Snowing!! Its only March.
06 March 2011 | Norfolk Bay
David and Andrea
The dense cloud cap obscured Mt Wellington. Occasional gaps appeared when the screaming SW gale ripped the cover apart. What was the white stuff all over the summit?
Down in Storm Bay - well you guessed it. The Scots call these conditions "full" and I agree. Diomedea blasted across the bay toward Betsy island with 25-35 SW, rain, big seas, and a possible hail shower. 2 reefs and staysail. The reef south of Betsy was a seething mess of storm-driven surf fighting for supremacy with the jagged rocks. Rounding the island and then turning to the NE meant a series of gybes in the big stuff. Surfing down the swells 8's,9's, 10. The last turn at Sloping Island and then into the relative shelter of Lime Bay at the furthest limit of Tasman Peninsula. The bay itself was quite windy so we anchored behind cliffs to the west. Very tired and very cold. Heater on.
As the high came over conditions improved slowly on Saturday and we moved along the various bays to anchor in Taranna. We went ashore to find everything locked and barred despite the Saturday afternoon timing. Back on board Diomedea glowed in the stunning sunset.
Sunday forecast was for no wind and that is what we got. The long motor trip back to Kettering followed, this time going to the north of Betsy island, past Black Jack rock and close to Iron Pot. Finally, back in D'Ent. Channel we sailed slowly for about an hour enjoying a fantastic lunch in the postcard setting.
The pictures and chart are in the Photo Gallery