The Mainland fleet joined the Hobart fleet at Beauty Point and enjoyed a three course meal at Tamar Yacht Club with over 80 in attendance.  A great night was enjoyed, and after visiting Marion's Vineyard further up the Tamar, we then departed the Tamar for ports further west.
 
The Tamar River entrance has tidal flows up to 5 knots, and with opposing seas can be worse than Port Phillip Heads, so some careful planning is required. Exiting with tidal outflow means SOG of 10+ knots, best done when there is no swell or chop opposing.
 
The VDL fleet was now proceeding together - well sort of!  The "bolters" headed off west before "the rest" and then there were some stragglers bringing up the rear. 

​                                            Wingara III at anchor at Shepherds Bay
 
With Starlink mandatory and the requirement for HF radio dropped for this cruise all our skeds were done via Zoom. We had a mandatory position report by 1800 hrs each day. a compulsory sked at 1830 hrs each day on Zoom, and an informal sked at 0900. Skeds via Zoom have been a "game changer", as participants can see each other and interreact.
 
We also had both "social" and "official" What'sApp groups which assist in the chatter and communication within participants.
 
All participants have Predict Wind tracking - so that cruise officials can check positions. Interestingly many participants want to know where boats intend to go the next day so that their own journey can be planned. There are many impromptu BBQ's on the beach, "sundowners" on each other's boats, and other activities.

 Delivery by "SCUBA EATS" of freshly made Sushi from Tuna caught on the way to the Hummocks - by the "Tahiti" crew.  Catches are often shared but this "delivery to your cockpit" was a first!
 
Some boats had to remain at Beauty Point awaiting delivery of replacement batteries or other parts such as hydraulic steering components. The old adage that "cruising is fixing your boat in exotic places" stands true!
 
The rest of us set off for the "Hummocks" - on the north west coast of Tasmania - an uninhabited collection of islands - with many safe anchorages on the two main islands being Hunter Island and Three Hummock Island.
 
The fishing and hunter gathering is exceptional. Crays, Calamari, flathead, abalone etc are plentiful, as were the Tuna trolling on the way.
 
I caught a shark trolling - took me 20 minutes to get it to the back of the boat and realised that I didn't fancy having it in the cockpit thrashing around biting things! Luckily, it "self-released" when it was close to the boat! Fighting a 6' shark on a yacht is not easy - I suggest that a fighting gimbal and a good gaff are necessities.
 
Soon after the shark, we then hooked a tuna and after another 20 minutes got it to the back of the boat. At around 1 meter it was the prefect size. We didn't yet have the gaff which was to get to us in Strahan. Whilst figuring out how to get this monster onto the swim platform, and whilst I had the leader in hand, one final dive and the swage holding the hook to the trace gave way - and another "self-release" - and it was gone!
 
We stayed at the Hummocks for several nights doing what has become known as the "Hummocks Shuffle" as the wind direction proceeds around the clock - from SW to S to SE then through to NE and NW before the next front from the SW, it becomes necessary to move anchorage to avoid lee shores, and get some protection from the wind waves, and/or swell.
 
When the weather window presented itself - we set off for the 18 hour or so overnight passage to "Hell's Gates" - the entrance to Macquarie Harbour which has a large number of protected anchorages, Strahan and the Gordon River. so, we leave in the early afternoon so as to arrive early morning at the entrance.
 
Below, the North coast of Tasmania as we approached Stanley - sunsets can be spectacular!

​The entrance to Macquarie Harbour is called "Hell's Gates". This is not because the entrance is dangerous, rather this was the gateway to the notorious penal settlement on  Sarah Island within the harbour where the "worst of the worst" prisoners were sent from Hobart and other penal settlements when they misbehaved in custody.
 
Sarah Island conditions were bleak. The convicts had to work building ships with famous Huon Pine. Just surviving was a struggle - let alone having to work in extreme conditions outside, in rain, hail or sunshine, 7 days a week!
 
Many prisoners escaped the island through the apparently shark infested waters never to be heard of again. Many were recaptured and then sentenced to "hard labour" or suffered flogging by the "Cat O' Nine Tails". They still had to work, and many perished.

Above is the lighthouse on "Entrance Island". The entrance is open to the north -west and extremely dangerous when the swell is running together with a wind wave from that direction.  The tide has little effect on the entrance, as there is almost always an outflow from Macquarie Harbour.
 
The entrance was benign on this occasion as is often the case. It always pays to check the wave buoy off Cape Sorrell to see the height and direction of the swell, and the prediction before leaving the Hummocks.

Rafted up some 18 miles upstream of where the Gordon R. enters Macquarie Harbour
 
After refuelling, taking on provisions and water at Strahan, next we headed up the Gordon River.
 
Strahan itself is great to visit. Below, Wingara III moored adjacent the fuel dock at the Town wharf. Berthing is "free", but is limited.

Rafting up in the Gordon River - cruising in company doesn't get much better than this!
 
Travelling up the Gordon is a unique experience with depths up to 60m just metres from the shore. There are also sand bars and sunken trees to watch for, but the experience is worth it.

​Wingara III heading back to Strahan to get ready for departure to Port Davey.
 
The next part of the circumnavigation takes us further south to Port Davey and the wilds of Bathurst Harbour.
 
John Hall
March 2026 VDL-C

Sporty conditions with shifting winds greeted the thirteen boats in the third race of the West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint on Bass Strait, with Ginan winning overall on AMS.

The thirteen-boat fleet started in daylight from Queenscliff in 10–15 knots of south-westerly wind, passing through Port Phillip Heads into a short, choppy sea state, setting up the first challenge for those on their maiden ocean race.

Cam McKenzie, co-skipper of Ginan, the J111, explained, “The coastal sprints are a great short course (approx. 35nm) and provide the opportunity to race offshore, a great test for new crew”

“This race we had Nes Srijumnong, a current participant in the KISS program (keelboat introduction to sailing savvy), with Jo McKenzie, a graduate of the previous KISS program.

“Nes completed the delivery back from Hobart in January, with this being her first offshore race, which she handled well.”

Ginan led at the start and was first to the rounding mark outside the heads with Shimmer and Cadibarra close behind.

The initial conditions on leg one favoured the heavier Hanse 505, Shimmer, skippered by Steve Twentyman, who took advantage of the pressure by sailing lower and closer to the tack line, rounding the first mark ahead of Ginan and Cadibarra.

With winds continually shifting and easing throughout the day, Ginan’s decision to head east on leg two proved advantageous, allowing them to regain and extend their lead during the second leg and spinnaker run to the finish. Ginan secured first overall on AMS, ORC and PHS, finishing ahead of Cadibarra in second.

The Coastal Sprint Series continues to play a broader role within the ORCV program, providing crews with valuable offshore experience in a manageable, short-course and daylight race format.

Jeremy Capon, newbie skipper of the Wauquiez C40 yacht,  Freeloader, described the race as “fantastic, the perfect way to dip our toe into ocean sailing.

“It was a steep learning curve for all of us, being our first time ocean racing, as we learnt how to set sails in a swell and deal with what the ocean throws at you before taking on a longer or multi-day race.”

Skipper Philip Cox said it “was a challenging day” for his smaller boat Valiant, an Adams 10.6, citing oscillating winds and the added challenge of avoiding an incoming oil tanker soon after the start meant they lost ground to the bigger boats.

Phil added, “A boat shouldn’t be left in the pen; it needs to be sailed. I race because it teaches me how to sail better, and this race allowed three regular crew members the opportunity to try coastal sailing for the first time as well.”

The West Offshore Coastal Sprints continues to underline its value as both a competitive proving ground and a training platform for offshore sailors. With results contributing to the overall Coastal Championship Series alongside the Apollo Bay Race in May, crews are building confidence, capability and cohesion ahead of longer challenges.

For many, the results tell only part of the story. While Ginan takes the honours, the real outcome is a fleet better prepared for the demands of offshore racing, stronger, more experienced, and ready for what Bass Strait has to offer next.

For full results click here https://www.orcv.org.au/results/2025-26/sprints/series.htm?ty=70386

Entries for the Apollo Bay race on May 23rd are open here https://www.orcv.org.au/apollo-bay
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ORCV Media