Final Leg of Van Diemens Land Circumnavigation

Port Davey to Recherche Bay
Friday, 13 March 2015 - 70nm
We left Schooner Cove at 0700 and had the engines off at 0820 once we had exited Port Davey. We reached south towards SW Cape in a 15-20 knot westerly. SW Cape was the last corner to round of our circumnavigation and we headed east from here with full main and the self tacking jib goosewinged.

SW Cape

We were in close company with other yachts all day which made for interesting sailing. Seas were about 3m and gentle rollers so we had some good runs down the face. It is amazing how you become used to the bigger seas!

Another RQ yacht Joule 

Next point to pass was SE Cape, the most southerly point of mainland Tasmania and our furtherest south at 43 degrees 40' S.

It's all northwards from here!

The wind died not long after rounding so we had to motor the final 2 hours to Coalbins Bay in Recherche Bay where we dropped anchor at 1700 under blue skies - the first we had seen for many days. The next morning we went ashore to explore the bay.

Whaling was very important to the region as was timber milling. The small graveyard nearby told the stories of drownings and disease that was part of life in this remote area.

Recherche Bay to Hobart
Saturday 14 March to Thursday 19 March, 2015
After lunch we motored up the D'Entrecastreux Channel to Port Esperance where we anchored at Rabbit Island. A BBQ for the fleet had been organised at the Port Esperance Sailing Club at Dover who also organised a taxi service for boats that were at Rabbit Island. Great service from a very small club.

On Sunday we motored across the channel to Quarries Bay on Bruny Island for lunch. Warren got a few small flathead but no keepers and a large wobbygong that we let go.

After lunch we sailed across the channel to Port Cygnet where we anchored at Robleys Point, home of the Port Cygnet Sailing Club.

Impressive club for such a small community

On Monday morning we looked around the very pretty town of Cygnet including an interesting living history museum where locals are documenting their memories of the area.

We then motored in light breezes to Kettering where we were met by friends, Karen and Maurice. After refuelling, we tied up at the marina and they then drove us home for dinner after showing us the sights including the shed where they had spent 6 years building Folie a Deux.

Kettering

Tuesday we were back across the channel to Quarantine Bay on Bruny Island. We had an interesting walk around the old quarantine station which began operation in 1886 and where 19,000 returning soldiers were quarantined at the end of World War I due to an outbreak of Spanish Flu in Europe. The site was still is use for plant quarantine up until 1986.

Then

And now

We stayed in Quarantine Bay on Wednesday before moving around to the aptly named Duckpond when a southerly front moved through.

On Thursday, we motored the 26nm to Prince of Wales Bay marina to complete our circumnavigation. We had covered 1014 nm in 36 days. Thursday night was the final dinner at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and a chance to celebrate our achievement.

For some it was back to work, while the Melbourne fleet will continue their circumnavigation and others like us will begin the long journey home.

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