Ingenue (Bass Strait) Heemskirk Melbourne - Hobart

by Ingenue crew in Bass Strait on 28 Dec 2007 Here we are reporting from a benign 'Bass Strait' competing in Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart and the in pursuit of our personal worst record for a Portsea to Launceston crossing! Our usual average for the distance is around 30hrs, but we are now 29hrs out from the start and still have 60nm to go to dip the Launceston finish line and proceed to Hobart. The sun is shining but the wind has gone missing.

Yesterday's start at Portsea was an exciting event with a fleet of 83 boats Jostling for position on the line between the tall ship Enterprise and the Portsea Pier, the buzz enhanced by the choppers circling overhead. In glorious sunny weather and light variable SE winds, the fleet struggled to find clear air and the occasional puff of wind to get their spinnakers flying and make their way across to the turning mark at Queenscliff, before beating out through Port Phillip Heads at the beginning of slack water flood. The forecast light W/SW winds failed to eventuate and we found ourselves zigzagging down the rhumbline with the SE on the nose. Following a warm sunny day, the clear open skies of the evening produced cool conditions.

Our hearts were warmed by the sight of a fabulous blood orange moon rising out of the east, bringing with it a favourable swing of the wind through E into the ENE, allowing us to make our way back on course. Unfortunately this placed us directly in the path of the Pacific Explorer seismic survey vessel towing cables, requiring an easterly detour with several hours of wind again on the nose until we had cleared its path.

At daybreak, with only 6kn breeze, we launched the symmetrical kite, but struggled to keep it filling with the boat's rocking motion in the 0.5m swell which at times became quite confused.

As usual, the start of lunch preparations resulted in a significant increase in wind speed and vastly improved boat speeds to 8 knots! Having consumed Beef stroganoff and couscous whilst trimming spinnakers, the wind has once again died and we are back to wallowing. Such are the vagaries of ocean racing.

Whilst traversing the Strait we have been boarded by uninvited guests, who have transformed the cockpit to the 'flybridge' and are hopefully planning to migrate permanently to Tasmania.

The barometer is falling slowly but the promised weak cold front is not due for another 36hrs so we are deliberating about 'what to wear' for the ship from the sail wardrobe.

Hopefully our next email will report better progress.