Saturday - 08/02/2014
We did not rush around this morning we had breakfast before heading out up the D'Entrecasteax
Channel to the Huon River. The guide book indicates that once leaving Recherche
Bay to be careful of the kelp beds, these are natural growing seaweed that grow
off the edges of coral stretching out from the islands and reefs, these are
well marked on the electronic charts. There is a lot of the kelp floating
freely that have broken away so that can make you think that you are close to a
kelp bed but basically if you stay on a line centre to the islands it is clear
of the beds.
It was a very calm day, might say the calm before the storm
the change is due tomorrow, we set off and motored no wind again. It was a
pleasant journey, we had about 35NMS to go. We passed many numbers of seals
along the way laying on their backs with their flippers sticking straight up
out of the water, as I have found out that this is their way of temperature
control which I mentioned before. They look cute but they can become nasty at
times if they think they are being threatened.
(Its a rough life)
(Classic little motor boat)
As we neared Huon River mouth we found many fish farms on
each side so care needs to be taken, they are clearly marked with yellow
markers you just stay outside these markers. I heard one bloke on the radio the
other day calling the fisheries up on the radio asking how he should navigate
around them, the fisheries told him to follow the track outside the yellow
markers, this bloke had trouble with that, I don't think the bloke should be
out on the water. All you need is binoculars to see the markers ahead of the
one you are approaching to work it out.
(A section of one of the many fish farms)
(One of the fish farm boats)
We continued up the river and I re-checked the weather on
the internet and said to Nancy with the change of 40 knot winds tomorrow it may
pay to see if we can go into the marina. Nancy contacted the marina and they
said they had a berth for us so we headed for there.
The directions given to us was go passed the main wharf of
Port Huon then follow the line of moored yachts and boats and that will lead us
into the Kermandie River then follow the markers to the marina. We did this
after being assured that the water will be deep enough one for us to enter. It
was about an hour after low tide. When we got to the entrance I was a little
surprised at the narrowness of the marked channel, from my helm position it
hardly looked wide enough for us to pass through it although in reality there
was well enough width. The shallowest point was 2 metres deep. We found where
we were intended to go and as we went alongside a bloke by the name of David
came to give us a hand grabbing the lines and securing us, we thanked after
introducing ourselves. He was very helpful with local information. Later we met
another yachty, Sue who had a lovely looking yacht 'Lioness of the Sea', which
she has up for sale she also lives aboard.
We had lunch up at the Kermandie Hotel, which I can fully
recommend, the marina complex is owned by the same people that have the hotel.
Frank from Hobart rang and said he would come down the next
day and for a drive we could have lunch so we thought that was a good idea. We
had a quiet night on board
Sunday - 09/02/2014
Today the weather is going to turn bad, high winds are
predicted for around 1400 hours, the morning we spent cleaning the boat and
getting things tied down. Long time friends Frank and June and June's sister
Cath came down from Hobart to have lunch with us at the Kermandie Hotel in the
main restaurant. I can only praise this place the food is wonderful and that
was voted by all of us, the service was very professional and not expensive,
prices were on par with most restaurants, but I would class this as five star
service and quality of meals and ample size meals. The other day we had a bar
meal in the main bar which was a burger and chips but we both commented then
how good that was and it only cost $12.50.
The restaurant is quite busy so if you intend to go there it
is advisable to book ahead, we were lucky to get in without prior booking and
the place soon filled up.
(Kermandie Hotel, great food great service)
(Kermandie Marina, very sheltered and not expensive)
(Kermandie Marina Boatyard large boat haulout)
(Kermandie River, entrance left up river right)
Whilst cleaning the boat this morning a yacht went passed on
their way out, I made comment to them about the weather change, they said they
would be alright and I hope they are, the winds out there were horrific, no
sooner the storm hit we heard on the VHF radio calls for assistance six boats
in trouble just 3 nautical miles from
us. Hobart radio put out a 'Relay Mayday' for any vessel in the area that could
go to their assistance and fortunately some of the strong boats from the fish
farms responded. Most boats would have had trouble getting away from the dock
to go, we definitely could not go in these conditions the wind would not allow
us to turn without sending us aground even the coastguard rescue boat could not
launch in these conditions, the fisheries boats were in the area of the fish
farms and are strong tug type boats. . Looking at the met observations winds
out on the river were up to 72 knots.
(This was after the storm had settled down a little, this is the channel into the marina and Kermandie River)
(Light rain brings the rainbow)
Hobart had been hit quite bad, Frank phoned to warn us about
the storm it hit them just as he was turning into his street, I told him that
it had already hit down here. Hobart had power blackouts and trees down, one
poor chap was killed when a tree fell on the utility he was driving.
The winds stayed until near dark so we did not venture
anywhere. Sue's yacht broke away from the dock as a bow line snapped and the
boys were there quick to give her assistance and the fishing boat behind us had
a boom snap where it had a shade awning over it, the wind in the awning broke
the boom.
Fortunately it calmed some but still windy through the
night, I was feeling so pleased we had come into the marina rather than ride
this one out of the anchor.
Monday - 10/02/2014
Things were calm again but we could see some of the
aftermath of the storm with one yacht that had been out had a ragged piece of
cloth hanging from the headsail halyard, when talking to the owner later he had
lost the headsail and the mainsail, apparently they were out with other yachts
from Cygnet Bay racing, which is amazing when they cancelled the Hobart Regatta
race due to pending weather conditions in Hobart which was the first time in its
history to be cancelled through weather. People do not realise the risks at
times they think that all will be alright, they do not think of the people that
have to risk their lives to rescue them when everything goes pear shape, that
those people have families that also worry.
(The new day a new morning)
(One of the yachts that lost both headsail and mainsail, the remains of the headsail flapping aloft)
(Calm after the storm)
In the quiet morning we went for a walk down to Huon Wharf,
the wharf today is used by the fishery farms, earlier days it would have been
used for timber fruit and vegetable shipments. The place appears to be growing
as far as housing with new estates opening
and land prices are quite low in these parts.
As we walked back to the marina we met Sue that came along
in her car and stopped alongside and asked if we wanted to go for a ride into
Huonville where we could do some shopping, so we thanked her and went with her,
we did our shopping then had a bite to eat and on the way back she stopped and
showed us Franklin and we visited fruit farms where Nancy bought so fruit.
(This would have to be one of the oldest mile stones around, I assume it is 34 Miles to Hobart)
(The Huon Wharf now used by the fish farms)
(The bank come Hospital come Antique Shop)
We had a very nice day and as we are leaving tomorrow we
went over to the hotel to see about paying our fees for the marina. We got to
the hotel across the road and said that we need to pay for our stay at the
marina, Lisa asked if we had any meals at the hotel and we replied that we had
lunch in the bar the first day and lunch in the restaurant yesterday, so she
said that the two meals cover two days so we only had to pay for one day which
was $25. You can't get better than that. We had a couple of beers at the bar
before heading back on board and getting things organised for leaving tomorrow.
We had a usual nice dinner aboard and a quiet night.
Port Huon to Port Cygnet
Tuesday - 11/02/2014
We left the marina straight after breakfast not long after
high tide so we had plenty of depth in the passage and catch the tide down the
Huon to Cygnet Bay, again it was a motor job as there was no wind so used the
one engine and went along at 5.3 knots. The Huon River like the rest of
Tasmania is beautiful, the landscapes of farms and other properties are a mix
of modern and heritage styles.
(Leaving Port Huon)
(Farms of different types above round bales and below fish farm)
(This tug is towing the fish enclosure at a very slow rate it does not look like they are moving there is a very long tow line between them which is hard to see in this weather, there is a black marker half way along the tow line and the tug has the correct signs for towing)
As we rounded Beaupre Point going into Port Cygnet the land
on the point was farmland with round hay bales and in the bay just before the
point was a monohull yacht moored, Nancy said there is the best of both worlds
assuming the yacht belonged to the farm which makes sense.
We went up to Cygnet Bay and anchored just outside the
moorings at the Cygnet Bay Sailing Club after anchoring we noticed an older
motorboat on the opposite shore to the club aground still tied to a mooring and
the mooring was aground just in front of the boat, a possible result of the
storm the other day.
(Looking down steam from Cygnet Bay)
(Classic yachts)
In the afternoon we watched the yacht race, they had little
wind but there were some wonderful vintage yachts racing, one I noticed when it
finished it had two young children aboard in their lifejackets that were having
a ball, they were laughing and jumping around on the foredeck, it is just great
to see children enjoying the time aboard probably not worrying about the race
just having fun, the day ended with a great sunset.
We spent a quiet night at anchor and it was quite peaceful.
(Cygnet Bay sunset)
Cygnet Bay to Barnes Bay
Wednesday - 12/02/2014
We caught the tide out and headed for Kettering Marina to
fuel, it would be easier to fuel here than try and cart it in containers in
Hobart. The day is cloudy and drizzling rain, not a great day, no wind having
to motor again although I do have the sail up its not doing much. As we come
out of Cygnet Bay I noticed a fisheries
tug with one of the fish growing units a fair way behind but I imagine it is
being towed, looking through the binoculars I could just see the tow line with
a marker about half way, on a grey day like today it is difficult to see and
because the unit is so delicate the boat towing is barely moving. So one needs
to be alert at all times.
Leaving the Huon River and entering D'Entrecasteaux
Channel passing Huon Island I noticed the classic old
homestead ashore hard to see as it is surrounded by large trees making a wind break for the property. It
looked quite spectacular even on this grey day.
(Entering Kettering Marina area)
(Fueling up)
(Kettering Marina)
We continued up the channel and the weather started to clear
just before we got to Kettering, as we approached the ferry crossed ahead of us
that takes cars and people across to Bruny Island. Turning into Kettering there
are a lot of moorings but there is a wide passage through the centre as you
enter the marina area it appears to be cluttered with docks in all directions.
We headed for the marina fuelling point which is right down the end where there
is a big FUEL sign. However, on the way there we passed another fuelling point
which was self serve, we continued to the far fuel area at the marina as we had
rang them, but looking at the dock that we had to go to was not favourable, it
was a high dock and we probably would have had to run around organising boards
for the fenders so I opted to turn around and go back to the self serve which
had a good dock in a clear area. We filled the tanks and the containers then
left for North Bruny Island, Barnes Bay at the anchorage Alexanders this is
only a short distance across the channel.
As we entered Barnes Bay we noticed a small yacht that had
been a victim of the storm the other day, it was well aground and badly
damaged, this was the second vessel that we had seen aground. We anchored in
Alexander a small well protected bay that is used by yachts regularly heading
for Hobart from the south as an overnight anchorage.
(Alexander anchorage Barnes Bay, North Bruny Island)
(The one closest is the vocal one, must be the female)
(Morning calm)
After anchoring we had visitors and one was very vocal, two
black swans looking for a feed, they had already had a feed at a large motor
cruiser a short distance from us and as we found they just travelled between
the two boats looking for extra food.
It was a very calm anchorage and good holding so we had a
comfortable night.
Barnes Bay to Hobart
Thursday - 13/02/2014
We had a nice breakfast and waited a short time for the sun
to warm things up, it was a great day with sunshine no wind again so it was to
motor once again. We set off and as we pulled the anchor up the two swans came
after us for a last feed. We headed out up the channel to the Derwent River. We
tried to get into the marinas in Hobart City but all that was available was the
inside Constitution Dock, where we would not have power and we would be
alongside the dock wall. This is not what concerned me, what did was the fact
that the entrance is 8 metres wide and we are basically 7 metres wide, the
bridge does not open to the full vertical and with our width it does not give
me room to avoid the bridge with a mast that is well above the height of the bridge, there has been
a few yachts come to grief with the mast hitting the bridge. Nancy rang a
friend Darrin and he has his yacht at Prince of Wales Marina at the Prince of
Wales Bay which is closer to the Bowen Bridge north of the Tasman Bridge. So
Nancy contacted Noel there and he booked us in and met us at the dock to tie us
up. This marina is well protected and is brand new only been operating for 18
months. The only disadvantage is that it is a distance from shopping areas. It
does have a cafe on site that is open 0630 - 1600 hours Mon-Fri. Fees are more
than reasonable considering we are a wide catamaran taking up two berths it
cost us $121.00 for the week.
(Going up the Derwent River Tasman Bridge ahead)
(There are restrictions small craft have to avoid the centre openings)
(Near Prince of Wales Bay is where the build these large Cats, this one has just returned from being on lease to USA the Australian Forces used one during the Timor incident)
(Sunsets over the Mt Wellington ranges)
(This motorboat in the marina must be serious about drinking, beer tap aboard)
After getting settled my good friends Frank and June were
here to see us, they only live a short distance from here, so it was dinner at
their place. We had a good time and it is just great being able to catch up
with these lovely people.
Cheers.
PS. The following website is interesting reading.
http://tww.id.au/cygnet/history.html
