Almost a year after we arrived, we checked out of Tasmania today, February 18, 2016. Two friendly Border Force guards came aboard Sonsie at the downtown MAST dock. One in particular endeared us to him by filling out the paperwork for a nice tax rebate for all the sails we bought from Doyle Sails!

We untied the lines at 15h local and motored in light headwinds down the Derwent for two calm hours. As soon as we were past Iron Pot lighthouse we met with horrid washing machine conditions in Storm Bay. Isabel's tummy and the autopilot compass decided they didn't like all the bouncing around. Said tummy over-functioned while the compass ceased functioning. This wasn't good! As we were unable to use the windvane while motoring we had to hand steer which is tiring.

After a rocky 8 hours we sought respite overnight in a quiet anchorage behind the wreck in Canoe Bay. Technically we were not supposed to stop after checking out but we needed to recoup. We arrived at 01:00 just as the moon was setting behind the eucalypt trees on the hill. Never has such green fragrant peacefulness been more appreciated!

Here's a panorama photo taken the next morning from Sonsie's bow. We would have liked to have stayed another quiet night but needed to head North to avoid an incoming gale.