Halfway To Hobart
04 January 2023
• (offshore Seymour Tasmania)
by robin
Holding my warped and slightly stained blue plastic tea mug tight, trying to get some heat into my hand I remind myself that we are halfway there. I am snuggled into the dodger at the top of the ladder. It is to wet and cold for the cockpit to be inviting. This 350 mile passage has loomed in our minds but now at the start of my morning watch with the Southern Cross high above me it seems possible. Although it is past the summer solstice the days are still getting longer as we move south. There is a morning glow in the East at 4am.
Last night was rough. Mentally we were not ready for days of pounding into the seas. The idea of using the small sail, stay sail, was to have an easier ride. When the rope that holds sail up ( halyard) let go we were left with the bigger sails. Bigger sails means moving faster but can mean more of a life on a slant. The short angular progression waves made the ride bouncy when I went to sleep last night. We both slept with out life jackets on still wearing our foul weather gear. The tidal Hudson has taught us well that the waves will be steep when the wind blows on the water flowing the opposite direction. Much smashing and rolling as we moved towards the colder slower water. Karl crossed the into the cold water before I got up. Quickly the seas calmed and the temperature dropped. The Christmas hats are not decoration anymore but cozy ear warmers.
We have not left the Sydney Hobart race behind. Two 70 foot boats who do not mind the steep seas passed us last night both moving north against the current. This morning I saw the dark sails of Black Jack soon followed by Denali. The more worrisome reminder of the race was the Marine Radio announcement to look out for the abandoned yacht, Huntress. In the first announcement I thought I got the last known location, 15 nmiles offshore of Addison. I found a bay on the chart with a similar sounding name and dropped a sunken ship symbol atop it. It is right on our course. Later in the day there is a call for vessels to help the salvage company as the yacht is heading towards Ross. Deciding to put the new position, Ross on the chart, I grab the map. Problem Ross is in the middle of Tasmania. I am struggling with Australian accents. The announcement is repeated and eventually more location details are provided. The search area is now Lady Barron, to our north and the the boat is h
eading towards the rocks not Ross. I need more Tasmanian dialect practice.
Since the boat is so well balanced with the helm lashed, I pass on my habit of steering the boat for a good part of my morning watch. Baking for Halfway celebration is the distraction. Mango-Apple cake with an Ecuadorian mix goes into the oven. I am unsure of the units on the butter and why it called for so much stirring. While the oven is on I bake the last chocolate chip cookie mix to reduce our biohazard load and roast some almonds as the peanuts are just about gone.
The day passes quickly with the boat moving well towards Tasmania. Landfall on hazy hills at lunch and albatrosses at tea. Looks like we will be tracking down the coast till Friday.
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