0800 position 43-10S 147-37E. 18 miles from Hobart.
Yesterday morning was quite cold, but the day dawned clear and beautiful. There was hardly a cloud in the sky and the temperature rose with the sun. The sea was flat and Van Diemen was smoking along toward Tasman Island close reaching at nine knots in the same amount of wind. Sailing doesn't get any better than that. The three Tasmanians aboard spent the day trying to convince me that the weather is always like this in Tasmania. Right. I've been here before and know better.
At 11AM Cape Barren Island was sighted forty miles off the starboard beam, and a couple of hours later the coast of Tasmania was in sight. The wind lifted and lightened during the day as forecast, and at 2PM our speed dropped to below eight knots and we turned on the engine. That's just as well as I was worried about having hot water for my afternoon shower. The heater element in the water heater burned out a few weeks ago but main engine coolant is also piped through the heater to heat water. After an hour of running the engine the water is piping hot.
More and more familiar features on the Tasmanian shore were recognized by the natives as we closed with the coast. With the end so near and the weather so good we decided to set aside one of our normal at-sea rules and all had a beer just before sunset.
It was cold last night with the forecast down to 48 degrees F in Hobart. Fortunately the wind was light so the chill wasn't too bad.
The sun rose this morning just as we turned the corner at Tasman Island. The vertical rock formations there and the Organ Pipes at Cape Raoul twelve miles further west were spectacular in the morning light. We were escorted by whales, dolphin, and albatross as we motor sailed between the two headlands. We are currently crossing Storm Bay. Michael can see his house on the hill above Hobart in the binoculars. Rob is below cooking lamb chops and poached eggs for breakfast. Life is goo.
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and good, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading every one of your postings, following along with your daily posits. Sure brought back nice memories of my Navy days and those (sometimes) peaceful midwatches on the bridge!
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