Author Archives: Peter

Adelaide To Sydney, Antipodes Australis

Position Report and other info UTC +11 Hrs (Sydney time)

Friday, 14 March 2014, 1745 Hrs
33 52.3 S, 151 13.9 E Tied up safely at D’Albora Marina, Rushcutters Bay. All
well thank you so much to a great crew. Looking forward to your next trip.
1230 Hrs
34 14 S, 151 04 E Currently off Coal Cliff which is now just about 30 Nm from
Sydney Heads. All going well we hope to be moored at D’Albora Marina, Rushcutters
Bay by dark tonight. Still have a few gremlins in the electrical system but
nothing we can’t put up with for a few more hours. Will update our arrival
tomorrow as I expect to have a busy afternoon.

Thursday, 13 March 2014, 1100 Hrs
36 58 S, 150 09 E, Around 12 Nm North East of Eden. Calm conditions but with
plenty of fuel so no need to call in this trip. Hopefully we will be able to
pass Jervis Bay (120 Nm) before forecast North to North Easterly winds come
in late tonight or early Friday. Making good speeds under engine and not too
much of the East Australian current to hinder progress at this stage. ETA
currently at Friday night in Sydney.

Wednesday, 12 March 2014, 1800 Hrs
37 56 S, 148 29 E, Half way through Bass Strait, almost on the home leg. Hope
to get a fair way up the NSW coast before the NE winds arrive Thursday Night

BreamASnapper

“Bream” A and “Snapper” Oil rigs Bass Strait

Tuesday, 11 March 2014, 1330 Hrs
38 36 S, 145 11 E, We left Western Port at around 1045 Hrs after having the
electrics checked out. The generators battery had failed which has now been
replaced but the engine is still not charging properly. This problem will be
sorted out in Sydney on arrival, in the meantime we will restrict power
consumption and charge via the genset when able. Thanks to the owner, John
for a pleasant meal and evening ashore last night.

Monday, 10 March 2014, 1100 Hrs
Currently around 30 Nm from the Western Port Bay entrance. Will be mooring at
Hastings overnight whilst we try to fix a battery charging issue. The owner,
John, is currently on his way from Adelaide to help find the problem. Hopefully
it will be only a matter of a few hours to sort it out so we can be back underway
as soon as possible. Its nice to have some warm breezes at least as the first few
nights were bitterly cold. All well on board.

Sunday, 9 March 2014, 1800 Hrs
38 30 S, 142 31 E Near Warrnambool and the 12 Apostles. Currently sailing again
but as Murphy would have it the wind is Easterly so not getting much of a course.
We left Portland at around 0900 Hrs and have a mixed forecast for the next few days
crossing the strait

Friday, 7 March 2014, 1930 Hrs
38 20.8 S, 141 36.6 E Moored again in Portland Harbour. Forecast still predicts
an early departure on Sunday morning. All fine on board.

IMGP4859
1230 Hrs
38 20 S, 141 11 E, Approaching Cape Bridgewater, Victorian Border. Current plans
are to head for Portland to wait for an expected wind shift to the North due Sunday
Morning. We have been under sail all morning which is a relief after so much
engine use. Will take a break from the SE to East winds which have plagued or
journey so far.

Thursday, 6 March 2014, 1400 Hrs
37 01 S, 139 32 E, Currently13 Nm NW of Robe and just coming back into internet
range. As expected the wind has been SE since leaving making slow progress into
some bumpy patches. Have kept the speed down to avoid any slamming but are now
grateful the wind and choppy waters have died down allowing us to increase speed
to a more respectable amount. All is well on board.
A big congratulations to my parents Ray and Shirley who are celebrating their 60th
Wedding Anniversary (along with Roy and Gloria Hardy still close friends after
meeting on their honeymoon) Well done Guys!
While on the congratulatory messages Marion (crew on board for her second trip)
would also like to wish her father in France (Paul Louvil) a very happy birthday!

Wednesday, 5 March 2014, 0930 Hrs
35 32 S, 138 03 E, Currently 5 Nm North of Cape Jarvis about to enter “Backstairs Passage” again. We had a change of plans yesterday afternoon. It took a bit longer for me to get organised to leave so instead of anchoring overnight we kept a slow pace to arrive here in daylight and without pushing the boat hard into the current headwinds. All is well but expecting slow yet steady progress South for the next few days.

Tuesday March 4, 2014, 1300 Hrs

CYCSA All Prepared to leave this afternoon. The weather has been great
to leave over the last 48 Hours however a quicker turnaround could not be organised
whilst packing one boat up and stocking supplies up on the current boat.

The tide will be rising this afternoon and a light change is expected this evening.
Current plans are to leave this afternoon and anchor down the coast in order to pass
through “Backstairs Passage” in daylight as well as settling the crew in on an
unfamiliar boat.

IMGP4718IMGP4720

Notes on Communication: – Please feel free to send SMS messages via your email
direct to the satellite phone on board. Simply click the “free” link shown on
the top of this page or type the address as 881631430767@msg.iridium.com
Its only a maximum of 160 Characters and you need to leave the subject or
message header blank

Secret Mens Business #1, Sydney to Adelaide

Arrived at CYCSA

1130 hrs arrived in Adelaide. All well update when able

IMAG0084

Saturday, 1 March 2014, 1130 Hrs

36 47 S, 139 31 E, Currently off Kingston, Port Caroline by around 20Nm. We will be out of phone reception for the next 12 hrs or more so messages are only via the Satellite phone until then. Current ETA has been pushed back to Sunday morning as we slowed down overnight and are currently still over 150 Nm to go.

Friday, 28 February 2014, 0815 Hrs

Leaving Portland, ETA Saturday Night. Forecast is for SE winds for the rest of the trip.

Thursday, 27 February 2014, 1400 Hrs

38 20.8 S, 141 36.6 E, Moored at the new Portland floating Marina. Still getting their facilities together but great friendly staff who drove us to the fuel station and organised a key to the amenities at the Sailing club.

Wednesday, 26 February 2014,  1500 Hrs

38 51 S, 143 36 E Currently off Cape Otway, we had up to 30 Kts overnight from the West to SW which apart from being quite uncomfortable sent us a bit further North than we wanted. The wind will stay in overnight but are expecting to re-fuel at Portland tomorrow so a little more south in the wind tonight is hoped for.

Tuesday, 25 February 2014, 1030 Hrs

3906 S, 145 57 E,  20 Nm past Wilsons Promontory, light Northerly winds and about to put more sail up as have been under engine most of the way now. Expecting a west to south westerly change so hopefully will make some distance before then. All going well on board but too early for an ETA as we will probably need to stop for fuel when able.

Monday, 24 February 2014, 1230 Hrs

38 05 S, 147 59 E, Just over half way to Wilsons Promontory from Eden, amongst the Bass Strait oil Rigs. Currently under engine and making good progress. All is well

Sunday, 23 February 2014, 1200 Hrs

Leaving Eden, expecting to be out of normal internet range for periods of time over the next few days so updates will be irregular or only on the “Text File”  page via the Satellite phone

Saturday, 22 February 2014, 1200 hrs

Expecting the wind to die off Sunday morning and turn to coming from the North in the afternoon. Hopefully for a calm and fast crossing of the straight.

Thursday, 20 February 2014, 1930 hrs

37 04.3 S, 149 54.4 E, Tied up at Eden

1500 Hrs

36 49 S, 150 10 E, approximately 17 Nm from Eden. Current forecast is for strong SW winds through Bass Straight until Saturday / Sunday evening. Expecting to fuel and top up supplies before leaving for hopefully a calm Motor through the Straight. All well after a mixed night of rain and stars with an early Southerly this morning. Currently sunshine and nice easterly winds.

Wednesday 19th February 2014

Leave CYCA for somewhere down the Coast

Monday 17th February 2014

1300 Hrs Leave Church Point

1730 hrs, arrive CYCA Rushcutters Bay