Royal Yacht Club of Victoria Yearbook 2019/2020

LAUNCESTON
HOBART
TO
2 was spent reaching and running
Day
the east coast. As we got near
down
the breeze went more on the
Bicheno,
with regular shifts. We started using
nose
shifts to our advantage and managed
the
get back within sight of our rival. By
to
we were off the Freycinet
nightfall
Heatwave was inshore in less
Peninsula,
and we snuck past them on a
pressure
port tack lift.
big
then on, the breeze started to lift
From
we were able to set a spinnaker and
until
down the passage between Maria
run
and the mainland with Heatwave a
Island
get around Tasman and passed it in
to
fashion at 10:00 am. Storm
spectacular
provided a few challenges as the
Bay
went light and the enemy closed
breeze
within 50 metres. We headed left, as
to
locals, Greg and Stu, promised us the
the
would build from that side while
breeze
headed right. They were right
Heatwave
the money and we picked up a 20
on
sea breeze and had a mad kite run
knot
Storm Bay and into the Derwent, with
up
keeping the boat under complete
Clare
as she chased every wave she
control
find. As we crossed the line,
could
was only 1 minute behind us
Heatwave
a nearly 300-mile match race.
after
corrected time we managed to pick
On
1st place on IRC and AMS and were
up
the overall winner of the race
declared
the series that included the race to
and
Tamar Heads plus the King of the
the
A great race with a great crew.
Derwent.
I mentioned I have always wanted to
As
the west coast but always felt a
cruise
intimidated by its remoteness and
little
savage weather it can experience. I
the
sought out the advice of one our
therefore
experienced cruisers, Ian Reichelt,
most
for our voyage and it proved a very
book
guide to getting in and out of the
useful
harbours. It reinforced the key rule of
R Y C V Y E A R B O O K 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0
AND
ROUND
THE
BOTTOM
mile behind.
We had to gybe a few times
The Retu¾r no Tr ip
has spent plenty of time in the area.
who
lent me his Cruising the West Coast
He
P A G E 2 8