We spent Thursday tacking south along Tasmania's rugged East coast. Except for some showers and shifty winds in the morning, it was pleasant enough beating into fifteen knots of wind, as the seas were not too rough, and we reefed appropriately. We were able to make one long tack to Maria Island, tacked back in for our last ocean supper for a while off Waterfall Bay, and finally doubled Cape Pillar and Tasman Island at around 0100 Friday.

We still have to sail up the Derwint River forty miles or so to Hobart - sort of an antipodal estuary to our home port on the Tappan Zee, forty miles from the Narrows. So good-bye to the ocean swells, the wheeling albatross, and the blowing dolph8na for a while.

Meanwhile, even though we were directed to sail directly to Hobart for a biosecurity inspection, I have been unable to get any response from the Hobart biosecurity office by phone or by email. We will see what the day brings . . .