Getting out there

Tidahapah said:

Brian,
A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
This westerly is pretty consistent ,has hit a 37 knot max so far so see what tomorrow brings.
Would like to get to the Gold Coast by the 10 th all going well.

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That says it all.
Have a good trip

OK we left Eddystone Point at 0330 dark o'clock and headed north past Flinders island. beaut conditions getting better as we went.
Headed NE mid way up Flinders for nearly the perfect crossing.
Off Eden this morning with a nice SE breeze behind us.
I would like to keep on truckin to the Gold Coast with an arrival on Friday but I think my mate has to get off and go to work but I suppose only if I go into port and let him off.
It looks like a great weather window to keep on keepin on, we will see.
A couple of little fotos from last night.

Arrived in Pittwater on Tuesday after a pretty good steam up from Tassie. Peter had to get off and go back to work and also watch his son in the Aussie kayak trials.Looks like he could make the team.
A mate of mine ,Steve flew down on Thursday to assist me on the trip north.
I visited a few friends and also caught up with Glen who is now the proud owner of Argos of Sydney a lovely timber Passagemaker that was recently written up in the Afloat mag.
Well Steve and I got away on Friday morning,not ideal conditions but really the only weather window we could use.
On our beam ends a couple of times during the first few hours but has now settled down to only slightly terrifying.
Making gradual progress that should see us in the Gold Coast Seaway approx 1100 hrs Sunday . Then go and tie up at the Gold Coast City Marina.
The Tassie cruise has been great, met a lot of good people, especially at the Wooden Boat Festival. As Peter said not one Dickhead during the whole 4 days of the Festival.
Cheers
Benn

Sounds like nice trip up most of the time.

I'm curious, what strategy do you use regarding the currents when heading north? Do you use one of the online resources showing where the current and eddies are, or just go fairly wide to try and avoid them?

Hi Benn, Good to see you fitted in a couple of respite days in Pittwater.I hope the rest of the return voyage goes well. There was an article in March Afloat mag about the Tassie Boat Show, it is a great tradition, congratulations on being part of it, I bet you made some more good friends.

Brian,
To here is a good web site for the EAC, gives de tails on flow , temp etc.
In some places it. Is just hard to get out of no matter how close in you get. ( old sailing speak, go in to win , out to shout.)
I am presently of Hat Head, following 1.5 to 2 mt sea and a South 18 knot breeze an still only doing 5.5 knots.
Sea temp is 26.3 deg, I would like to see about 21 to 22
After we get past Trial Bay I am going to try and hug the coast a bit more to get some speed back.
It's all a bit ugly but we are making progress.
Bruce, Tassie was superb and the cruising top notch, according to the Boss the boat and I will be back for the next Festival and spend more time cruising and catching crays.

Nice change for the better,went inshore at Trial Bay and can now hug the coast at least until Ballina.
Sea temp dropped 3 deg and speed went up by 4,knots a bit calmer now as well as the wind has eased so the crappy sea on top is gone, now just a nice long lopping swell.
Beer o'clock and all is good with the world.
This should put us in the Gold Coast Seaway about noon tomorrow.
Cheers
Benn

Love reading your trip reports Benn. No mention of the sails being up though. Have you been able to hoist the laundry during this trip? If so, how is the performance of the rig?

Just come back on watch.
Have been using the rags a bit and I am very pleased with the set up.
Use the mizzen when at anchor to stop yawning.and have been running with the main and jib when the winds are favourable, either to increase speed or reduce RPM ,maintain speed and reduce fuel consumption.
Presently running with the main out and squared up mainly to sit her up and reduce roll.
My para vanes are still a work in progress so at present not being used.
Sometimes would rather roll and maintain speed than have them out.
Cheers
Benn

Thanks Benn. May have missed it in your refit thread but it'd be nice to see a picture of her underway with the rags up. Now that'd be a tough selfie to take

Continued good wishes.

I suppose I could get the sails up ,auto pilot on get in the tender and move out for a photo shoot.
Wouldn't mind a shoot of the boat under sail myself,must arrange it soon.

Tidahapah said:

I suppose I could get the sails up ,auto pilot on get in the tender and move out for a photo shoot...

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While desperately hoping this is not the day the tender engine quits.

Arrive at Gold Coast City Marina at 1300 hrs yesterday after 54 hr steam from Pittwater.
The first 30 odd hrs were crappy and the next 20 were perfect, nice long rolling swell and little breeze. Stay here for a couple of weeks before heading home to Mooloolaba.

I'm guessing around 360nm, so not bad average speed considering you were bucking the EAC for a good part of it. More paravane fine tuning to get done at the Coast?

Yeah Brian,
I actually hope I get it right this time.
390 miles from just inside Pitwater to just inside the Seaway plus 10 miles up to the marina and about 5 out from RMBC to where I started my passage plan.
Cheers
Benn

Just got back from riding in the Victorian high country, to find you have come and gone.

Oh well, hope you enjoyed your brief stay in Pittwater.

Andy,
A brief but enjoyable stay, but as Arnie said, "I'll be back"
I think we will be doing the Tassie run for the next Wooden Boat Festival in 2017
Cheers
Benn

Ah well this trip is now all over.
Departed Gold Coast City Marina yesterday afternoon, dropped the pick in the Broadwater, god i hate this lower part of the bay, brown water, no depth , full of mud and and chock a block full of dickheads that want to go at 15 knots plus.
Was going to spend the night at the Sandhills but with storms etc predicted we decided to steam straight home so all fast Mooloolaba at 1700 hrs just shy on 6 months since we departed.
Time to do a little more maintenance , sanding and painting.
May be up to Fraser for the return of the whales in Sept/Oct

Greetings,
Mr. B. "... brown water, no depth , full of mud and and chock a block full of dickheads that want to go at 15 knots plus." Hahahaha....welcome to MY world. Patience brother.

Well the time has come again for us to head out.
Gayle and I will head down to the fuel dock in the morning load a thousand or so lts of fuel and high tail it for the Wide Bay Bar.
Hope to cross tomorrow afternoon at about 1730 hrs.
Stay the night and then head up north and do a bit of whale watching for a week or two.
Will have a bit of a fish and do a lot of beach walking , nothing to exciting but will be good to get away.
Will try and take a few photos as we go
Cheers
Benn

Best wishes Benn, look forward to tagging along from afar.

Godspeed, skipper! Have a great trip.

Hi Benn, we are anchored just south of Coongut Creek, stop by if you get the chance, maybe you can lead us to whales and fish!

Hickers ,
Hope tocross the bar tonight. anchor at Pelican Point and then head north tomorrow .
Kingfisher Bay first and then Moon Point and the whales.
Will most probably just anchor up along the beach up towards Woothumba and Rooneys.
Wind permitting.
What VHF channel are you on. I can call on 16 if that suits.
Cheers
Benn

16 normally, we too plan to head north from here, happy to follow as all new ground for us !

don't know Coongut Creek, where is it?

Morning, S 25 11.263
E 153 00.860


About 2.6 nm north of moon point. We have to head into Urangan tomorrow Around 9 am as our 600 amp house bank is not holding charge. The electrician is going to load test them but will have 3 new ones on standby.


Moving aboard soon shows up weak spots!!

Got ya
Coongul
Good anchorage along that stretch of beach and get a few crabs in Moon Creek if you r lucky

By the way there has been plenty of whales this morning
Just passing Noosa now,doing a nice steady 7.7 knots don't want to get there to early want an hour or so after low to cross the bar
No wind and about 1 to 1.5 my E swell

Sooo good to be away.
Anchored up at Elbow Point , possible N, Ne tonight so a bit of protection.
Now to take it easy, launch dinghy, wash boat do nuttin etc,etc.
Will take it easy to go north due to the northlies as there is not much protection from them further up.