TYC to Stanley
I was told in the club on Friday night an old acquaintance would do his best to come down in the morning to say hello,what time are you leaving,about nine I replied.
We were nearly ready to leave after breakfast when we had a call from the pontoon.
He has had some serious health issues as happens more often to friends these days,had a chat for probably an hour,Tony knows him even more than myself,to top it off his wife is not well either entailing trips to Hobart for specialist treatments.A sobering start to the day as you realize the effort he made to come all the way out to the end of the marina to see us.

We slipped lines in a sparkling morning with a Northerly aspect breeze and tackled the winding path down the Tamar. Slowed down at the Low Head pilot station and went into the basin for a look,it was close to low tide so there was not much water under us,must be enough as the pilot boat would have to get in and out.

Cleared the channel and headed west.Might just go into Port Sorrell for morning tea.Had a bit of trouble getting onto the leads as I thought the rock at the entrance would be marked and act as a starting point.No such luck.There were some leads on my plotter but a sand bank as well on the Starboard side ,erring on the cautious side I favored the sand over the rock and got a bit far over.Not much water here was the cry from the crew.Luckily ther was enough and we got into the deeper water ok.There was a red pipe on the end of a long spit and as the tide was low maybe this was the rock.I still do not know.Did nor worry the locals tearing in and out to go fishing,plenty of small boat as it was a Saturday.Boats all along the coast all day about one to two miles out.They all seemed to have their favorite spots in the middle of nowhere.

Anchored in the East Arm for morning coffee,John O,Rielly got out all his gadgets and there was a moment of panic when he could not find his beans in the fridge,Chris put him out of his misery,had a man look was the cry!
He brewed up some but the pot only makes three so the process was gone through twice,don’t worry John,I am happy with instant in future.

This is very nice place and the people who have holiday houses must love coming here and I assume there is quite a big permanent population.

Up anchored and steamed along to Devonport for lunch,the Goliath was about to enter the river as we  went in.We motored up to where the moored yachts are and anchored ,Chris knocked up some excellent salad rolls and we had a sip of leftover white wine to wash them down.Had the Goliath turning and berthing in the basin to entertain us,the fairly fast flood tide did not seem to worry her.

Spent the afternoon steaming along the coast about one half a mile off.Amazed at Ulverstone
 ,the sailing club was out off there racing,did not count the but there were at least thirty small boats racing,everything you could imagine,an A class cat,a tornado , hobbie and heaps of monos I saw a 505 and even a Rainbow also a twin masted sharpie type boat with red sails.There were more boats than the major clubs in Hobart can muster!

Tony was doing his navigating sums and said we better keep going as we still had a way to go,I arced her up to twenty knots and said we will be there by 5.30.
It is still a long way along here in one hop.

Slowed down in anticipation to talk Mary Kay at three past five on VHF as the manual states but she must have changed her sched to 5.20 to match the HF time.
Heard the weather and reported in .

Went into Stanley and tied up to the Pier,took some time arranging fenders and lines,luckily it was about high tide so getting around the wharf was easy,we are looking at a low tide of three meters plus this evening.

Sellted down for a quit G and T before dinner.Chris had a nice dish prepared,a pleasant end to an excellent days travel.
We intend to stay here tomorrow and have some time ashore,heard Marny is in Devonport and heading here tomorrow.

Photos ,Port Sorell and Stanley,I hope!