From Port Phillip Bay to Westerport
T / S Aquarius7 "Sea Eagle" has to be in Westernport. After 2 month preparation at St.Kilda marina the boat was ready. It was just important to get the right sailing window going through heads. Than the weather forecast for next few days looks promising.
On Tuesday 28 of June, early morning, the boat is launched at St. Kilda marina.
St. Kilda Marina 28 of June 30, 2011, early morning.
We are heading to Queenscliff as a first leg of the trip.
Some parts of Melbourne are sunny but the Port Phillip Bay was under thick fog cover.
No wind, no sun airy calm. After 4+ hours motoring we pass West Channel marker.
Port Phillip Bay - West Channel Marker, lunch time.
That time the fog got thicker. After 7 hours seeing nothing else than a few channel makers
we arrived in Queenscliff. Top up 10l petrol in local marina, than park ranger arrived and sent us away from a public jetty. We have to tight the boat to “The one and only big red boy” at the end of the entrance channel.
Quick meal and strait to bed.
"Big Day" tomorrow.
A plan was, get up at 4am and pass through Port Phillip Bay entrance “The Rip” after 5am.
What a morning, Melbourne winter night with thick fog cover. We surrounded, our own Navigation Lights were reflected by thick fog back to us. It was very calm, visibility 20m and Bass Strait right ahead.
Going through “The Heads” to Bass Strait with no visibility is a challenge. What about Bass Strait, in last few days it was a bit windy, over 20 knots.
Passing the red boy Shortland Bluff less than 30 m to verify how precise we can navigate,
as it was last reference before the ocean. Visibility has not improved. 2 miles to opening.
Listening busy commercial shipping, it was time to let Point Lonsdale know about our existence and intention to cross shipping channel heading to Westernport.
A bit surprise I guess for P. Lonsdale.
Where are you “Sea Eagle"?
One mile from the Rip on western edge of the channel - outbound.
P Long. : Now I can see you on the radar, can you see traffic on your radar?
S Eagle: Negative we don't have a radar, we using a chart plotter only.
P Long. : You still inside the channel, move outside of west channel boundary,
keep this course and listen on chan.12 further instruction.
In half an hour the boat movement has changed dramatically, just to realize,
We Are in Bass Strait.
Black and Foggy, still trying to catch reflection our own Nav. Lights 10 m ahead of us.
Well, we heading to Tasmania, not particularly impressed but when the boat behaves very well, you safe.
Long hour or so, when captain of an outbound oceanliner requested from P Lonsdale
“I am turning west outside the Heads and you still keep that little boat on western boundary."
Finnaly: P Longs. to Sea Eagle: permission given to cross shipping channel.
We set new course to Cape Shank.
Wind still under 5 knots, than we have to motor. It was already daylight, fog was easing and we see the dot in foggy surroundings,
Wow Cape Shank. Didn't last long, an hour later we lost the dot. Why? Time to think,
“ We lost at sea ” , going East , 5 miles from the coast and Light House not there any more.
Brand new Platimo magnetic compass was playing up since we left, than
autopilot lost a heading and now GPS. Where we really going?
/ or solar magnetic flares / we still don't know.
Cape Shank and Fliders in far distance.
Before lunch we see mainland again, rounding Cape Shank in full sun, turning to Flinders.
Here it is Westernport , blue sky, Flinders right ahead and Seals Rock on starboard.
Bass Strait on 23 foot Trailer Sailer is experience on it's own.
A few 4 m rollercoasters, 4 dolphins, seaweed in the prop and bright sunny afternoon to the rest of the leg to Yaringa.
Bass Strait leg - 12 hours from Queenscliff to Yaringa, 35l of petrol, 5.5 knots, from Flinders 3.5 knots, passing Cribs Point, Hastings against the tide.
Skipper Michael with a deckhand
AHOY ALL SHIPS BIG AND SMALL
when you want to go back , please take the trailer and go by road!!!
fog ...large ships .... the rip..... late call to the control tower..... thank your lucky stars!!!
Sounds like a good adventure! cant see any probs except maybe the late call.Thats a solid looking trailer sailer. Do they have a swing/drop keel? or just shoal draft?
Nothing wrong with a bit of adventure, thats what ocean sailings all about, nice work
Thanks guys, perhaps would by smarter take a trailer, but it look very very good until you look from different angle see why..
-first time going out, you always learn "late call" I think my first contact was actually 1/4 mile before ShortBluf, didn't wont to go far out, hoping to cross earlier...
-we left QC about 1.5 hour before SlackW.
I still trying to figure out "Cape Schanck" switching off lights at 10 am.
Is it new electricity saving initiative than good luck.
Great story! Being in WA every time I sail is open ocean sailing and there is nothing wrong with it
!
Don't worry about the trailer.... you are not sailing it!
Hi Charriot, I have an Aquarius 23 as well not been sailing in her yet, I am yet to learn how to sail, but hubby has sailed a little before in the UK.
Did you run all the lines to the cockpit or was it like it when you got her, as we want to do that but not sure how,
cheers '
Lorri
Hi Lorri, don't tell me you have one in Yeppoon. anyway all lines goes to cockpit,
for easy cruising in Qld. would be more practical have boom rails on top of the cabin.
The boat has 2 foot draft , build in 650 kg ballast and large swing centreboard.
Only for close wind sailing I use centreboard, even on Bass St. I didn't use it, simply swell and waves have easy run under boat and you keep your heading no worries.
Hi,no we are down at Moreton Bay, seen one for sale at yapoon on the web though.
Have you got any photos showing where the lines run so we can copy it?
Anything we should be aware of with the Aquarius?
I have boat for 3 months only, haven't done much sailing with this boat yet.
This Saturday, see lines, both side are identical. I have a problem with foot of the mast
burring himself in the deck / leaning forward more and more/, guess moisture in the cavity weakens the support. Haven't work out best approach,
/cut the deck and build up or what? /
I have to take picture next time, Anybody Advise Please!
perhaps a support post underneath.
spread the load with a largeish pad above and below.
Something like that. There is no support of the mast on the deck, sits right on the cabin. Inside hollow is a chunk of hardwood. Inside the cabin, must be solid metal frame. But it isn't obvious. Just 4 screws exposed,the rest all laminated.
