The assembled fleet of more than 30 boats departed RYCT on 11 February 2026. Some of the “bolters” had departed in the days leading up to the 11th, and were already on track up the East Coast. Remember - it’s not a race!
Passing Cape Raoul always inspires. Dare I say it - the iconic geology cannot be mistaken.
Many in the fleet arrived at Canoe Bay in Fortescue and after a calm overnight awoke to a beautiful sunny day!
Passing Cape Raoul always inspires. Dare I say it - the iconic geology cannot be mistaken.
Many in the fleet arrived at Canoe Bay in Fortescue and after a calm overnight awoke to a beautiful sunny day!
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Cape Raoul with the “Hole in the Wall” distant - the gap between Tasman Is. and Tasman Peninsula CanoeBay in behind the wreck
With a spirited Westerly at up to 30 knots, many set sail further north to Prosser Bay and then Wineglass Bay where the first of many BBQ’s ashore was enjoyed.
Shelly Beach at Prosser Bay - Orford was an easy stop picking up one of the many MAST visitor moorings provided at many locations around Tasmania. MAST provide great services and guides for just about every anchorage, and a chartlet for the Marion Sands - the north entry/exit for the Dennison Canal. Interestingly, the chartlet says “NOT FOR NAVIGATION” which kind of defeats the purpose of providing the chartlet don’t you think?
Wineglass was, as always brilliant - one of the best beaches in the world. It was great to actually catch up new and old friends.
Wingara III had an “all girl crew” - Lee Renfree from QCYC the founder of the KISS program, and Patti Hunt from Southport YC who has sailed with my brother and me extensively.
With a spirited Westerly at up to 30 knots, many set sail further north to Prosser Bay and then Wineglass Bay where the first of many BBQ’s ashore was enjoyed.
Shelly Beach at Prosser Bay - Orford was an easy stop picking up one of the many MAST visitor moorings provided at many locations around Tasmania. MAST provide great services and guides for just about every anchorage, and a chartlet for the Marion Sands - the north entry/exit for the Dennison Canal. Interestingly, the chartlet says “NOT FOR NAVIGATION” which kind of defeats the purpose of providing the chartlet don’t you think?
Wineglass was, as always brilliant - one of the best beaches in the world. It was great to actually catch up new and old friends.
Wingara III had an “all girl crew” - Lee Renfree from QCYC the founder of the KISS program, and Patti Hunt from Southport YC who has sailed with my brother and me extensively.
Beach BBQ at Wineglass Bay
Lee and Patti and me - morning tea - fresh baked scones!
I had made the comment that I had never caught a crayfish in Tasmania despite carrying a craypot and trying very hard! I am the grandson of a cray fisherman from Flinders (Vic) so this was both annoying and embarrassing!
Someone heard me and next thing we were given two beautiful crays courtesy of Robert on Skye - a local DSS yacht on the cruise. One thing I had not forgotten was how to cook them!
Lee and Patti and me - morning tea - fresh baked scones!
I had made the comment that I had never caught a crayfish in Tasmania despite carrying a craypot and trying very hard! I am the grandson of a cray fisherman from Flinders (Vic) so this was both annoying and embarrassing!
Someone heard me and next thing we were given two beautiful crays courtesy of Robert on Skye - a local DSS yacht on the cruise. One thing I had not forgotten was how to cook them!
| Above photo: Cray delivery at Wineglass! | Above photo: The old cray in the fry pan trick! |
We planned a full meal with the crays, but alas once we had shelled and readied them, we just had to eat them! Magnificent.
From Wineglass we made further north to Eddystone Point and the beautiful granite lighthouse. Even though it was blowing from the NE at 10 knots, counterintuitively the north side of Eddystone at Picnic Corner was very calm and better than the south side as there was a 1m Southerly swell making it very rolly and uncomfortable.
From Wineglass we made further north to Eddystone Point and the beautiful granite lighthouse. Even though it was blowing from the NE at 10 knots, counterintuitively the north side of Eddystone at Picnic Corner was very calm and better than the south side as there was a 1m Southerly swell making it very rolly and uncomfortable.
Picnic Corner on the North side of Eddystone. Namadgi 3 from the Canberra Ocean Racing Club
Leaving Picnic Corner early to cross Bank’s St. heading for Spike Bay
Next stop Spike Bay on Clarke Island. They say one definition of cruising is “fixing your boat in exotic places”. True! I discovered a leak in the fwd. cabin found to be one stanchion bases requiring removal, cleaning, reshaping the bed for the stainless plate underneath (there was a bump in the glass work causing the plate not to sit flat against the deck, most likely why it had leaked!) and then refixing with Sikaflex. Oh the joy of having a dry cabin again. Sometimes it feels like overkill to take so many tools and bits and pieces for repairs, but when you think about it - its no use sitting in the garage at home when you need it! I was able to help one of our participants out with a Hole Saw - needed so he could access something out of reach otherwise!
From Spike Bay we made for the North Coast Tas and had a terrific sail in 20-25 knots to West Sandy Point for the night. After a Rolly night, we departed early for the Tamar.
As it usually is with yachties, we had 24 booked for dinner at the Waterfront Hotel, and 38 turned up! It was a great night. The next day we were involved in a rescue of one of our fleet when their steering failed entering the Tamar requiring a tow from the local “Salena Rose” - a former ports workboat. It was a difficult rescue as she had drifted into very shallow water and couldn’t arrest the drift with the anchor holding poor in the kelp beds.
Leaving Picnic Corner early to cross Bank’s St. heading for Spike Bay
Next stop Spike Bay on Clarke Island. They say one definition of cruising is “fixing your boat in exotic places”. True! I discovered a leak in the fwd. cabin found to be one stanchion bases requiring removal, cleaning, reshaping the bed for the stainless plate underneath (there was a bump in the glass work causing the plate not to sit flat against the deck, most likely why it had leaked!) and then refixing with Sikaflex. Oh the joy of having a dry cabin again. Sometimes it feels like overkill to take so many tools and bits and pieces for repairs, but when you think about it - its no use sitting in the garage at home when you need it! I was able to help one of our participants out with a Hole Saw - needed so he could access something out of reach otherwise!
From Spike Bay we made for the North Coast Tas and had a terrific sail in 20-25 knots to West Sandy Point for the night. After a Rolly night, we departed early for the Tamar.
As it usually is with yachties, we had 24 booked for dinner at the Waterfront Hotel, and 38 turned up! It was a great night. The next day we were involved in a rescue of one of our fleet when their steering failed entering the Tamar requiring a tow from the local “Salena Rose” - a former ports workboat. It was a difficult rescue as she had drifted into very shallow water and couldn’t arrest the drift with the anchor holding poor in the kelp beds.
The only way was to send the dinghy out with a tow rope as it was too shallow to get closer
You can see the kelp amassed on the anchor! No wonder she was unable to anchor
This in part is what “cruising in company” is about - help when you need it! A great job by Rowly who owns Salena Rose and the crew of Vivacious - the Bayles boys who took off in the dinghy to get the tow rope to the yacht. After three hours we were back safely docked at PDYC with damage to be assessed when the yacht is slipped. Once again, a cascading series of failures led to a serious grounding - as they do say “from little things, big things grow”!
Our stay at Beauty Point was capped off by a fabulous dinner at TYC with great camaraderie and catching up of the crews! This was followed the next day by a trip up-river to Marion’s Vineyard for lunch - a beautiful spot and worth the hike up for the views! We had to anchor off, and dinghy in, then walk the hill to a fantastic grazing platter spread with excellent wines and hospitality!
You can see the kelp amassed on the anchor! No wonder she was unable to anchor
This in part is what “cruising in company” is about - help when you need it! A great job by Rowly who owns Salena Rose and the crew of Vivacious - the Bayles boys who took off in the dinghy to get the tow rope to the yacht. After three hours we were back safely docked at PDYC with damage to be assessed when the yacht is slipped. Once again, a cascading series of failures led to a serious grounding - as they do say “from little things, big things grow”!
Our stay at Beauty Point was capped off by a fabulous dinner at TYC with great camaraderie and catching up of the crews! This was followed the next day by a trip up-river to Marion’s Vineyard for lunch - a beautiful spot and worth the hike up for the views! We had to anchor off, and dinghy in, then walk the hill to a fantastic grazing platter spread with excellent wines and hospitality!
Photos: The dinner at TYC - a not to be missed event! Heading up-river under the Batman Bridge to Marion’s Vineyard
Photos: Marion’s Vineyard - beautiful. Wingara III at anchor below the Vineyard
That’s it from Wingara III as we, and the fleet head for the Hummocks on the NW Coast…
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