Well the delivery was good fun, with 40kt winds from behind forecast it was always going to be interesting. Out of the heads we were motor sailing with just a main up and about 15kts on the nose. When we got out of the heads we started the watch system at about 12:00am. But before that we put the heady up and put the 1st reef in to prepare for the expected 40kts and headed towards Wilsons Prom. We expected it would come in pretty soon, but after my 4hr sleep down below finished, I came up to a howling 15kts and promptly said "40kts my arse."
So the others went down below and left us waiting for the wind, I got on the helm we put in a gybe, and the wind did what the forecast said. It went from 15kts to 25kts very quickly, and just as quickly to 35kts. And the boat quickly became a whole different beast, surfing down waves in the bass strait in 30-40kts is decent fun. We were averaging about 20kts in a very confused sea, as we had the south westerly swell bouncing back of Wilsons Prom. After our 4 hrs were up we headed down to sleep and came up approaching Wilsons Prom. Again I managed to hijack the helm and started surfing down waves again hitting the occasional brick wall, once past Wilsons Prom the waves calmed a bit as we didn't have the reflecting waves of Wilson Prom.
After going past Wilsons Prom we continued in the same direction for a while then gybed over towards Gabo Island on the change of watch. When I came back on watch the wind was still blasting and speeds of 23-25kts were common. As the day drew on the wind started to die down to a point where we turned the motor back on to be turned off again every time we went off watch (benefit of having the owner on your watch?). It continued like this right to Sydney with the wind varying from 5-15kts on the bow.
So we arrived in Sydney on a very nice day, about 5kts of wind, sun and motor on, and in to the CYC in time for breakfast. So the next day was spent going up the mast cleaning it, fixing things, doing things around the boat. Then I buggered off to meet mates, the trip was defiantly worth it and the experience gained was great.
Video To Come!!
1 comment:
great expereance jordan you will be wishing you could go with them in the sydney to hobart race, the weather has not been too good for them has it
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