Antipodean Boats Connection

[skuthorp]

Cold, dead still again….about 3 weeks of that. And as for rain, 18MM in 3 weeks.

[WX]

Bit of rain yesterday and last night. Sunny and wind gusts this morning. With the strong winds there's going to be a few trees down. I'm enjoying the dry days we are getting though.

[skuthorp]

Finally rain in the form of rolling thunderstorms and squalls. Spectacular lightning, 4C tonight outside.

[WX]

Finally rain in the form of rolling thunderstorms and squalls. Spectacular lightning, 4C tonight outside.

Night temperatures are dropping down into the teens here. We've started lighting the inside fire.

[Hallam]

Well I'm back convalescing with covid....my 2nd bout. Not happy Jan! So doing nothing but lazing about at home and sleeping n feeling sorry for myself.

[WX]

Well I'm back convalescing with covid....my 2nd bout. Not happy Jan! So doing nothing but lazing about at home and sleeping n feeling sorry for myself.

I hope it doesn't hit you too hard. What symptoms do you have?

[WX]

Looks like I might be building another nesting dinghy, this time for a friend. he has a design in mind but I haven't seen it yet.

[Hallam]

I hope it doesn't hit you too hard. What symptoms do you have?

Symptoms started like a head cold, mild flue, cough with a head ache. Went for the big spit first morning. Sore throat on 2nd day but not too bad. Ive been drinking lots of water and resting when I feel tired which is several times a day. Today I have aches in my back between the shoulders and sore kidneys and still have a thick head. Breathing is slightly affected but I think my lungs never fully recovered from my first bout of Covid. Since then, which was in March of 2021, it's like I have suddenly aged a bit in ways I would not have yet if I didn't get Covid. I have felt the need to catch some sleep most afternoons even before I caught it again which is a bit of a nuisance at my day job and when I want to do a full days work on the boat.

[WX]

Symptoms started like a head cold, mild flue, cough with a head ache. Went for the big spit first morning. Sore throat on 2nd day but not too bad. Ive been drinking lots of water and resting when I feel tired which is several times a day. Today I have aches in my back between the shoulders and sore kidneys and still have a thick head. Breathing is slightly affected but I think my lungs never fully recovered from my first bout of Covid. Since then, which was in March of 2021, it's like I have suddenly aged a bit in ways I would not have yet if I didn't get Covid. I have felt the need to catch some sleep most afternoons even before I caught it again which is a bit of a nuisance at my day job and when I want to do a full days work on the boat.

None of that sounds good. Sleep, rest and keeping up fluids is a good plan, as long as there aren't too many external demands on your time.
I'm in quite good health but I seem to spend a lot of time taking people to doctors, specialists or the hospital lately.

[Geftb]

Symptoms started like a head cold, mild flue, cough with a head ache. Went for the big spit first morning. Sore throat on 2nd day but not too bad. Ive been drinking lots of water and resting when I feel tired which is several times a day. Today I have aches in my back between the shoulders and sore kidneys and still have a thick head. Breathing is slightly affected but I think my lungs never fully recovered from my first bout of Covid. Since then, which was in March of 2021, it's like I have suddenly aged a bit in ways I would not have yet if I didn't get Covid. I have felt the need to catch some sleep most afternoons even before I caught it again which is a bit of a nuisance at my day job and when I want to do a full days work on the boat.

hey Hallam, I have had success with “N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)” it may help you out? Also vitamin d3 zinc and vitamin C

[Hallam]

hey Hallam, I have had success with “N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)” it may help you out? Also vitamin d3 zinc and vitamin C

Thanks with give it a shot.

I didn't mention I am strictly off coffee and alcohol for the time being. Probably a good thing to give the body systems a rest from filtering the toxins involved etc

[brucemoffatt]

It's looking like 'Do Not Go Sailing Through Bass Strait' weather for a few days




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[Hallam]

The most windy place in Australia is Hogan Island, 6 nautical miles south and 26 Nm East of Wilsons Prom. I'd hate to be out there in what will blow over the weekend! On a big blow the small ships that tend to the Bass Strait platforms often but not always run for shelter. Predictwind forecasts the wind will get up to 40 knots late Sunday, early Monday.

[WX]

It's looking like 'Do Not Go Sailing Through Bass Strait' weather for a few days




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I had great dreams of sailing to all sorts of places, but in the end I made it as far as the letterbox and back.

[brucemoffatt]

The most windy place in Australia is Hogan Island, 6 nautical miles south and 26 Nm East of Wilsons Prom. I'd hate to be out there in what will blow over the weekend! On a big blow the small ships that tend to the Bass Strait platforms often but not always run for shelter. Predictwind forecasts the wind will get up to 40 knots late Sunday, early Monday.

I had the great pleasure of sailing through there West to East on a 46 foot motorsailer, Serena, delivering to Sydney. The only time I've been through either direction without stopping at Refuge Cove, and the time we really should have. It blew its guts out at us.

We all thought we were going to die, although the skipper was stoic and inspiring. I've never seen sea like it and hope I never do again. Massive wet walls with blown tops dwarfed the boat and made it feel like they'd sink her. So far beyond the far side of fear, not a moment free to find panic. Four crew acting as a unit. Best crewing experience I've ever had and I only look back fondly because somehow we didn't die.


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[Hugh MacD]

Not a good day to be taking the ferry from Melbourne!

[brucemoffatt]

Not a good day to be taking the ferry from Melbourne!

If you'd booked a Tassie holiday you'd be spewin'.


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[Hallam]

I’ve done five ferry crossings from Melbourne to Devonport, each time the weather was moderate. Done the Bass Strait 3 times sailing and went from Melbourne via the Prom, each time after January and staying in a safe anchorage when a strong westerly came through except twice. One crossing Banks Strait the 30 knot Westerly was with the tide. We had the 2 nd reef in and we left from The east end of Clark Island. It was an exile rating crossing but surprisingly comfortable on the 50 foot Storm Bay. I hope I never get caught in a bad steep sea like you described Bruce!
The other time we ventured out from out anchorage on Inner Sister at the North end of Flinders Is down the East Side because of a week of strong Westerlies and we then stayed at Babel Is for 2 days. The Westerly was still blowing but moderated a bit so we left for Lady Barren and timed out arrival at the Pot Boil for an outgoing tide with the westerly and it was a very rough passage punching into it. At one point the cray pots on the foredeck came loose and I had to go up there and tie them back down with the deck jumping up and down like a brumby and solid water washing over the deck! I got the job done before we lost any pots but I got a solid soaking while hanging on for dear life as each bad one came over the deck! Great experience though, .........you know you are alive when you are inches from possible death!

[skuthorp]

Pouring here, a lot of wind in big gusts mostly.
We are still managing to dodge Covid but My asthma is playing up now and again. I have never had the flu, or the vaccine for that matter. I worked in open offices with half the staff with it coughing and spluttering and never caught it myself.

Nasty looking map that…….

[WX]

Sunny days and cool nights. I'm finally getting time at home and it's good to ease back into projects. Sadly the switch on my table saw stopped working yesterday. I can probably botch something together for it but the saw is getting pretty tired. I came across a table saw for just under $500 that claims it's blade can be used to cut virtually anything, timber,alloy, steel and plastic. It's very tempting, imagine having a saw blade where it doesn't matter if you accidentally hit a nail in the timber you are cutting.

[RFNK]

There's no blade that will cut timber cleanly, especially plywood, and also cut metals. Any table saw can be used to cut anything but you need different blades fit for purpose. A cheap table saw will have a weak fence and may have stability issues. In my view, a contractor saw is good for general use, if that's what you want but if you want to cut bigger stock cleanly, you need a solid table saw. They're not cheap so it's best to go second hand for a better price.

[WX]

I know you are right.
I have looked at 2nd hand and seen some bargains.

[Geftb]

I’ve done five ferry crossings from Melbourne to Devonport, each time the weather was moderate. Done the Bass Strait 3 times sailing and went from Melbourne via the Prom, each time after January and staying in a safe anchorage when a strong westerly came through except twice. One crossing Banks Strait the 30 knot Westerly was with the tide. We had the 2 nd reef in and we left from The east end of Clark Island. It was an exile rating crossing but surprisingly comfortable on the 50 foot Storm Bay. I hope I never get caught in a bad steep sea like you described Bruce!
The other time we ventured out from out anchorage on Inner Sister at the North end of Flinders Is down the East Side because of a week of strong Westerlies and we then stayed at Babel Is for 2 days. The Westerly was still blowing but moderated a bit so we left for Lady Barren and timed out arrival at the Pot Boil for an outgoing tide with the westerly and it was a very rough passage punching into it. At one point the cray pots on the foredeck came loose and I had to go up there and tie them back down with the deck jumping up and down like a brumby and solid water washing over the deck! I got the job done before we lost any pots but I got a solid soaking while hanging on for dear life as each bad one came over the deck! Great experience though, .........you know you are alive when you are inches from possible death!

Hey Hallam, hope your feeling a little better.
having a decent size crew on board is there any reason you didn’t just sail straight to the Banks Strait? 225ish miles from the heads would/should allow a better use weather window. By anchoring up gives time for the next front to come through???
more for the pleasure or breaking the voyage up, or is there other reasons?
cheers Steve

[Hallam]

Hey Hallam, hope your feeling a little better.
having a decent size crew on board is there any reason you didn’t just sail straight to the Banks Strait? 225ish miles from the heads would/should allow a better use weather window. By anchoring up gives time for the next front to come through???
more for the pleasure or breaking the voyage up, or is there other reasons?
cheers Steve

Still testing positive so taking it easy. Much the same but not getting any sicker which is a good thing.
Each time I've done the crossing on Storm Bay we take 14 to 16 days because Tim's about fishing and enjoying the many plesant anchorages as much as getting to Hobart so we leave a few weeks before the festival, sail to the Glennies and as in last trip catch a few pan sized snapper before sunset and enjoy the evening. Next stop is Deal Island, the cray pots are set when we get there before any thing else. Once thats done we go to the chosen bay for the night and its beer o'clock, usually House Bay where the little jetty is. Then first light we check the pots and usually get a good catch of crays in the wet well. The whole journey proceeds along these lines with weather taken into account and a stop at Lady Baron for showers and a freshen up and a meal at the pub.
Each trip has been a real education for me, a relative novice, as we have visited Alf Stackhous's farm at Badger Is, we have traveled in company with Garry Kerr on the Jane Kerr and Garry takes us to places ho knows from his years Cray Fishing, and Tim's cousin David is a crew member and he fished for shark since the late 60's all around the Flinders group and elsewhere so there is a wealth of experience goes into passage planning to make the most of our time crossing with the weather we are given.

[Geftb]

Wow, sounds like a great trip! Oh to have that experience board!
I’m planning my own trip at the moment.
it’s looking a bit sketchy out there but def some windows

[Hallam]

When are you planning to head off? I myself will only do the crossing in the mid to late Summer and Autumn. No winter crossings for me. Bruce Moffat did his ‘famous’ trip from QLD to Adelaide in Winter but he must be made of better sailing chops than me! That was an amazing accomplishment in my opinion!

[brucemoffatt]

When are you planning to head off? I myself will only do the crossing in the mid to late Summer and Autumn. No winter crossings for me. Bruce Moffat did his ‘famous’ trip from QLD to Adelaide in Winter but he must be made of better sailing chops than me! That was an amazing accomplishment in my opinion!

It was literally madness, not sailing chops, but thanks for the comment.

Now that enough time has passed I'm happier to reveal that I'd escaped from pre-existing near fatal depression to do that trip. The mental state was tipped over the edge by advice in April from the AFP that my name had been found on a 'kill list'. So yeah, I travelled as much as possible under an assumed name and really at that time found the idea of danger at sea to be a bit of comfort. I was sick enough at the time to go with the family's knowledge and blessing.


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[Geftb]

When are you planning to head off? I myself will only do the crossing in the mid to late Summer and Autumn. No winter crossings for me. Bruce Moffat did his ‘famous’ trip from QLD to Adelaide in Winter but he must be made of better sailing chops than me! That was an amazing accomplishment in my opinion!

I’m moving to Tassie so want my boat down there. Looking at next weekish

[Hallam]

Tassy is a great place to live. All my family have moved there, first my sister in the 70’s then my Bro early 80’s them my parents at the beginning of the 90’s and my elder bro in 2007. Mostly around Launceston. Best wishes for your trip and in getting a good weather window and safe crossing. Looking forward to following your progress.

[Geftb]

Thanks, yes I’m looking forward to it!
I know its a bit far out time wise, but looking at this. 190 miles, 38hrs @ 5 knots
AF970209-D3C6-4C36-92DD-304DBC2FF57D.jpg
Other option is sail to the prom on those days then have a shorter jump across. I just may be stuck there for a week or two…
could be worse places to be stuck

[Hallam]

So a Monday Tuesday, Wednesday passage? What sort of yacht do you have? I suppose it's a wooden boat.

[Geftb]

Yes, but it’s a week out so let’s see what the models are saying by then.
Top part wood, bottom part footpath.

[Hallam]

Built in Portland?

[Geftb]

That’s the one
ive been tinkering away the last few years and did a few weeks of trial at the start of this year.
i will post a thread on it at some time when I have a little more time

[Hallam]

She would be well built then. Did you get the gaff rig sorted? I have always wondered how things progressed with your boat.