Royal Yacht Club of Victoria Yearbook 2020

LAUNCESTON
HOBART
TO
ROUND
AND
BOTTOM
THE
next morning, we retraced our path
The
to Strahan to spend the night and
pack
but Paulina had to depart for
everyone,
engagements. The weather was
other
out just as we hoped, and the
panning
for the next 2 days was for light
forecast
winds and sun followed by easterlies in
SE
Strait. We exited Hells Gates at 8:00
Bass
and motor sailed until the SE breeze
am
in and we were able to set a kite
kicked
a pleasant afternoon running up the
for
coast of Tassie.
NW
we came across a large ship
mid-morning
on our bow and apparently heading
right
for us. After hailing them to check
straight
intentions, we were informed they
their
not manoeuvre as they were
could
Not sure why a large vessel
“drifting”.
be adrift in the middle of Bass
would
but I didn’t think an offer of a tow
Strait,
late afternoon we were approaching
By
Heads and the smell of bushfires was
the
out. We entered the heads around
miles
and headed for Queenscliff for a
dusk
of fun. We had set the boat up with
lots
jacks which made reefing very
lazy
and an autohelm that can
straightforward
a boat properly under sail takes a
control
Tassie trip was complete. It was a
Our
combination of passage making,
great
and cruising that could not have
racing
more enjoyable. Many thanks to the
been
crew of Jo and Natty all those who
shore
Vertigo on the various legs and a
joined
thanks to Paulina for joining me
special
the final two-handed leg.
for
wait for us all to get back to
Can’t
so we can do it again.
sailing
R Y C V Y E A R B O O K 2 0 2 0
evening we were entering Bass Strait,
By
wind clocked east as forecast and we
the
two-sail reached across the Strait.
Around
along with very limited visibility.
apparent
did not sight land until we were five
We
rest. This was my first twohanded
well-earned
offshore experience and it was
would be of much use to them.
lot of strain off the crew.
P A G E 3 2