Gone Cruising

Paul's 49th birthday -awaking at 4.30am he got a few mumbled happy birthdays as we pulled away from the wharf to travel down the river. Paul had marked the specific track in on Sea Max and was following it as closely as he could (he was very rusty-way out but had improved by the time we needed.) We passed over a very shallow blimp and got promptly stuck. With Azure closely following behind and then backing off quickly. (I always tell Paul that travelling at 7 knots into shallow parts does not help the situation!) The options were to remain there for two hours waiting for the tide to rise or rev the motor and get off (Paul-the motor rev god -chose the latter). Altering our course just slightly off the red line we negotiated our way around the blimp and safely entered into the big ocean again. The bottom of our keel cleaned again.

The wind was in our favour (even though slightly on the nose and very light 10-15 knots) and we made good speed. On the horizon we saw quite a number of large white sails, the Sydney Hobart yachts on their way home. Passing Waubs Bay, which we almost pulled into until the wind changed more favourably -it was up to then turning on the nose, we had a huge pod of dolphins -wave surfing dolphins-in our bow for a long time. After 11 hours of motor sailing we pulled into the most beautiful bay we have seen for a long time. Tracy was glad we got there safely as she had forgotten to lock a draw and it had come out breaking the wood cover and she had also broken the water maker (the guage had popped out when she dialled up the pressure-Paul had sinces fixed it) and was wondering what the third thing would be when we anchored.

The entry in was majestic, huge mountains, granite drops and blue, blue water with a stunning white beach at the very end. We had arrive safely at Wineglass Bay (other cruisers had told us that this was one of the best spots and not to miss it-they were right.) We anchored and had Chris and Lilly on board for a birthday feast-made more enjoyable by Chris and Lilly giving Paul his birthday present (OYSTERS) and a homemade carrot cake-his favourite. Samantha and Tamara gave Paul a cardigan (oldies jumper) and a scratchie and we recieved a call from Danielle along with other wishing him well via phone and email.

It is so peaceful and beautiful here, we are sharing the anchorage with five other yachts but it is such a big bay that it doesn't matter. We went for a long long walk today and had a long long afternoon nap. Even the girls said it was beautiful and worth doing all those long passages to get here. We have extended their time here until the 13th, so we can get them to Swansea to catch a bus to Hobart, stay overnight and then flyout the next day. Tamara will spend her 18th birthday with us and have to catchup with friends later.