Having made no decision at all, we made the decision to leave the boat in Tasmania over the winter and then come back to sail again next season. We sailed out of the Royal Yacht Club marina (thanks so much to Richard for lending us the berth and to John for arranging it) and had a lovely sail down the Derwent and back into Barnes Bay, where we picked up a mooring (thanks John D!). After all the excitement of the festival and Doug and Carolyn's visit, we had a very quiet day and were finally able to think clearly about our plans, talking through our thoughts with Katie and Angus and considering various logistical challenges of leaving the boat. Waking early the next morning, we both knew that the decision we had made was not the right one. We both wanted to complete this journey and to head home. So, new lists were drawn up and we headed back into Kettering to start work, preparing the boat and ourselves for the passage back across the Tasman. Our friends on Theleme are still up on the hard, but their new engine had arrived and Jean and Matt on Superted V arrived also, so we had a fun potluck supper on board, with a large amount of wine being spilled!
We steadily worked our way through our to-do lists and took up the offer of a lift to Hobart and the use of Bung's car (again!!) to get various bits and pieces, including two second hand survival suits. We had an evening at a sausage sizzle at the local yacht club and watched the 'Gourmet Farmer goes to sea', a programme we had watched in NZ, but in this series, the presenter had gone on a round Tassie sailing trip, on a yacht we were next to at the boat festival. The weather was glorious and we could crack on with outside jobs, checking rigging, mending sails and making baggywrinkles. I restocked the boat and super-Margie lent us her kitchen for a day, where I cooked up soups and main courses for the passage, which are now frozen in Margie's freezer until our departure. Simon helped move a large stack of wood and we went platypus hunting on Mt Wellington. The high temperatures however, had attracted a group of people into the waterfall, with their squeals ensuring there was no wildlife within a couple of miles.
Back in Kettering, we arranged our farewell party. Even though, there is not a settled weather pattern in sight yet, we thought it made sense to try and see a few folk and thank them for their help/friendship/welcome! It was a stunning morning, really hot (35 degrees) and we put up the bimini and put the boom tent to provide some shade. However, about an hour before people were due to arrive, thunderclouds loomed on the horizon and then it poured! It was a fabulous thunderstorm, with deafening claps of thunder and bright forks of lightning, but meant that everything was pretty soggy, including our guests! After a little while the sun came back out and everything and everyone could dry out a bit. We enjoyed great company, fine nibbles (thanks AGAIN to Margie for the gift of a whole salmon) and some stunning local wines and beers. It turned into a lovely evening and we sat under the boom tent with the last few guests until darkness fell.
Today we said our goodbyes to the marina team. We cannot praise Kettering Marina highly enough...if ever you are in the area, make sure you pop in - it is friendly, efficient and nothing is too much trouble. Back once again to Bruny Island, with more thunder and lightning, we are back to where this story began...patiently waiting for the right weather and a new SIM card for the satellite. Then we head up to Hobart to clear customs and head out across the Tasman. Doesn't look good for this week, so in the meantime we will explore more of this beautiful island.
Photos in the Tasmania album!