Eden

We spent 7 nights in Refuge Cove Friday the 4th May we got up at 4.30am, it was raining and dark, had to wait untill  7.15 before we could see well enough to leave. This was the hardest leg for us, the sea ranged from 3mt to 4 mt with a 1.5mt swell. wind north west to south west up to 35knotts. We did a fair amount of surfing. John only had the jib half furled and the motor ticking over and we reached eight knotts at times.
The waves seemed huge and were braking over the boat, the dolphins din't care what the weather was doing, they are still out there. I must admit I was scared at times, and hung on to the scalf mum knitted for me. We arrived at Eden NSW and had the anchor set at 9.15pm Saturday. I was happy that Bass Straight was behind us. We stayed on anchor 2 nights and then move closer to the town, and rafted up next to an old fishing boat on the wharf. From the wharf we can walk up the hill to town , the shops, launder mat and shower at the fishermans club.
The Endeavour is in Eden for a few days, Monday night we went to the fishermans club for dinner, and chatted with some guys who paid $1800.00 to do a leg on the Endeavour from Melbourne to Eden, (they paid to work) They said most people were sea sick. They enjoyed the eperience but would not do it again.

Eden

John's boat at the wharf Eden

The Endeavour

Lunch at the wharf

Wilsons Promontory - Refuge Cove

Left  Apollo Bay Thursday 26/4/12 at 6.30am, sea rollie, 7knt breeze southwest. I thought we were going to get a sail, but it only lasted for 15mins, conditions changed and the motor was started. Early Friday morning we went around the most southern point of the main land. John chose to go through the shipping channel  in between the rocks, rather than going around them, the later would probably have been a better option as we didn’t get anywhere in a hurry. We were struggling against the stream of Wilsons Promontory and the tide, had to boost the motor to make head way. We arrived at Refuge Cove (about half way through Bass Straight) at 11am Friday morning. Refuge Cove is a lovely little cove that is a protected anchorage in most conditions. It is only accessible by water, and hiking. We had a nice calm night, Saturday morning I took my canoe ashore and explored the bay a delightful place you could hide out here in solitude. In the afternoon a front came through and the wind gusted to 40 – 50 knots, even in here we copped it, the boat was healing over and going in all directions. (Still felt safe in here at anchor) Sunday morning all calm. Monday morning we left at 6.30 with the intention to go to Eden ( 238nm @4knots = 59.5hrs) 15knots north by north west wind, doing 6knots , didn’t last for long conditions change wind on the nose and a easterly swell made it hard, we were struggling to do 1 -2knots , it got worse the further we went. At 1.30 the decision was made to return to Refuge Cove. Arrived back at 7.30pm, and spent a comfortable night.  

going around the point of vic

Refuge Cove

beach Refuge Cove



Apollo Bay

Well here we are at Apollo Bay one step into Bass Straight. We left Port Fairy at 8am Thursday 19th, motor sailing, 90nm to Apollo we avarage about 4kns an hour = 22hrs , wind 7knts, sea  conditions calm, it was very enjoyable untill it turned dark and that was about 7pm and the fog set in makeing it hard to see,
and there were lights flashing in the distant on the coast, it was all very eerie, I realy think we were seeing things that weren't there.At one stage there were 7 ships detected on the AIS. After midnight it cleared a bit and we could see the stars.
We arrived at Apollo Bay about 5am it was still dark so we floated no far from the marina entrance untill we could see, as we were told it was not easy to entrer the marina due to the swell that runs through the entrance and half of it has a sand bar.7am Friday morning we were safely tied to the warf.
In Port Fairy we met up with 2 other boats going in the same direction as us, allso coming from Adelaide.
They left Port Fairy at 5.30am Thursday arrived in Apollo Bay that evening at about 5pm. As you can see they are much faster boats than us. It is good to chat with them as Patrick has done this trip 5 times.
Apollo Bay is full of activity this weekend as there is a music festival, the street is closed to trafic and there are stalls and buskers, allso a big marquee where all the bands play. This is a yearly event.




Apollo Bay marina

The 3 boats

The marquee

The street

One of the buskers

An Irish group



Port Fairy

We are now at Port Fairy, we left Portland 6.30am Saturday, wind 13kns northeast, 1mt sea, doing 5-6 knotts.
John caught 3 barracoutas, put the line away, as we are told they are not nice eating fish, ok to smoke.
We had a good sail most of the way, arrived at 1.30pm.






John with his barraouta

Port Fairy Marina

Port Fairy Light House
Good walking track

Portland

Hello all, we spent 6 days in the Robe  marina waiting for the weather to improve.
John's sister lives in Robe so lucky us we got all our washing done, i know there is a laundermat there, this was much easier. We all so had a suprise visit from my sister Barbara and her husband.
We  departed Wednesday 11th at 8am for Portland. The sea was 1mt with a 2mt swell, and we were going into it, the wind was light and on the nose.Motor running. Our second overnight was anything but easy.
John was putting sails up and away most of the night, as the wind kept changing direction, and the sea didn't play the game either. On top of that we had to keep on eye on ships coming towards, and behind us. Thank goodness for the AIS. And of course the fishermen were out with longlines, trawlers, and craypots.
I did manage to get a cat nap for half an hour or so. John didn,t, no amount of offering to watch, would make him leave his post.
When the sun came up, every this seemed calmer, and it was easier to see ships, fishermen and craypots.
When we turned more east we did manage to sail for 12nm with out the motor.
We arrived at Portland at about 2pm Thursday, and anchored in the harbour.
We are resting now, and will go into town tomorrow.



My new canoe, in the Robe Marina

Sammy the resident seal- Robe Marina

ship passing in day light

John studding mooreings at Portland

Portland Habour

Robe

Well here we are at Robe Marina, before planned. Tuesday we left America River with the intention of staying in Antichamber Bay, we had such a good sail down the east coast of Kangaroo Island ,wind 15knt, sea 2mts,so we decided to carry on.
When we got clear of the Island the wind dropped off to 8knts, the sea 1mt and 4 to 5mt swell, when you dropped to the bottom of the swell there was no wind, so the motor had to go on.
We left KI at 7.30am Tuesday and arrived at Robe Wednesday at 1.30pm. We covered 134n miles and had no sleep.

Sunset after leaving Kangaroo Island

Robe Marina

Take Two

Left North Haven 7.30am 29/3/12 motoring no wind. Arrived at Rapid Bay 5pm.
Had a very pleasant night. Left Friday morning 8am arrived at American River KI at 1.45 and picked up a swing mooreing. Saturday moved to the warf to have the HF radio worked on. Monday I got a lift with Carrol to Kingscote to get a few supplies, in preperation to sail to Antechamber Bay, being the last stop befor heading off to Robe.

Leaving North Haven (By the way this is what the sea looked like most of the way.

Dolphins put on a good display.