Sydney to Hobart

After a leisurely morning, and still basking in the glow of our arrival the night before we made a short crossing of the harbour taking in Millionaires row off Darling Point to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia marina. Here we were welcomed and stayed one night before making use of the building NE sea breeze to leave at 4pm on Tuesday evening. We skedaddled down the coast making a fantastic days run of 185 nautical miles in 24 hours. Unfortunately my brother Steve, who had really been ill all the way from Coffs Harbour, could not join us for this magnificent sailing leg. We entered Bass Strait the following night in calm conditions with a high ranging right in over us, perfect conditions for a crossing. The next 36 hours were spent with the motor running and by early in morning of the 12th April, we were abeam of Eddystone light. Another smooth crossing, I am building my averages and think it must be the pilot house good luck syndrome. All my crossings in open yachts have been rather wet and cold to say the least!

This day dawned fine and mild once again with a following breeze. We sailed past Wineglass Bay passing between Shouten Island and the Freycinet Peninsula, leaving the Ile de Phoque to Starboard, before anchoring in Chinaman Bay on Maria Island.  After a full nights rest in a beautiful anchorage, with freshly caught flathead for dinner, we motor sailed faultlessly through the Narrows at Marion Bay then through the Dunalley Canal, toward Hobart, arriving just after 2pm. Our sailing and motoring time from Sydney took only 3 days and 10 hours.

On our arrival at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on the 13th April the real work commenced on refitting Ocean Child for our year of family cruising to commence in December. I had priorities and Ann Maree had priorities…we had to start somewhere and a list was as good a start as we could make…but that is another story.