Cold and misty Bear Mountain
07 March 2013 | Schouten Island, east coast Tasmania
Schouten Island, East Coast
Tasmania
Position : 42 17.83'S 148 17.10'E
It's cool, grey overcast and misty. Bill is climbing Bear Hill, an interesting rocky outcrop adjacent to Moreys Bay where we are anchored. We had a light southerly in similar cool conditions from Fortescue yesterday. The anchorage here is called the Schouten Bay shuffle by yachties. When the wind turns to the north this afternoon we will up anchor and motor to the other side to anchor in Bryan's corner.
This is the last safe anchorage really on the east coast of Tasmania. (Apart from St Helen's where local knowledge is needed to get in through the shallows and bars). We are ready to head home. The weather of course isn't co-operating fully and it looks like we will have to sail to windward during part of the passage to Eden - a distance of around 300 nautical miles. Looking at the bom site (bureau of meteorology) we might be able to leave Sunday in a light southerly then sail in light to moderate east to north east winds. Not ideal but a bit of discomfort will get us to Eden within 3 days. That's the plan anyway. There's a strong southerly predicted next Thursday nearly a week away, and the weather will start changing to less benign conditions the longer we wait in Tasmania. So bite the bullet ( or swallow the sea sick pills in my case), we will probably head off on Sunday.
We have used Jack and Jude Binder's guide to Tasmania extensively on this trip and have found it invaluable. They have a wealth of experience sailing around Tasmania ( and Australia and the world actually) on their home built yacht Banyandah. I do love Tasmania and wearing winter clothes has been a change. But I admit, I will always love the tropics and wearing swimsuits and sarongs. I am missing the warm salt air on my bare skin! Although it has been extremely wet in SE Queensland since we left in January. And now a cyclone brewing in the Coral Sea is a possible threat. Our lives really are governed by the weather...
I am looking at Bear Hill enveloped in cloud at the top and wondering where Bill is now. I think I will cook a nice pot of soup to warm us on this cool wintery day.