Hobart

2 December 2024

Hobart

Five days ago, we departed from Sydney, but our journey didn’t head straight out to sea. Instead, we began with a scenic tour through the iconic Sydney Harbour. We sailed under the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge, past the world-famous Opera House, and navigated behind Clarke Island and Shark Island before heading out into open waters.

Once we left the harbour, we set sail and enjoyed a beautiful evening of sailing until the wind died down. The sea had a considerable swell, which took some getting used to for our guest crew as the ship rolled with the waves. After about a day of motor sailing, the wind returned early in the morning, and after breakfast, we hoisted all sails. As the day progressed, the wind strengthened, and we had to reef the sails for the first time.

The weather forecast for the third night of our voyage predicted strong easterly winds of up to 35 knots (force 7 to 8). To ensure we were well-prepared for the night, we spent the afternoon further reefing the mainsail and schooner sail and lowering the mizzen sail. With a reduced sail plan and fully prepared, we sailed at an average speed of 8.7 knots toward Tasmania.

The following morning, the wind eased, and after a gybe, we set more sail and adjusted our course toward our destination. However, when we expected to see land, we sailed into a dense fog bank that obscured everything from view. It wasn’t until we rounded Tasman Island, the southeastern tip of Tasmania, that the fog lifted as suddenly as it had appeared. The view of Tasmania’s dramatic cliffs was nothing short of spectacular and a true highlight of the voyage. After spending a calm night anchored in a bay near Hobart, we sailed into the port of Hobart this morning. In the coming week, we will welcome a new group of Darwin Leaders aboard for another adventure.