Position: 34 45.97 S 137 51.70
Alongside Port Vincent Marina
Wind: S, F3 gentle breeze
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: clear, warm
Day’s run: 56nm

On Tuesday my friend Ada flew in from Sydney to join me for a week of sailing. We enjoyed a convivial barbecue with some fellow Squadron members that night and departed the marina at 1355 on Wednesday, the forenoon being taken up with various chores. The plan was to either head down the coast towards Port Noarlunga or across the Gulf to Port Vincent, depending on what the wind did.

Once we had motored out of the harbour, the wind was light and variable to start off with, but sufficient to keep Sylph moving through the water. We initially set our course for Port Vincent with a light NNW breeze. By 1600 the wind had faded such that Sylph was barely ghosting along over the glass smooth waters, so clear we could easily make out the sandy bottom fifteen meters below. I set the code zero to get the most out of the light air but then a mere ten minutes later the breeze suddenly shifted into the SSW and increased to force four, so it was down with the code zero and back to the jib, Sylph’s speed jumping up to five knots. We pushed on towards Port Vincent, still some 25 miles away.

The wind remained in the South for the rest of the day, varying between force two and four, but for the most part keeping us moving along comfortably at an average of four to five knots. We approached the entrance to Port Vincent between North and Middle Spit towards sunset at 2000. We put in two tacks to make our way into the port, closely watching the movements of a tug towing a brightly lit object behind it that was also entering the port. As we got closer the tug’s movements became a little confusing, especially with the bright white spotlights from its tow making it difficult to see anything else, so we handed sail and started the engine. As we passed close by the spotlights it turned out that the tug had slipped its tow, a large crane supported on four legs now firmly planted into the ocean floor. We continued up the shallow channel marked with red and green lit beacons, picking up a Squadron mooring at 2300.

This morning after breakfast we slipped the mooring and motored into the marina.

The plan is to stay here tonight for a pub meal ashore and tomorrow, if the wind permits, to sail down to Stansbury, ten miles to the South of Port Vincent. On Saturday we will likely sail back across the Gulf to Port Noarlunga, then back to the Squadron on Monday, with Ada flying back to Sydney on Tuesday.

All is well.