Log of the Yacht Strewth 02.01.2010 - 20.01.2010 - Day 2

Log of the Yacht Strewth 02.01.2010 - 20.01.2010 - Day 2

02.01.2010.

At 1430hrs: we let slip the fuel wharf at the RYCT and motor sailed with headsail down river. Much discussion resolved that we should spend the overnight in Barnes Bay on North Bruny Island. Link to Google map below...

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at 1630hrs: In very little water in the southern arm of the inner bay we dropped anchor at 1630hrs. Position 43.13S - 147.35E. Despite our fears, the bay was empty except for two other yachts and they left within the next half hour. Fishing tackle was deployed and Ralph and Champ set about catching our dinner. Just in case they didn't succeed I started roasting our first beef roast and getting the famous pink eye potatoes on the go. As it turned out the fishing was all fishing and no catching so roast beef it was, washed down with several bottles of Shiraz.

03.01.2010.

0900hrs: After a very pleasant evening and a quiet night we breakfasted late and discussed the next stopover. The long range forecast for the south west coast indicated that we might get a window for the leg from Recherche to Port Davey in two to three days. Brooksie and I thought that Thursday 7th Jan was probably the earliest we could expect the right conditions. So it looked like we had a few days to spend getting to Recherche. It was decided to make for Simpson Bay or rather the Northen tip as our next overnight anchorage. Since this wasn't all that far down channel some fishing for flathead was suggested on the way.

1030hrs: raised anchor and under motor made for the channel. Somewhere off Woodbridge at approx 43.17S - 147.25E we dropped anchor and sent the boys away fishing in the duck. The remainder of the crew spent the next few hours lazing about reading, sleeping or in Gouldies case checking under the floorboards for leaks... Earlier in the day we had nudged a sandbar and he thought it worth checking... It was all in vain as we had a leaking rudder bearing and so much water was coming in there that it was impossible to check for other minor leaks.

1430hrs: The duck returned and they proudly displayed a bucket full of flathead... These are very bony fish and have to be expertly filleted to be any good. They are also slippery little buggers. Luckily Gouldie had the necessary skills and in a matter of an hour he had a respectable plateful of flathead fillets ready for the cook...