Lakes Entrance to Eden

Just leaving anchorage in Cunninghame arm Lakes Entrance

29- 30 March 2022 Nauti Time 023-024

Awake early rather anxious to get first part of this trip over. I just keep thinking of those ugly YouTube videos of boats trying to cross bars and their epic fails leading to being pounded by waves and almost capsized. Definitely not what I want to happen!So I have been checking weather, waves and the webcam ad nauseam. So far seems good although the flow rate at 7 am is 4knots against us so we will wait an hour or so until it lowers to about 3 knots as we will need some power to get out.

Huge dredging ship in middle of bar doing 180 turn in front of us

The bar crossing went well in the end despite the huge dredging ship being right in the middle of the exit and deciding to do a one eighty turn right in front of us as we were heading out. The current was knocking us every which way so I was white knuckled holding the steering while Rick was very jovial videoing the whole event. We passed the bar and the ship without a problem and no pounding waves in sight. It obviously pays to plan! Now onward to Eden around the southeastern point of Australia transiting from Bass strait to the South Pacific Ocean. Also to a new state leaving Victoria heading into NSW. We have about 23 more hours to go! We will run a watch system where we alternate with each other for 4 hours on 4 hours off over that time so we can get some sleep even if only short bursts.

We have been motor sailing for about 6 hours as there is little wind so have decided to launch the asymmetrical spinnaker we have named Licorice Allsorts. Wish us luck as it’s our first time ever flying a spinnaker and we have trained ourselves by the ever wonderful YouTube!! How can anything go wrong 😉😂😳

Our beautiful licorice allsorts flying for the first time

Well it took about an hour to set up ropes and blocks (like a pulley only nautical term!) Then it was time for the great unveiling. We had the mainsail still up just to shadow the spinnaker a bit so it didn’t fill too fast and gave us an opportunity to get all the adjustments right before we had full wind in it. The raising and release definitely was messy and unskilled but in the end effective which is what counts. It was thrilling to finally see that beautiful sail expand and fill then even better propelling us forward at 4-5 knots in 8 knots of breeze! Not bad considering our 11 tonne weight! I absolutely loved it. I wish we were proficient drone flyers so we could get some footage of Nauti Kitty flying her colors but that will have to come at a later stage. We will just enjoy from on deck for now.

Rick called me up from my off watch snooze about 2 hours later to douse the spinnaker as we had no wind at all. The re sheathing went well but it was a bit of a challenge getting into the front hold to repack the sail into the bag. I think sailors need to be a bit of a contortionist being able to squeeze into tight places and move parts of your anatomy in awkward directions to be able to pack things away or work on engines or wiring that are all in such compact places. Thank goodness for Pilates is all I can say. So it was back to motor sailing until the wind fills in which is predicted to do in next few hours.

Ricks off having a snooze and it is getting very dark out here. No moon and a lot of cloud cover so not many stars visible and I find myself a bit anxious as the wind has not yet come in as it was meant to and we still have full sails up and motoring. It’s the unknowns that have me a bit on edge out here on notorious bass strait where I can’t see the waves or wind coming over the water or darkened squally clouds that all give hints during the day as to what to expect with the wind. I keep going over the quick release of sail process to depower sails if we get sudden strong overpowering gusts just so I feel prepared but that sort of queazy sense in my stomach remains. It might also be that I haven’t eaten enough and I’m a bit seasick? Anyway I’m sure I’ll settle into it. Rick will be up in a few hours and I can always call him up if anything is too worrisome. I think I’ll try eating something which will probably help!

Made it through my watch without incident in fact the wind didn’t even get above 11 knots! Rick took over at 10.30 so a bit ahead of schedule as my nervous energy has me exhausted now. Putting on noise cancelling head phones with my phone beside me so Rick can call me if he needs me and hopefully sleep will came quickly.

Ships passing in the dead of night

It’s 3.06 am and I took over from Rick around 2.30 as I woke early. It’s funny isn’t it how your body seems to wake you before your alarm! There are lights to my Starboard (right) which is open ocean and our AIS confirms there are in fact 3 ships all converging as we round the south eastern corner of Australia! One of these ships is over 600 ft long according to the AIS info and currently heading straight for 2 ships coming the opposite way. There is a strong current the runs down the east coast from north to south and I have just heard communication over the radio that the ship heading north (the same way as us) has requested to pass on the starboard side to avoid the current being against them so the other 2 ships have agreed to move further seaward. ( normally you should pass on port side ie left side of vessel toward the other one). They are all about 2 NM from us so perfectly safe and kind of nice to know there are others out here in this very dark night.

Also we are finally sailing! I have just turned all engines off and have a small reef in the main and we are doing probably an average of 6 knots. There is some bioluminescence in the boats wake but it is the only light on this very dark night except for the light at green cape that I can now see it’s double flash every 10 seconds but it’s over 17Nm away.

We have officially left Bass Strait and Victoria and are now in NSW and the South Pacific Ocean. Our first Ocean passage!

What a magnificent greeting into two folds bay Eden

Rick was also up early from his off watch and as I was exhausted he took over for the last hour and a half til we reached two fold bay entrance into Eden. He had a great sail as the wind had picked up and we had a beam reach all the way in at about 7knots. He woke me as we headed into the bay we saw dolphins in the distance as we turned upwind to drop our sails and motor in. We had a fantastic greeting as the dolphins joined us and frolicked around the bows for a good 10 minutes. I will never tire of this wonderful sight. It’s like the dolphins want to be near us too at least that’s what I choose to think. We also saw what we think was a whale spume off in the distance. An amazing fitting finally to a record breaking sail (for us anyway) filled with many firsts. Our final figures were that we travelled 140.7 Nm in almost exactly 24 hours with average speed of 5.8knots not bad for amateur ocean sailors!

Stunning old heritage house over looks our anchorage

Anchored in fisheries bay which is behind a huge wharf. There is an amazing heritage house on the hill just beside us. We are safe and secure here for the big storm coming. We’ll spend rest of day doing some fishing then a nice warm shower and sleep!