as a reason to sail to Tasmania.

The Windward Star was sailed down from Gladstone for the WBF 7 years ago. 

The skipper never went back!

The preparation for display we know, has been vexing for the locals. We've been visiting the little ports of Franklin and Cygnet over the last 6 weeks and encountered a number of wooden boat owner enthusiasts repainting and re-varnishing their boats and bright-work; or at least attempting to. The weather has been so 'ordinary', damp and dismal it's been very difficult to get all the work done in the dry conditions needed for the job. There have been many frustrated skippers in evidence. Somehow they managed to pull it all off though.

The boats sailing to Tasmania for the event have not been entirely lucky either.  The low pressure system  that sat off the coast of NSW and then Tasmania, responsible for delivering unseasonal cold and wet conditions in recent weeks (and spoiling the cherry crop), was also responsible for trapping boats in more northern locations such as Eden and Flinders Island for up to 12 days. Sea conditions were so bad that the James Craig and the Endeavour replica both has to return to Sydney. We were watching various web sites and discovered the conditions were also caused injuries to crew (broken ribs for example) plus damage to boats. Broken spars, autopilots, propellers falling off and a boats bouncing on its keel in a stormy anchorage. Ouch. In a word - carnage! Some boats simply failed to get here in time.

As with so many other events, Hobart can really turn it on and miraculously summer arrived in time for this event too with attendees enjoying great weather and a fabulous atmosphere all around the various docks.

 

Just a fraction of the yachts at Constitution Dock, there were many , many more filling all of Kings Wharf where the Sydney Hobart racers were berthed 6 weeks earlier.

The Bloke queued up to buy a Galley Mate marine BBQ.

He's thinking of sausages and steak for sure.

The guy with the white hat liked the product so much, he bought the business!

New Dubarry Treads!

Occasionally the Bloke needs a little fashion advice. Mostly though, he dresses as he pleases and so it was the day we went to the Wooden Boat Festival. He had all his favourite kit on - Musto fleece, his 'nappy pants' (Musto sailing trousers with a Kevlar patch across the whole seat area) and his favourite Dubarry deck shoes. OMG! How did he get off the boat and up the jetty without my checking him out; we were going into town! Too late, to send him back. The crew of Sheokee were ready to leave and we were taking a lift with Pam and David.

Since we were going to a boat show, the Bloke did at least 'kind of' fit in as we flitted around some of the trade stands. Much to our delight we found Trudy and the Dubarry stand. I had worked with Trudy 18 months previously on the Musto stand at the Mandurah Boat Show. A golden opportunity to source some substitute treads.

The Bloke with Trudy, happy to help with the footwear makeover.

 The new and the old. 

I think after 7 years you could say that the old boat shoes had done their work?

 

Step aboard only if your  footwear qualifies.

Beach BBQ

Sailing is not all hard work and worry (terror for some), occasionally when you're a cruiser the weather can be darned nice and require some beach time enjoyment.

In Apollo Bay with Sheokee, we met a lovely local couple in Roger and Patricia off Andromeda. They suggested a lunch-time beach BBQ.  Although the land ashore on Bruny Island is mostly privately owned there is a shoreline strip that is retained for public use. Pam said that in NZ it's known as the Queens chain. In this bay, the local farmer and yachties have created a BBQ'ing spot complete with bench seats and BBQ, plus a brazier for colder times. There is even a little wood pile - with a pile of wood neatly stacked in it. We suspect the farmer supplying the timber right where it's wanted saves his property being visited by people in search of firewood. Good planning!

As it happened, Roger and Patricia bought their little butane burning stove which nicely resolved the question of permission to light a fire in the open on such a warm day. We have a similar little stove but didn't bring it on this occasion and made use of the 'self cleaning' one provided by Andromeda!

Pam was out if shot as she'd set up her easel and paints in the shade.

It can nice - really nice!

As always, the locals were incredibly friendly and the threads that seem to connect everyone meant that Roger had been an engineering student a lifetime ago, with someone we knew from RPGC!

The Dinghy gets a Beauty Spot

Our dinghy is the equivalent to having a car. No dinghy or no car means it's very difficult to get about the place. Specifically, it makes it possible for us to go ashore when we are out on anchor or to visit other boats. It's a really important bit of kit. The outboard motor is less important, one can always row if necessary but it's very limiting to be without a dinghy.

One morning our dinghy took on a very strange appearance. Mmmmm... not a good look... very deflating in fact, ha, ha!

The Bloke rose to the challenge and rescuing the dinghy became his whole focus for the next few hours. We realised that while pulling up to the jetty at the boat ramp the previous day, that we must have knocked into one of the razor sharp oysters that was growing on the steps! Luckily the hole was both small and easy to locate AND there was only one puncture.

The repaired puncture... er, beauty spot!

We've often considered giving our dinghy a name. Now we are considering 'Marilyn'.