South Pacific yachts - still time to cruise to Tasmania this summer

by Nancy Knudsen on 13 Dec 2010 Yachts currently in the South Pacific and south of the cyclone belt still have time join a rendezvous rally cruising the Australian coastline to Tasmania at the sweetest time of the year. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), these days better known for its racing, especially for its grueling Sydney to Hobart race, is also rendezvous cruising to Tasmania.

The cruising plan, commencing in Sydney, is to enjoy the beauty of the stops along the way, and then choose an easy weather window to cross Bass Strait.

The cruising group of the club have established a series of Rendezvous points for boats to meet, mingle and share stories along the way. The planned departure is between the 12th and the 17th January, and the planned arrival in Hobart is between the fourth and the 10th February.

Rendezvous Points include Twofold Bay, Triabunna and Maria Island. It seems a great way to cruise in company to one of Australia's most scenic cruising grounds, at the perfect time of year.
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The Hobart 2011 schedule is very informal. It is offered as an invitation to individual boats who, depending on their own cruising plans, may elect to opt in or out of visiting the Rendezvous Points at the time suggested.

Hobart 2011 is timed to allow participating boats to arrive in Hobart in advance of the the Wooden Boat Festival, 11 to 14 February 2011 and the Van Diemen’s Land Circumnavigation which commences 16 February 2011.

Major communications for participating boats will be internet based using SKIPR.NET < http://skipr.net/> Boats are able to register on a HOBART 2011 specific webpage. For the duration of Hobart 2011 SKIPR.NET will be available for the posting of daily online logs including boat position, for the review of weather information and as a general communications link.

Weather forecasts from Roger 'Clouds' Badham will be posted twice daily to the webpage. Weather forecasts will be area specific and will provide information about the weather windows for departure from the various rendezvous points.

When organiser Denis Doyle's yacht Sextant is at sea Denis will operate an HF Cruise Net.

An excellent Passage Planner prepared by Rob Starkey is available to all boats at < http://skipr.net/goodies/ >. Other useful cruising information including tide predictions and a selected list of weather websites can be accessed from the same address.

It is recommended that boats requiring assistance with the preparation of their yachts for cruising refer to the RPAYC Coral Coast 2001 website

An information night has already been held (on 2nd December) but to be put in contact with all the other boats going, for just for further information contact Denis Doyle at dddoyle@bigpond.net.au or David Champtaloup at davidchamptaloup@mac.com