Sundowner Y86 Southern Coast

[Phillip]

Rob's in Adelaide

GAB9.PNG (627.26 KiB) Viewed 7236 times

[Fat Controller]

Hi Rob
As a self-confessed mouse pusher I have been enjoying your posts here and elsewhere. Are you going to be able to post any video of the Bight crossing? It sounds like it might have been interesting. I'd like to see or hear how your vane coped.
Happy trails! Doug

[lockie]

Rob;

Do you have any idea when you plan to be passing or entering Port Philip Heads?

Cheers, Graeme

[rob.lovelace]

whilst anchored in the entrance to coffin bay I started to drag anchor in 40kts I got sail ready with third reef in and sheet blocks forward as there's no way the outboard would have delt with that headwind. I also set a fishermans anchor on the chain in line with the Manson and let all he chain out (40m) then at about 2300hrs Luke started dragging (fishermans only) then stopped after about 20m. Next I took off for 6m and stopped every 30minutes as the boat swung. I took the fishermans off and let out all chain plus 20m nylon warp and held. Meanwhile Luke kept dragging about 20-30 my at a time until he was gone off shore in the deep and unable to recover his chain he tried motoring into the weather for the next three hours in an attempt to hold station. Eventually he got the chain in by using the sheet winches and motored back inshore 5nm in about 3hrs. It was one very tense night. I'd much rather be in a big sea than dragging with the prospect of running aground.

Now footage in the bight doesn't look as compelling as it was. I can never quite capture the size of the sea it always comes out looking tame. Anyway here's a short take on a good day, I kind of have other things to do when it's mega, like cry in my bunk.
http://youtu.be/SUoasScGq94

As for port phillip, it looks like I won't be going in there as time is getting away from me so I'll be going directly to Yaringa Western Port. When? yeah good one.
cheers
Rob

[lockie]

Ok Rob. I asked because there was a slight chance I might be able to get out the heads and and blow my siren etc to welcome you. But a drive to Yaringa to buy you a beer sounds like a great alternative.

Cheers, Graeme

[rob.lovelace]

crossing the bight track,

[Phillip]

Rob is anchored at Robe, his spot thingy hasn't posted his last position.

Plug this into google earth:

-37.16125 139.74974

GAB10.PNG (1.38 MiB) Viewed 7075 times

Seaka is anchored at 1770. New sailblog tomorrow.

[rob.lovelace]

thanks Phillip, lucky to be here. Seas were a tad lively out there. A 36fter was lost on the rocks just south of here last night so I'm feeling glad to be here. I was on my side a few times the night before we arrived sliding down some big swells when the squalls hit, don't think the spreaders touched but the water was well up the windows and into the cockpit, it was hard to get any sleep but after a while I got used to it and dropped off. I thought it aS a free anchorage but seems the gov has made a marina here due to crowding. Still I think you could probably drop the pick down the back if you had to.

[Phillip]

That doesn't sound very exciting Rob, here I have a different problem, namely the tides.

Came into 1770 today with only 600 under the keel. Had a look at the rest of the week and the 3 night stay is now only tonight.
Going out to Pancake Creek as soon as I have 2.4 under me, that will give 600 over the sand bank.
Gets worse latter in the week.

Will be in Pancake till next Sunday and possibly longer, this is going to stretch the larder!!!!
We have a 20 knot plus blow coming with 2 m swell.

[rob.lovelace]

went out yesterday in 5m+ swell and a 25kt wind squalling well above 30kts Headed out due west for two and a half hours and then put a tack in to find I could only make 110-120degrees which wasn't going to get me far. So rather than beat my head against a brick wall we've returned to the comfort of Robe to await the next front. Two years and almost around Aust this is the first time I've returned to port. The southern ocean is something else some days.