A Fresh Fair Breeze and a Good Day’s Run

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Tue 30 Jan 2018 02:46

Noon Position: 39 02.1 S 147 22.5 E
Course: ENE Speed 7 knots
Wind: SW – F5 Fresh Breeze
Sea: moderate
Swell: SW 2 meters
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s Run: 165 nm

Yesterday we were under way at dawn.  We used the light north-east breeze to clear the coast and, at 0950, right on cue (thank you BoM), the breeze switched into the south-west and gradually increased in strength. We gybed and in the early afternoon put a reef in the mainsail. By evening we were being served a few good lashings of rain as the trough proper passed through. At 0300 we were approaching Wilsons Promontory. Generally I choose to follow the inshore route so as to avoid the big ships and also because it is a little shorter, but this time I chose to follow the traffic separation scheme primarily because when I changed charts I found myself further south and closer to Wilsons Prom. than I had anticipated (despite the marvels of modern GPS technology). At 0600 we had passed East Moncoeur Island marking the eastern end of the separation scheme. We bore away to the east nor’ east and poled the jib out to starboard to run wing on wing before what was by now a fresh fair breeze. We have made excellent progress.

The rain has passed, the skies are clearing. Soon we will gybe so as to be able to lay Gabo Island. The wind is forecast to freshen further this evening so I am expecting another good run tomorrow.

All is well.