One Hundred Magic Miles
One Hundred Magic Miles. (and 3000NM on the log)
With the cruising season rapidly approaching I found myself dreaming of the fantastic 4 day cruise last May.
My wife Gerry decided to take off somewhere so I thought maybe I should too. Provisioning Moondancer, my Farr7500, with the required food and beverage requirements for a 4 day cruise, I motored quietly from the Mordialloc Creek and set sail for Mount Martha at about 11.30 am.
A light southerly filled the Main and No1 headsail and set me on a single tack to Davey Bay near Frankston before I had to tack out to sea to clear the land. A couple more tacks and I could see the shape of Safety beach where I had decided to anchor overnight. A splash and a hiss alongside the boat heralded my first pod of dolphins, only 4 of them, one of them a baby. The sun sets early at this time of year so it’s time to find a sheltered spot for the night, enjoy the sunset and get a good nights rest. I drop anchor in the shelter of the Mount Martha cliffs.
Day two dawns, flat sea, nearly no wind and Moondancer the only boat on the water. Determined to sail as much as possible I set the main and No 1 and found just enough energy in the wind to move Moondancer slowly in the direction of Rye. With no particular destination in mind Moondancer meandered ever so slowly along the coast until finally, about mid morning and just off white cliffs, the sea turned to a mirror. Time to engage the 8hp outboard on the back and head to the south channel fort for an investigation. The Fort is a man made structure and home to many seabirds, all of which were less than impressed with my arrival. Out here the tide runs at a tremendous speed so care is required when approaching and departing the old wooden wharves. At this point I added another ‘character mark’ to the side of Moondancer.
Not only does the tide run fast but there is also very little water so it took no time for me to run aground (4 nautical miles from shore). With the rudder forced into the sand by the tidal flow and the rudder downhall jammed in the cleat and now immovable due to the forces. I managed to stress the whole system so much that a gun shot sound announced the breaking strain of the downhaul which, I am pleased to say, was less than the breaking strain of the pintles, rudder blade and other various bits. As there was still no wind plenty of time was available to drift with the tide and make the appropriate repairs.
Before long a zephyr appeared. So up with the sails and off to Portsea. Lunch tied up at the Portsea pier sounded like a great idea. The problem here was a massive surge that was unnoticeable until tied to the pier. At this point the surge would push the boat away from the pier and then suck it back at great speed attempting to pound the vessel into submission. Let’s get out of here before we add more ‘character marks’.
At this point in the mid afternoon and motoring along Point Nepean it occurred to me that slipping out through the rip could be interesting. And so it was. The rip trip was also a great way to celebrate the log ticking over the 3000NM that Moondancer has done since we purchased her in 2004. A speedy trip back through the rip, with the tide, saw Moondancer tied to the jetty at the Queenscliffe Yacht Club at about 4 O’Clock. This club has a distinct resemblance to the MMYC so I felt at home immediately. An old salt greeted me and approved heartily of my tying up for the night.
Day 3 - the wind is back, the tide is racing in and that is just what I want to get me around the coast to Port Arlington. With 10 knots and the flooding tide Moondancer sailed rapidly up the west channel past Swan Bay, St Leonards and finally stopped in glassy waters off Indented Head. A motor along this coastline revealed some great real estate and eventually I was surrounded by 15 playful dolphins who stuck with me until I turned to enter the Port Arlington Harbour. A peaceful night disturbed only by the fishing boats departing at 3.00am was followed in the morning by glassy smooth water and visibility down to 100 meters in a pea souper fog.
Reluctantly I accepted the fact that my return to Mordialloc would most likely be under engine. Fortunately there was plenty of fuel on board having learned my previous lesson which eventually cost 3 hours and 11 dollars a litre to resolve; but that’s another story.
A long and eerie voyage was rewarded by more dolphins and masses of Australian Salmon, Gannets, penguins and terns all displaying their talents in the sunshine of Beaumaris Bay. Time to return to port after clocking up 103 NM for the trip..
Yes I sure am looking forward to the cruising season again.
