Leaving Tassie: Hobart to Sydney

Leaving Hobart, the skies just like an oil painting

We sailed off from the fuel dock in Hobart in the afternoon on the 11/11. On the way out there were some beautiful sights, rainbows and then a lovely sunset.

Double rainbow leaving Tassie - one pot of gold for Silver Fern and one for Salt Lines!

We had a great view of the Iron Pot. Unfortunately it was too dark when we were at Organ Pipes, but we'll save that for the next time. To start with, we had to be motorsailing. A few times we'd try to turn the engine off, but we were just going too slow. The sea state was very comfortable, all until we reached Bass Strait. Here, the wind was picking up and we could finally turn that "Iron Genoa" off.

Bass Strait looking calm and pretty as we enter. Just a few hours later, it will present a completely different side…

At the start, it was just beautiful - the Strait not living up to its reputation at all. But just a few hours later, we were in for a ride. Wind gusts of 30-34 knots, and waves of up to 2,5-3 meters. The current was up to 3,9 knots - in the wrong direction, right on the nose! We were still doing 7 knots of speed at times, so there was definitely a bit of action. There was a cross swell, and the crew on watch were getting a few odd waves their way, just like buckets of ice-cold water right down their necks. Definitely keeps you awake!

That early morning shift

Daniel and Bruce preparing for the night sailing as the sun sets behind them

What's long-distance sailing like? The hours go by, as the day and night watches start and finish. They all melt together and we forget what day it os. Sunnies give way to head torches and vice versa. Hot drinks are passed around, sleepy faces pop up and say "Good morning!" - no matter what time of the day it is. Somebody else is getting out of their wet weather gear, and wishing everyone a good night and a great watch - even though it could be morning or afternoon. Breakfast cereals give way to lunch rolls, and then a snack plate - and finally an evening meal, April working her absolute magic and everyone else lending a hand for the cooking and cleaning up. Somebody's writing in the log book. Somebody else is checking where Salt Lines are (still in front of us, but we're gaining...)

Patrick driving the boat

Dolphins come and go. A sun fish floats by a few meters away from the boat. Fishing boats and cargo ships head past us in all possible directions. Some of them are too close to our course and we need to call them up. A look at the batteries to see if they need charging. Oh, it's time for a sail change! That's the life at sea on a longer passage. You never get bored, there is always so much to do.

A cargo ship had a converging course first with Salt Lines and then with us. After having a chat with them on VHF, the ship changed course for each boat.

At the time of writing, we've sailed for almost three days, but it's a bit hard to keep track of the time. That fuel dock in Hobart could have been a week ago, or a month. And arrival to Sydney could be in a day, or two, or another week - we'll just continue doing what we're doing.

Mike, Patrick and Ross at the bow, doing “The Peel”. Australian mainland is on out port side, land o’hoy!

The original plan was to stop in Eden, but we'll continue to Sydney to keep up with favourable winds. There, Beth is going to leave Silver Fern, as she's got an important event to attend - her graduation! Now isn't she going to have stories to tell to her mates when she gets back. There can't be many people who have sailed around Tasmania and crossed Bass Strait twice before their graduation.

Our hard-working crew Beth and April - in the process of changing shifts

It's amazing to see how the crew works together, and how different people from all walks of life make up a great team. We've got quite an age span on board, from 18 to 67 years, and it works great. We're 40% female/60% male crew, and the crew have roots from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, US/Italy, and France. A mixed crew is always going to perform better than a homogeneous one. And it makes me very happy that some of the crew, who don't usually like to meet people, are in their happy place on board with nine other strangers. Often people will keep in touch afterwards, and hopefully go to sailing trips again, together.

Ross joined us in Hobart, and will go Hobart to Sydney to prepare for the race going the opposite way.

The team has had their share of changing sails, gybing and reefing, under the steady leadership of Skipper Sharon. Ken leads the watch B (for Bravery), with Beth and Mike on watch together with him. Daniel leads watch C (for Courage), together with April and Bruce on his watch. And I lead the team A, sailing with Patrick and Ross. What does A stand for? Audacity, of course! And a whole lot of Adventure.

Another sunrise? Or sunset? Who’s counting, anyway?

As we are nearing Eden, and passing by the Green Cape, we're closing on a 1000 nautical miles mark for this leg. We'll have to celebrate once in Sydney! There's still over 200 nautical miles to go, so a lot can happen until then. We need to hug the coast because of the East Australian Current, so that will be some tricky sailing.

We'll keep reporting as we get there!

All the best,

Lena, Chief Mate Silver Fern.

Chief Mate out!