Cape Northumberland

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Thu 30 Mar 2023 02:11

Noon Position: 38 07.3 S 140 32.8 E
Course: ESE Speed 5.5 knots
Wind: SW F4
Sea: slight Swell: SW 2 meters
Weather: sunny, mild
Day's run: 139 nm

We have enjoyed a steady moderate to fresh S to SW breeze over the last 24 hours, making for a close to beam reach and a good day's run.

We haven't quite made it to the state border yet with some twenty miles to go. Currently we are just off Cape Northumberland and Port MacDonnell, home of a large cray fishing fleet. Thus far we have not had any problems with cray pots as we have stayed a long way off the coast; however, we are now coming in closer and this forenoon we passed a fishing boat and presumably one of its cray pots fairly close by, so will have to keep an eye out for them for the rest of the day. Fortunately with Sylph's sloping forefoot, long keel and keel-hung rudder, generally cray pots do not cause us a problem, as if we do run over them they tend to slide harmlessly to one side or under the keel without catching on anything. Nonetheless, we will of course not tempt fate and will endeavour to keep clear of them to the best of our abilities.

There is a front approaching which I expect it will overtake us sometime tomorrow forenoon. As it passes through we can expect the wind to strengthen and back into the south. By then I am hoping we will be approaching Cape Otway. If we can get past the Cape before the front arrives then we will be able to bear away to the NE towards Port Phillip Heads, putting the wind well be abaft the beam and making for a brisk run into Port Phillip.

So, for now the plan is to press on.

All is well.