I’ve heard that statement many times, yet each Port Phillip cruise that I’ve undertaken has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience: the long sails, the navigation, the feeling of mini offshore sailing, and the feeling of doing something different from the norm with a trailer sailer.  

There were quite a few “firsts” for Jenny and myself when we took our Ultimate 18 (Freya) on the recent Australia Day Weekend cruise to Queenscliff. Up to that point we had only ever sailed on the Gippsland Lakes, so to venture out onto the waters of Port Phillip Bay was quite an adventure for us. Add to that the fact that we were going out near the Heads with its tidal effects and we felt well and truly out of our comfort zone. However, as we are learning, when it comes to sailing one has to remain flexible. On the morning, when it came to enter the bay through the Queenscliff cut, there was not enough wind to sail. So instead we motored to our first destination, Swan Bay.

What a terrific spot! Although very shallow, it is very broad in places and a very significant part of the bays ecosystem. According to our cruise leader, David Judkins, Swan Bay is a major breeding ground for the bay and so deserves to be preserved carefully. The six craft all managed to negotiate the shallow channel through Swan Bay to the jetty where we tied up for lunch, much to the delight of the sight seers. I imagine the sight of six Ultimates motor sailing in single file is quite an attractive sight.

Jen and I took the opportunity to take a few photos and say hello to some of our sailing colleagues. We were both very impressed with the catering of each of the boats, particularly Moon Bird. Andrew, Melissa and the kids certainly know how to put on a “good spread” with beach umbrella and the whole works. Within a couple of hours we were back on the bay, but this time with motors off and sails set. A brisk 10 knot wind and a half metre swell provided us with some excellent experience. It was made even more pleasurable by the company of the other Ultimates. It was very reassuring for Jenny and I to look ahead and see the lovely lines of Anaconda (David and Jane) and then behind to see Laros (Len and Elaine) shepherding the rear.

Eventually we found our way to the second of our destinations, Popes Eye, under the radio instructions of Jolly Frog (David and Lynda). We had a quick peek into Popes Eye and then were off to The Caisson to have a look at a large group of rather sedentary seals. I was so taken by them, until we sailed down wind. I nearly fell out of the boat from the aroma which floated down upon us…I will probably never think of seals in the same way again.

We then set sail for home where fine food, drink and excellent company including the visiting crews of Inspiration (Andrew and Lyn) and Sundaree (Andrew and Latchmi) awaited us. All up a tremendous days sailing. The next day was too windy to sail, so we took the opportunity to visit some of the sights of Queenscliff. A tour of the fort and the maritime museum was well worth the effort.

All up a terrific way to spend the long weekend.

Bruce Park, UY18S/121 “Freya”, 27 Feb 2007
 

Whilst I am not a member of the Ultimate Yacht Association, I thought that your members might be interested in this narrative of a recent cruise that I did to Bruny Island.

We set off from the Domain launching ramp, Hobart, which is situated just south of the infamous Tasman Bridge which collapsed many years ago when hit by the ship “Lake Illawarra”. The day was fine and the wind coming down the estuary at about 10 knots gusting to 15. Our destination for the night was Woodbridge which is down the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, more specifically we were headed for “Peppermint Bay”, a tourist development which boasts a bistro, a reception centre and a restaurant owned by Simon Currant who had previously developed Cradle Mountain Lodge and Strahan Village on the west coast.

After a half hour or so the wind strengthened and we measured gusts across the deck of 20 knots, so it was time to drop the genoa and set the jib, which we set relatively slickly given the extent of the chop which had come up from nowhere. At this stage we were off Sandy Bay, the suburb in which the Wrest Point Casino is situated. Despite the decreased sail area the log showed us doing about 7 knots which was pleasing as we ran with the wind. In relatively short time we had passed Kingston and Blackmans Bay, looking for Dennes Point which is the entrance to the channel. However the wind in the Derwent Estuary, as most Sydney to Hobart skippers know, is fickle and we dropped into a hole just off South Arm, a short distance to the north of the Iron Pot as we tried to reach into the channel. The yacht wallowed in the swell with a very uncomfortable motion, but just as quickly as it went, the wind sprang up again coinciding with lunch. So it was all hands on deck as we once again discussed whether we risk the spinnaker or opt for the safety of the genoa. Eventually we set the genoa and on a broad reach headed down the channel past the fish farms towards Peppermint Bay.

Optimistically we had a couple of spinners out the back hoping to catch a rogue salmon that escape from the farms every so often. Cruising at a leisurely 6 knots we soon made it to Kettering and were tied up at the public jetty at Woodbridge in time for a stroll to Peppermint Bay for a well earned cold beer. The range of beers offered was incredible, including some brewed on the premises in their micro brewery. But, the best was yet to come as they offered us a ‘yachties special’ of a beer and a deluxe hamburger made on the premises for $5.00! So after a chat with the locals to ascertain any navigational hazards or quiet bays on Bruny Island which we could explore, it was time to pick up one of the moorings laid aside especially for yachties. After a quiet night, the day dawned sunny with nary a breath of wind and stunning views of the South West Wilderness and Bruny Island.

Having called for a reinforcement crew the night before, we awaited his arrival, sipping coffee and chatting idly. With the complement of three crew now aboard, we cast off from the mooring on a lovely broad reach headed south with the spinnaker set ,making about 8 knots through the water. It seemed in no time at all we had reached Partridge Island which was really the point of no return, for we could, given the conditions, have made Recherche Bay. This bay has a lot of history, being the landing place of the French in the 1840’s who tried to make a settlement. It is also the scene of the latest fight to save some valuable old growth forests from the loggers.

A democratic vote was held on board and we turned around, dropped the spinnaker in favour of the genoa and back up the channel we went. A quick check on the forecast predicted 20 knot wind in the afternoon. Since no one had actually been to Bruny Island, we decided to make for Barnes Bay which offered shelter from all the elements and plenty of places to up the keel and anchor in knee deep water to wade ashore. After a pleasant lunch, a siesta and a walk ashore it was time to up anchor and away back to Peppermint Bay. I had noticed a few white caps and a few dark clouds building from the south west ranges and before we poked our nose out of the bay, had reefed the main and dropped all headsail which proved fortuitous because conditions turned nasty. The Bruny Island Ferry was going like a crab trying to make her landing stage and a few other yachts were making heavy weather of it. However… as skipper I made the decision to try crossing the channel and head for the safety of Kettering. The wind was coming from the west and creating a chop of perhaps a metre and a half. The more we headed out, the stronger the wind and at one point we had a squall across the deck of 38 knots. We were shipping water with each wave and it was time to close the hatch and hang on. Despite minimal sail, we were creaming along at 9 knots and in no time flat we reached Kettering safely, a bit sore and wet.

Facilities in Kettering are good for visiting yachties and in no time we had secured a mooring and were hanging out the clothes to dry, as well as pumping the water out of the bilge. It seemed that a leak had developed along the seal of the keel casing. After a beautiful dinner of freshly caught salmon, some Tasmanian chardonnay, a salad and coffee we played Scrabble and then hit the pillows. Next morning there was not a cloud in the sky, and scarcely a breath of wind which was contrary to the forecast. We dropped off the extra crew and set sail for Hobart. A call on the mobile to the automatic weather station at the Iron Pot revealed a swell of 2 metres, wind speed of 10 knots and a steady barometric pressure which promised a pleasant run with the wind up the estuary and home again.

All in all an exciting long weekend, with no breakages, a lot more confidence in the seaworthiness of the Ultimate 18 and the promise to explore Tassie’s coast a bit more. We think that next time we might trailer the vessel to the East Coast and launch it at Triabunna to circumnavigate Maria Island, or maybe take it to my favourite spot in Tasmania, Coles Bay, and potter around Schouten Island and the Freycinet Peninsula.

Stephen Stobart, UY18D/10 “Passing Wind"
 

I’ve heard that statement many times, yet each Port Phillip cruise that I’ve undertaken has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience: the long sails, the navigation, the feeling of mini offshore sailing, and the feeling of doing something different from the norm with a trailer sailer.  

For June and I, our four day Melbourne Cup weekend, 2005, sailing adventure was a Port Phillip cruise: Werribee South to Portarlington; then to Sandringham; then to Williamstown and back to Werribee South. That was the plan, which we were ready to change should the wind direction dictate. 

Early Saturday morning, I switched on the Internet to study the latest weather forecast and synoptic chart. Mmmm………gale force warning for the bays; northerly wind backing south later in the day, followed by possible thunderstorms.  Maybe we would need to activate the back-up plan: spend the night up Werribee River. Off we went, launching at a windy Werribee South at 0930. Some Coast Guard guys offered to help us because “we have nothing to do” – hardly anyone else was there. The car and trailer were stored safely in the nearby caravan park. Conditions were sunny, albeit with a strong wind, which by now had backed to the west. We thought prudence to be the better part of valour, so we motored up river for lunch, as far as the golf course and cliffs, where we would wait to see what the wind would do. June hadn’t seen the river before and was delighted with its scenic beauty and bird life. On the red cliffs opposite, with their edge-lined gum trees precariously hanging on, many swallows had made their mud nests, whilst further downstream pelicans soared above, their enormous wingspans remaining perfectly still as the powerful wind kept these graceful birds aloft. Along the shore, reeds up to three metres tall rustled in the wind, whilst here and there pretty pink wild flowers painted the shore. All this only one hour’s drive from home – we could have been anywhere in Australia.  

After lunch, we motored back downstream and, at the river entrance, it was obvious that the wind strength had reduced and had also swung around to the south. If we were to go to Portarlington, it would be a beat all the way. We decided it was worth it; we could catch up with my son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Sil, who live at Portarlington, then for the remaining days, sail with the wind aft of the beam - always a cruising target. We set off under full main and working jib, but even in the 15 – 20 knot wind, the boat at times felt underpowered, so the jib was changed for the genoa. Playmate responded immediately; she now had enough power to punch through the waves. However, the wind was not going to let us off lightly; at one stage, it swung through forty degrees and had us pointing towards Rye, so we tacked, only to have the wind swing partly back again. Our speed was good, but actual progress forward was frustratingly slow; Portarlington remained beckoning in the distance. Eventually, one last long tack, at five knots, enabled us to aim straight for Portarlington jetty, where we tied up three hours after leaving Werribee River – a direct distance of only eight nautical miles. It was worth it though; a colourful red sunset beneath grey streaky clouds above the rich green hill of Portarlington dotted with houses was all the relaxer we needed. The forecast thunderstorm never came; indeed we had no rain all weekend. Andrew and Sil came down after tea; Sil bringing with her some mint slices that she had just made – and they were yum! We chatted away until the late hours (made later by losing an hour to daylight saving time). Andrew and Sil have a powerboat and they had caught 35 fish off St Leonards that afternoon. It was easy to see that their early sea change was a great panacea for a well balanced life style.  

Sunday dawned a bright sunny day, with a southerly 15 -18 knot wind - yahoo! We would have quartering wind and seas all the way to Sandringham. It was nice to see Andrew and Sil drive down the Portarlington hill to see us off. Andrew was debating whether he would play a round of golf before he and Sil went fishing again. Tough decision! 

What an adrenalin rush sail! With full main and genoa, the wind picking up to 20 – 25 knots, and one to one and a half metre seas, Playmate was in her element. She just loves more power, not less. Many has been the occasion when we have taken out a reef, simply because Playmate has shown us, “Leave me alone; I’ll show you what I can do”. I’m sure that the she thinks she’s a small keelboat, not a trailer sailer That’s what’s so likeable about the Ultimate 18 design. We surfed on the steeper waves, the hull kicking up a wall of white water on the leeward side. As always, we wore our life jackets. We seemed to have the bay to ourselves; the few keelers we saw were deep reefed and were pitching heavily as they made their way to windward. A point of interest on the way was a floating hotel, which looked like an oil rig. A fellow at Portarlington had told us that it was accommodation for oil rig workers in Bass Strait, where it was normally anchored. Apparently, it was in Port Phillip for maintenance.  After averaging 5.6 knots for the 19.5nm distance, we arrive at Sandringham breakwater and tied up to the small public Hampton jetty. Here we were quite secure, had a late lunch, then wandered around Sandringham Yacht Club. We felt as though we had the benefits of being in the yacht club marina, without actually being in it. We were very contented with the day’s sail, and after our little walk, we were eager for a cuppa and cake, which simply lead into Happy Hour – potato chips and sherry, which was promptly followed by dinner – pasta and red wine. Ah, the cruising life! Throughout the night, the strong wind whistled through the rigging, as we lay snug against the jetty.  

In the morning, we awoke to a 20 knot south-east wind, tending easterly. We would like to have sailed over to Williamstown, then back to Werribee South, but given the east in the wind, we thought that Williamstown might be a little exposed. In true cruising mode, we again elected to put the wind on our quarter and sail straight for Werribee South. Before we left, a couple came along the jetty to say hello and have a chat. It turned out that they used to own a Sunmaid, which they had taken to the Whitsunday Islands (with more than a couple of adventures from the sound of it), and now they owned a Columbia 27 keelboat, which was on a swing mooring in Hampton Harbour. The fellow described the Columbia as “A nice day sailer”, and seemed amazed at our little Port Phillip adventure. (The Columbia 27 is actually a comfortable, heavy, offshore yacht). They were pleasant people to talk with and soon they came onboard Playmate. That’s half the fun of cruising: you never know who you are going to meet and share information with. I recall a Gippsland Lakes cruise, when we were tied up alongside the jetty in the middle of Paynesville. A couple came walking along and said; “You must get sick of all the people stopping to say hello”. “Not at all”, I replied, “ we meet more people this way than we ever would at home. Who stops at your front fence for a chat?” 

Upon leaving Sandringham, we acted cautiously by hoisting only the working jib, figuring that with an offshore wind, it was sure to increase in strength further out to sea. It wasn’t to be - unusual. We were underpowered, so took down the worker and hoisted the genoa. That extra horsepower picked up the speed. We were merrily sailing along in the middle of the bay in about one and a half metre seas when a wave, steeper than the rest, slammed into the port side of the hull, its crest breaking over the entire boat – and us – in a sea of foam. For a second, we could see nothing to boom height except white water. Our clothes were drenched right through to our skins. “Reminds me of my ocean racing days”, I remarked to June with a grin. We laughed and let the sun dry us out – there was no point in getting changed. And where were our newly purchased wet weather (offshore) clothes? In a locker below without a grain of salt on them! We hadn’t worn wet weather gear yesterday and so had become complacent. That wave was a reminder that the sea is in charge; from then on I made sure that I steered Playmate down the face of each steep wave, coming back on course again when the wave had passed. The rest of the sail continued without incident. Nearing Werribee South, the wind strength reduced, so we hoisted the main, in addition to the genoa, keeping our speed at acceptable levels. We entered Werribee River three hours after leaving Sandringham and tied alongside a floating pontoon away from the launching ramp, where we would spend the night. After a late lunch again, we went for a walk along the foreshore, then returned to the boat to be entertained by the usual antics of people launching and retrieving boats. One fellow in a powerboat who was going out, swore so much, and so loud (the main expletive used comes under “f” in modern dictionaries) at his companion, that the companion simply walked off and exclaimed, “You can go fishing on your own”. I would have done the same.  

Happy Hour was bliss. Sitting in the cockpit, facing west, eating smoked oysters and drinking sherry, we took in the calm vista of pelicans gliding across shimmering water as the sun sent golden rays across streaky clouds, against a silhouette of the You Yang mountain range. Again, it was hard to believe that we were only one hour, by car, from home; we could have been a thousand kilometres from anywhere. Sometimes it pays to enjoy your own backyard – it may be just as romantic as that beach or island a great distance away. Meanwhile, our clothes, and the boat itself, were not drying out very well, due to being salt encrusted, and the high humidity. A funny event occurred in the evening. June was below and I was standing in the companionway. A woman on her own came walking along the pontoon to which we were tied, started talking with me, and asked a hundred questions, the last two being: “Are you retired?” and “Are you alone?” To my responses: “I wish” and “ My partner is below”, she immediately said “Well, have a good night”, and walked off. As I went below, June was trying to contain her laughter. “You have just been chatted-up, you know”.  The night was warm, humid and noisy – from all the powerboats starting up at crazy hours in the morning. When we emerged from the cabin, we were greeted with the sight of a full car park – about one hundred and fifty cars and trailers. Cup Day had arrived. 

Given that there was no wind, and we had had a ball, it was time to retrieve before the crowds came back. We were home by lunchtime, looking back on another rewarding Port Phillip cruise.

Peter Nyga, UY 105s  Playmate
 

“A little bit of this,,,,,,,, a little bit of that,,,,,”. So goes the song from "Fiddler on the Roof", and that's what the Cruise was all about! Four boats made their way to Nagambie to enjoy the Wineries Cruise on the week-end of the 9th and 10th of April. Laros and Pandemonium came up on the Friday and Jolly Frog and Moonbird on Saturday. Moonbird, a.k.a. Melissa and Andrew Coles, had son Lucas and Andrew's mother with them as crew.

All were given a Chart of the lake and river by Cruise Leader Len so there was no excuse for wrong directions this time. The morning was quite blowy with a Northerly giving us a lift upstream (a little bit of this,,,) and away we went, Len out front as point and Shirl and I acting as 'tailend Charlie'.

Soon we were at Chateau Tahbilk, a beautifully historic winery seemingly perched precariously on the banks of the Goulburn River. It always gives me a lift to see the tower when you come 'round the last bend!. Rafting up, we kept clear of the tour boat landing and went up the hill to ,,,,,, a little bit of this,,, and a little bit of that, in the sense of reds and whites. Good stuff.!!

Making our way back to our boats we became part of the tour boat wedding party. Yes,,, a wedding and didn't the bride look lovely,,, white gown and shoes and the wedding party hovered attentively. Away they went to Mitchelton Winery with us all forming a long procession. Arriving at Mitchelton, we soon had moored 'bow in' to the shore which, fortuitously, is quite 'steep-to', thus making it easy for the drop-keel brigade to get better room inside.

The B B Q tea that night was spot on! ,,, again, a little bit of this and that as every one congregated in the Rotunda, cooking being done on the winery B B Q's for which Len had thoughtfully obtained tokens. Andrew's mum, Shirley, and Lucas were to stay in Nagambie in a Motel but unfortunately, the local taxi was non-existent. All was well when the Motel manager, giving special service, came out for them.

Next morning, some of us went up the Tower for a look-see, others walked around the wildlife enclosure, and others appeared to be heading back to Nagambie for their walk. Lunch was 'al fresco' after all we had indulged in --- yes, you've guessed it, --- a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the tasting room. All was not lost, though, from Mitchelton's point of view, as some purchases were made.

Soon, however, it was time to go back and, though we were into the wind, we had the current with us to compensate. With the sky looking greyer by the minute, we arrived back at the ramp to retrieve, only to find that a lot of the power boat fraternity had similar ideas. Gradually we all came out and sorted things out with Jolly Frog and Moonbird heading off just before the rain tumbled down. Weather wise, it had been ,,,, a little bit of this and,,,,!

Thanks must go to our intrepid Cruise Leader for his careful planning and preparation. Well done, Len and thanks for your efforts. For those who made the effort, the week-end was most enjoyable. For those who, for whatever reason couldn't make it, you missed out on a cruise that had, yes,,,,,,, a little bit of this and a little bit of that,,,, for everyone.
 

What a fantastic way to end the cruising year, 7 Ultimates and 55 trailable yachts gathered in the one spot for a weekend mucking about in boats. The weather also turned out to be perfect for a weekend afloat. Following registration and the briefing, the armada set sail for Eastern Beach in light airs. “Playmate” and “Free Spirit” opted to go with the wind and headed straight to Eastern Beach. “Jolly Frog”, “Script 11”, “Firebird”, “Freya” and “Laros” opted for the long way, choosing the tag-a-long cruise via the North Channel, a very long afternoon.

David Phillips, “Free Spirit”, brought the first accolade to the Ultimates, winning the “Sheep Station” trophy in the Access Dinghy Round Robin. For the record, David’s father came at the other end of the field and for his efforts was presented with a large bag of fertilizer which came from one of the sheep on the “sheep station”.

A pleasant BBQ meal and convivial socializing was had at RGYC before heading for the bunks. After a slow start on Sunday morning “Jolly Frog” and “Script 11” set sail for Clifton Springs before returning to St Helens. The others headed straight to St Helens. During the afternoon there were a number of excellent displays of items pertaining to trailable yachts. Marine Safety Victoria carried out checks of safety equipment on board and in return the yacht owner received a “Safety Grab Bag” containing a V-sheet, light stick, signalling mirror, whistle and handbook/safety brochures.

The judging for the Best Presented Boats Competition also took place during the afternoon. Here the Ultimates shone, winning two of the three categories: Best presented boat Overall - “Playmate” UY18S/105, Best presented boat Safety, Set-up & Accessibility – “Laros” UY18D/18. ( A Court 650 – “Court Jester” won Best set up boat for Cruising.).

The day finished with further socializing over drinks, BBQ meal and an informative and entertaining talk by Richard Hawkins (OAM). The weekend drew to a close with an Anzac Day service and visit to the Naval Museum. A considerable amount of interest was shown in the Ultimate yachts and culminated in the sale of “Script 11”.

Len Hatfield, “Laros”

N.B. The Skipper and Cook from “Stardust” visited on the Saturday and the Skipper suffered extreme withdrawal symptoms.
 

This year saw 2 boats from the Ultimate Association and Hastings Yacht Club with intrepid sailors visiting Lake Eildon for the Easter public holidays. The boats were a 21 ft Hartley "Tinkerbell" and a 20 ft Farr called "Farr Dinkum":

Dear sailing friends, even at 21% Lake Eildon still has a large area of sailable water. As the ranger at Fraser Park advised us, the boat ramp is still usable at 9%. One thing that will never change at any water level is the changeable, fickle and light winds. This makes it a challenge for us sailors.

After launching our boats at Fraser Park, we soon worked out how to find a good spot to tie up for the night. Houseboats were a good indication - as regular lake users they have the advantage of local knowledge. One of our stops was McDonald Island, a place we had often wanted to explore properly but never had the opportunity.

We found Eildon to be as good as it ever was, even with the water at this level - not a place for the purist sailor but if you are not opposed to a bit of motor sailing, the fickle winds can be handled easily. The scenery and wild life are superb.

Supplies, fuel, ice etc could be a problem. Eildon Boat Harbour is now a private club and do not sell to the public. A club member we spoke to said there is nowhere on the lake where the public can buy fuel now, so we were glad  that we had taken all that we required for the trip. There are no rubbish bins at Fraser; you take your rubbish with you. Can't say for other places, but we guess it would be the same. During our 6 days we saw only 1 other sailing boat, a Hartley 16. We still think even at this low water level, Lake Eildon is worth a visit - boat or no boat.

Terry Trowbridge and Eckhard & Glenys Kuhn
 

Thanks to long service leave, Cheryl and I sailed happily around the Whitsunday’s in North Queensland for not quite 100, but 97 consecutive nights between September and December 2003.

By obtaining a berth at Abel Point Marina, in Airlie Beach, we were able to often sail away for several days and come back to the comforts of a marina berth which included the luxuries of power, water, showers and supplies. We even managed a five week stint at the Hamilton Island Marina, which allowed us easy half-day sails to great spots like Whitehaven Beach, and secluded, beautiful Hill Inlet. When booking by the month, Marina fees are even cheaper than a caravan park!

Apart from one week of 40 knot northerlies which kept all boats marina-bound, we had great weather, mostly 15 – 20 knot south-easterlies were enjoyed. Tides usually dropped about 2-3 metres, and could run up to 6 knots, so sailing with the tides was essential. We expected to motor sail much of the time, but in fact, with careful planning with tides and winds, we normally just sailed, despite travelling longer distances than we normally do at the Lakes.

During three months of sailing, we reefed only twice and ran the genoa always, occasionally using the spinnaker, although challenging for two. On Hamilton Island, we sailed in five Wednesday night Twilight races, coming last only once. Members of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club were extremely friendly and welcomed with open arms their newest and smallest arrival – “Para”.

We had no fridge, but a top quality fibreglass esky worked well. Thanks to new friends (pub owner and commercial butcher) who froze 10 litre bladders into BIG ice blocks for us. Also, our small solar panel was ample to run one light and the essential VHF radio, as 27 meg radio is not widely used.

Other essentials included:

The Whitsunday’s include around 80 islands, mostly all in line of sight. Only a small number have water, food and fuel supplies. Supplies on Hamilton Island can be up to 30-50% more expensive, although internet shopping is available for extended stays. Most of the islands are uninhabited and many require planning to go ashore as a receding tide my expose 100 metres of slimy rocks to carry the tender over. With the trailer sailor and retrievable keel, one can access isolated and beautiful locations unreachable by keelboats, most of which are bareboat chartered.

Unlike the Gippsland Lakes, there are almost no jetties to tie up to, so be prepared to sleep on anchor or dry out on the beach, which is great – but not without learning the rule of 12ths first.

Although more challenging than the Gippsland Lakes, the Whitsunday’s offers fantastic scenery and weather, with access to places easily as beautiful as any postcard photo.

Although I spent a year preparing “Para” for the big trip, 3 months of live-aboard sailing and 7000 km of towing, ensured that there was extra maintenance to be done.

Repairs included:

Michael Rochford and Cheryl Clark, “Para” UY408
 

A kind of Ultimate cruise took place in Tassie from February 1st to 6th, 2004:

• Number of boats: 1 - A 41 ft. Beneteau the name of which believe or not is Jumping Jack Frog.

• Participants: 6 - In addition to Lynda and myself there were Brian and Barbara Clements and Len and Elaine Hatfield.

• The venue: The waters south of Hobart including the Derwent, the d’Entrecasteau Channel and the Huon River.

The d’Entrecasteau Channel where most of our adventure took place is a magnificent stretch of water between Bruny Island and the mainland . It contains many bays , inlets and islands and in places the Channel is 9 kms. wide . Including the Huon River there must be about 150 kms of sailing water here.

There is always a backdrop of mountains ranging from green to blue and the sprinkling of farms and a few small settlements all combine to make this a beautiful sailing area. Almost every afternoon while we were there a sea breeze of 20 plus knots kicked in providing some spirited sailing. Getting ashore was generally not easy and there are no jetties. Nevertheless we did occasionally make it ashore.

Here is a summary of our story :

Tuesday 3rd.

After shopping in Hobart for provisions we were introduced to J J Frog and were delighted with what we saw. She’s a beauty , no doubt about it ; 3 comfortable cabins , 2 heads and generally beautifully appointed and equipped. After loading and briefing we set sail south down the Derwent and across Storm Bay . Unfortunately for Barb her request to Brian to bring her “Nikes” did not have the intended result as Brian had instead brought Barb’s “nighty” so she just had to carry on without the footware. It took about 3 hours to reach our planned anchorage at Barnes Bay and for the last 2 kms .we were escorted by 10 dolphins.

Wednesday 4th.

Breakfast in this setting was a treat. Barnes Bay was a millpond so we motored around it’s shores and coves before crossing the Channel to Kettering 6 kms. away . We rowed ashore in our tender ,“the tadpole” as we had affectionately named her and enjoyed a bit of sight seeing , a friendly chat with some locals , and of course a cappuccino.

With a breeze now at 10 knots we set sail for the Huon estuary about 20 kms. away and as the breeze rose to 20 knots J J Frog romped along at 7 to 8 knots with Tadpole faithfully following . After passing Huon Island we sailed into Randall’s Bay , an attractive beach lined little bay and just what we wanted for the night.

Thursday 5th.

Local part time fisherman Ted had caught 3 Atlantic salmon and he agreed to sell us one. Apparently 30000 salmon had escaped from a fish farm so there were still 29997 out there to be caught.

Our destination this sunny morning was Port Huon 20 kms away with one brief stop at Cygnet on the way. At Port Huon another excellent lunch was prepared by our skilful galley crew after which right on cue a nice following breeze came in enabling us to sail briskly goose winged down river back to the estuary and into Port Esperance to tie up for the night. BBQ specialist Len fired up the gas BBQ and the resulting baked salmon was an epicurean delight.

Friday 6th.

The morning broke sunny but with a cool fresh breeze . A headsail was enough for us to glide towards Dover. On the way we passed close to some fish farms and saw the salmon leaping , just out of reach unfortunately. As we continued past 2 small islands the scene was chocolate box quality. In the lee of Hope island we dropped anchor in order to go ashore . We found some rock climbing skill necessary for this quest but the mission was accomplished.

Now off to Partridge Island our southernmost destination about 6 kms away. This island is uninhabited and remote and with the assistance of a 25 knot breeze our trip there was quick. From a quiet little cove we landed and explored on foot. The island is quite heavily wooded but with some tracks so apparently we were not the first to visit Partridge Island. Heading south from here the next stop is Antarctica so we headed north instead and romped along goose winged at 8 to 9 knots finally taking refuge in Little Tayor’s Bay for the night.

Saturday 7th.

We decided on an island hopping day our 1st stop being Satellite Island . Actually we couldn’t go ashore but we did inspect the numerous fish farms in this area . And then off to Huon Island. The morning was sunny , the water sparkling and it’s good to be alive all on board agreed. We anchored at Huon island for morning coffee. Garden island is less than an hour away so we found a pretty spot on the lee side there for lunch. Now we realized somewhat reluctantly that we had to start moving north again. Being a Saturday quite a number of yachts were sailing south from Hobart presenting a very pleasing spectacle. We dropped anchor in Great Bay and as this was to be our last night the Champagne was popped and the cuisine as we had come to expect was 1st class. The sea turned to glass so Lynda and I abandoned ship for a while and went for a row in the Tadpole as the sun set.

Sunday 8th.

This was our last day and the main objective was to be back in Hobart by 1600 hrs. A fresh head wind made this an exercise in vigorous close hauled sailing with long tacks. A lunch break in Little Oyster Bay was our only stop and J J Frog was delivered on time . All on board agreed that the adventure had been a lot of fun and a great success.

David Judkins.
 

Our last trip to Lake Macquarie saw us return back to Melbourne after 4 days due to an unfortunate meeting with a 35' catamaran. What we saw in those 4 days on Lake Macquarie gave us enough reason to believe that Lake Macquarie was a destination that deserved a 2nd visit.

Geoff & Lorraine Bradford on Deja Vu and Des & Bobbi Burton on Script II joined us for the trip to Lake Macquarie this year. We were a bit hesitant when we launched Willpower, but we soon relaxed and enjoyed what Lake Macquarie has to offer. We were glad that our previous trip had not turned us off this beautiful lake.

the top end of the lake is quite populated with many homes backing onto the lake. There is an abundance of areas where you can shop, go to the local clubs, enjoy a latte or two, or simply tie up to a jetty or anchor in a pretty bay and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. The bottom end of the lake is less populated but you are still able to stock up on supplies if necessary.

The pattern of the weather was very consistent. Warm and sunny with north east winds coming in during the afternoon and then dying off in the evening.

There are many fantastic things that canbe said about Lake Macquarie .......
The warm water, the great sailing, the predictability of the weather, the great overnight anchorages, the clubs that are only a stroll away from the water, the $32 membership at the 16' skiff club which lasts 5 years and gets you discounts on food and drink (we got our moneys worth), the $4 breakfast at Wangi Wangi, but most of all the best thing about Lake Macquarie is NO MOZZIES. You can sleep at night and leave the boat open with no thought to the possibility of being invaded by mosquitoes.

We were happy that we came back to Lake Macquarie and have decided to make this our annual Christmas vacation.

Craig and Maria Molloy, UY23/25 Willpower, Christmas 2003.
 

Glowing reports from the last opening cruise down the Goulburn in 2001 ensured a big turnout for this years opening “winery” cruise, so in magnificent weather of blue skies, gentle breezes and mid 20’s, nine Ultimates assembled at Chinaman’s Bridge Nagambie on Sat 18^th October for this years opening cruise.

After a briefing from cruise leader Geoff, an advance party of three headed off as scheduled at 11-ish up the river for a 1-2 hr trip to Chateau Tahbilk …. or so they thought !

Despite clear instructions to head up river, the group was too busy admiring the scenery, missed the second left hand turn and headed down river. After passing under a bridge as promised the group was still confident they were heading in the right direction, although the fairly low clearance of about 1 ft on the 18’s should have been a clue that all was not as it should be !

After an hour or two we ended up in a backwater with no clear path and what looked suspiciously like a weir in the distance. Time to try and radio the cruise leader, but inexplicably there was no reply. Finally Bill asked directions to Chateau Tahbilk from some very amused picknickers. After they stopped rolling around & laughing, we realised we had to go all the way back to the launching site and start again.

So in good spirits the intrepid explorers returned at full speed, picking up a couple more who also missed the turn on the way. By the time we reached Chinaman’s, radio contact with the cruise leader had been re-established and we were heading in the right direction at last.

A further 3/4 hour at top speed saw us pass under the right bridge (this time with about 20 ft of clearance!) passing the spires of Tahbilk and then just in time at 4pm the welcome sight of the Michelton Tower came into view.

By 5pm everyone had arrived (some with emergency supplies from Tahbilk lashed to the foredeck in case we ran short) and Geoff proposed the toast to the new season. With some new members to meet, familiar faces to catch up with and Bill providing the music on the piano, time flew by as everyone enjoyed a BBQ in the grassy surrounds of Michelton. A particular favourite was a trip up the tower to enjoy the view.

Next morning was overcast, and hot waffles from the BBQ with juice were just the way to start the day. Sadly the weather broke by mid-morning as a change came, through forcing the annual Bocce tournament to be postponed. Some opted for a quick getaway by 11am, while others went for leisurely inspection of the tasting room and headed back later.

We left early and motored back through solid rain. Luckily it stopped by the time we reached Chinaman’s, and we drove back to Melbourne in mild sunshine (and wet socks).

Thanks to everyone who came along and made it another ultimate weekend: Geoff and Lorraine Bradford in Déjà Vu, Des & Bobbi Burton on Script II, Gavin & Carol Keane in Mischief, Bill & Barbara Wiesner in Stardust, Gordon Bremner & Lorraine in Onya, Bill Dooley and crew in Frodo, Trevor & Louise Wills in Quiet Achiever, Terry Holt and crew in Unicorn, Steve, Deborah, David & Michael Langmaid in Misty Blue and Eckhardt & Glenys Kuhn in their campervan.

Special thanks to cruise leader Geoff Bradford for organising the trip and to Lorraine for catering for the BBQ, champagne and breakfast. Extra points to Geoff for organising another wedding to be held at Michelton as a backdrop for the BBQ on Saturday !

Langmaid Family, UY18D/48 Misty Blue, October 2003.
 

Easter this year was late, and historically we could have expected poor weather. However, this was certainly not the case as we were blessed with the most placid Easter weather I can remember. Anything that could float appeared to be on the water which complicated decisions for the cruise leader as to overnight venues for the Ultimate fleet which grew to 17 boats.

< more to come >

John Ward, UY23/4 Avanti
 

< In Terry's inimitable style, he tells it warts and all ... >