Bruce had been sleeping on the pilot berth in the cabin and as he had the door open was woken a few times during the night by mutton birds in the cockpit.They seemed to get in the recycle bin we use as a fish box.They then flap about because they cannot get out.He just tipped them over the side.
We had a light breakfast and tidied up,Trap and I took all the fishing lures off the rods and put them away,Ralph tidied up the dinghy.The anchor and rope still in the bottom after last night,heaps of fine sand but we managed not to get too much on board.Bruce in the galley.We seem to be perpetually washing up,crew good though someone usually jumps to the tea towel,nice to see the Mayor washing or drying.A bit quiet after he has gone ashore ,did not see his plane go over,have not heard maybe the fog has upset plans.
Left a bit after ten as the fog lifted a bit,could see the island on our port side.The other boat in the bay left an hour earlier heading north.
Once we cleared Prime Seal on the plotter and radar set a course for the channel between Badger and Goose Islands 15 miles away.The fog now thicker.As we approached I could see a target in the passage so slowed down just in case.,it was a large power cat with people fishing in the fog,probably just as surprised to see us as we of them.Kept going but did not see either island only a quarter of a mile away.
The fog lifted about an hour later ,the visibility out to about a mile.The light west wind increasing to ten knots.As usual the BOM wind map forecast was right on it showed a football shaped patch of ten to fifteen knots in the middle of Bass Strait with lighter all round it.
I suppose I will get caught out one day as with our speed I tend to travel on the BOM wind advice timing my departure times to their predictions,so far so good.I noticed doing the farmers trip their long range forecasts have a worse bias built in and most times the weather improves as the days get closer.
Recently however the weather on this trip has varied considerably between morning and night predictions,must be more difficult to work out.
Noticed a text from Steve Spaulding regarding fuel supplies at Beauty Point,They seem to be running out and may not be able to give me the amount I need.Might have to wait till Monday when the tanker comes.We will worry about that later I text back.
Arrived off the Tamar at three the sky now clear and a beautiful day.The tide had just changed and was running out.It does not worry us but yachts have a bit of a battle pushing against the often four knot current.
I went up onto the flybridge to berth beside the floating pontoon at Georgetown and turned the steering over.Bugger it is playing up again.I have had trouble before with a valve in the hydraulic system which works the flybridge steering and dinghy hoist.Good job I have a spare and Ralph to help me change it in the morning,could not have a better helper.
No matter put the rudders in the middle and used the engines to back in,a light wind pushing us alongside,
The usual fishermen and kids were on the pontoon pulling in mackeral one after the other,these two pontoons must be the most productive fishing spots on earth,every time I have been here people are catching fish.We go one hundred miles away and catch nothing,must be a message there!
Had lunch/afternoon tea, some a sandwich,some Ralph's fruit cake better finish it off new crew and new supplies arrive tomorrow.
Called up the Yacht Club and got Ron,have a berth saved for you next to where you were last time,thanks will be over in the morning not before ten he said ,we always seem to be on the same page,nothing seems to worry him got about fourty boats berthed in his marina and still the same old Ron.
Pottered about for a couple of hours ,I had a short nana as the trip over while being calm was a bit stressful because of the fog.
Wandered up to the Pier Hotel for a meal.The patrons were a mix of locals and tourists,this area is suffering a bit and it showed in the patrons.The meal however was as normal, good food served cheerfully.
We met a fellow on the jetty who's opinion was as soon as the aluminium and temco go this place will be the retirement center of the north then it will jump! We were not so sure it would cause a lot of pain first.
Back to the boat before the sun went down for a photo to put in the blog,the tide right out now.The next wave of fishermen arriving .I put a circ sticker on the port side,the other one did not seem to have any sticky on it.Gave it to a bloke in an old yacht tied to the other side of the pontoon.
The crew arrived back and I put a country CD on for Ralph,he had given us a graphic account of his daughters Christmas present.A ticket to see Kenny Rodgers up here,waited three hours for him to come on and then only got half an hour of a mixed up performance,obviously well past his prime.Ralph not impressed.Beccy Cole alright though.
Turned in about ten.
Tide out in the Tamar.
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