A Good Start
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Tue 19 Aug 2025 02:43
Wind: NE, F4 moderate breeze
Sea: slight Swell: SW 1.5 m
Weather: sunny, cool
Day's run: 119 nm
The wind held, though it varied a bit, at times requiring the code zero to keep us moving, and later a reef in the main to keep us reasonably comfortable as the wind freshened on approaching Cape Jervis. As predicted, we rounded Cape Jervis and entered Backstairs Passage in the evening hours, where the wind backed into the east requiring two tacks to transit the Passage. At 2300 the wind eased just as we were passing Yatala Shoal, which, despite it being slack water, was still kicking up some tidal overfalls. I shook out the reef in the mainsail to help drive us through this patch of disturbed water, then, just as we regained more settled seas, the wind freshened again and it was time to put the reef back in.
At 0200 we passed Cape Willoughby, the eastern most point of Kangaroo Island, out into the open ocean, the wind by this time having backed sufficiently into the ENE to allow us to make good our desired SE heading, close reaching in the moderate breeze. As one would expect as we cleared the protection of Kangaroo Island we started to feel the swell rolling up from the endless Southern Ocean which, combined with the wind generated sea from the east, made for a short sharp uncomfortable motion. On the plus side we were on the port tack which meant Sylph was heeling to starboard making for a more comfortable sleep in the sea berth, Sylph's motion throwing me into the bunk rather than out of it.
This morning has dawned with a clear blue sky, the breeze continuing cool and fresh from the NE as a nice high pressure system passes over. The forecast looks good for the next several days, with a low pressure system passing to the south of us, which means over the next couple of days the winds should continue to back through north into the west, and freshening further. This should allow us to continue through Bass Strait perhaps as far as Twofold Bay, where, if the forecast proves true, we should arrive late Sunday or sometime Monday. Assuming we make it this far in one go, whether we push on or not will of course depend on the longer range forecast, and whether Sylph and I are still in good shape to press on . hopefully so.
For now it is a great day for a sail and ...
All is well.