The five yachts on this year’s Bass Strait Cruise (3 from RBYC and 2 from SYC) enjoyed excellent 16-18Kt SW winds last Monday week ago to sail from QCYC to Refuge Cove, leaving on the 10am slack water and arriving in the very early hours of Tuesday morning. After enjoying a relaxing Tuesday at the Prom, the yachts had another great sail in a 12-14kt NE breeze the next day to Deal Island, where they found a quite crowded East Cove anchorage with boats returning from the Wooden Boat Festival.
With impending strong Westerly winds expected on the Friday, the fleet took the decision to head to the Tamar River for a quiet anchorage. A long day – heading off at about 4-5am, motor sailing, and arriving into Georgetown at dusk.
Friday morning was spent victualing and cafe breakfasts in Georgetown. The westerly kicked in as predicted, so the fleet moved with the incoming tide up the river to the Tamar Yacht Club, followed by a pub dinner. On the following morning one yacht, “Atmospheric”, set off to return to Melbourne, while the remaining four moved upstream on the tide to Windemere and the famed Rosevears pub. On Monday March 4th, the fleet had moved back downriver to Dark Hollow opposite Beauty Point, ready to plan the next day’s destination.
In other Cruising news at the time of writing, “Y-Knot” has passed through Banks Strait, sailed west across the top of Tasmania, and was anchored near Croppies Beach after several weeks cruising in southern waters. Meanwhile, “Why Knot” remains in Hobart after the Wooden Boat Festival awaiting parts for her hydraulic steering system.
Our Guest Speaker Dinner program will recommence for 2025 on Friday March 21st, when Dan Lyon (aka Diver Dan) will let us into the secrets below the waterline with “Diver Dan’s Brighton Below the Sea”. Book now with reception for an illuminating evening.
In April, we are pleased to bring you Greg Clinnick, who will talk about Another Chapter’s 2024 Sydney to Hobart campaign. This Guest Speaker Dinner will be held on Friday 11th April and promises to be an informative and entertaining evening (this is a week earlier than usual, due to the 3rd Friday of April being Easter Good Friday).
Looking further out, in May, on Friday the 16th, we have the pleasure of John Rundell talking about this year’s Wooden Boat Festival, along with Why Knot’s voyage down to Hobart to participate in the event.