Oz East Coast
Friday 27th March 2009
Now back home in Melbourne after being away for nearly two months and to catch up with business and see the result of 6 months of renovations to our home in the country. This has been Margs project completely and the result is very satisfying to say the least.
The boat is tucked away safely at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania marina where she will stay for another couple of weeks before I have her hauled for new bottom paint as she has been in the water for 20 months, and the log has just ticked over 9000 nm.
Before leaving Hobart I had a look at Hobart from Mt Wellington and could see SKIE away in the distance.
Looking for SKIE from Mount Wellington
Tony Peach who was on the rally in his N40, drove me up the mountain, and we enjoyed a chilled bottle of Sav Blanc to enhance the scenery.
There was a final dinner for the participants and some fun presentations were made.
The yacht MIRI received an award for the best secret sound recorded on a cell phone of our Yamaha on the inflatable screaming as we hit a mud bank at full throttle up the Maleleuca Creek.
We received an award for the best radio sked after announcing that we were miffed at having to do the dishes by hand, as we were low on water due to the circuit board on the water maker blowing up. It was suggested the dishwasher needed more water, so we had to conserve. The trophy was a dish mop and rubber gloves. The Stick and Rag guys pissed themselves.
Coles Bay, mid-eastern Tasmania
Before leaving to come home, we loaded on board a pile of Stick and Rag friends we met on the rally and went up the Derwent River for a spin, giving them a taste of the comfort we had enjoyed for the circumnavigation over the past 5 weeks. They loved it, and I suspect thoughts may have reflected on those cold nights beating out to sea to gain some south going down the west coast on their sailboats, while we were in our air conditioned cacoon watching a video on the 45" Plasma, drinking cocktails. (of course someone was on watch in the Pilot House without cocktail, I think), but nevertheless watching the video on another screen in the PH).
