Cast Off

APRIL 2nd 2012 This is the day that we embarked on Dreamweaver bound, eventually, we hope for the Bay of Islands in New Zealand and a Rally to the Pacific. It sounds to easy to say, we cast off our mooring lines in pen 211 for the last time and sailed out of the marina at 0200am in the hope of catching slack water at the heads at 0840. For this is a journey that began at the end of our last voyage up the coastline of Eastern Australia bound on that occasion for Lizard Island Far North Queensland. That adventure made us realize our own sailing capabilities but it acted as a catalyst for another and longer voyage.

We knew we needed to make some additions to Dreamweaver. The list was long and in the end after a couple of years of deliberating some of these have been achieved. We have a stronger engine for the tender - but no new tender, there is now a Tohatsu 5Hp two stroke, a crane to lift it on board, a secondary chart plotter in the cockpit, radar, and importantly a Katadyn water maker which will ensure good quality water wherever we go. (insert your own joke about the Victorian Desal Plant!). We already had solar panels to help with the electricity needs of the boat and have chosen to supplement this with a small one kilowat honda generator. Other areas have bee tweaked, everything that can be checked has been checked, the boat has been antifouled, engine serviced and hopefully everything possible done.

We left the Marina on a still night with a chill in the air and stars above us. Jonathan, Roger and myself contemplating the trip to Eden and on to New Zealand. Some excitement, much apprehension but some relief that we were at last on our way, no work for six months and no more preparation. We exited the heads of Port Phillip Bay without any worries with the exception of avoiding both in and outgoing shipping at the time. One particular bulk carrier seeming intent on motoring as close as he could to the Four Fingers West channel. A gentle broad reach along the coastline past Western Port Bay and heading towards the 'Prom.