Dec 11, 2005 - 1930hrs UTC

1930hrs 11 Dec 2005 UTC 43’36”S 145’50”E Ref 644

What a dawn! Tasmania’s ragged dragon’s tooth peaks grey in the mist with brilliant pinky orange sky and streaky clouds with little commas and fronds like flames, Maatsuyker light flashing its welcome and the Mewstone ominously poking up out to sea.

Wind still as on the nose as it could possibly be and not enough of it. Big swell over the shelf and into shallower water and we are motor-sailing in towardsSouthWestCapewith 49 miles to go toSE Cape. ETAEstimated Time of Arrival SEC still about 1500 unless the wind changes. That means the loop will not be closed before midnight if we are lucky – sad if we have to go past the Iron PotA small island lying close to the south-eastern coast of Tasmania around the entrance to the River DerwentThe Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. Its large estuary forms the port of Hobart. . It is the site of Tasmania’s first lighthouse. at night because there will be no photos and I think it may be unwise to fire off the white flares as well – we will check with Hobart Port Control as we close the Pot.

For anyone interested, I think there is a photo of Berri sailing out past the Pot on January 10 on the website. [ed: this one I think…] It’s a light on a little stone tower on a rock on the north side of the entrance to the DerwentThe Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. Its large estuary forms the port of Hobart. – Not sure about the origin of the name but I think Malcolm will know. He is – we think – waiting around the corner at SE CapeThe southernmost point of the main island of Tasmania to wave us in in Wildfire and the local BOGgersBrolga Owners Chris and Colin in their two Brolgas Poitrel and Caelidh (Sorry, Colin, that’s the best I can do without extensive research) might be there too – maybe the mighty Quetzalcoatl with his face aflame as well. Pippin won’t be as David is duty radio bod today at Tascoast radio, but we will talk to him in a couple of hours.

Hoooley doooley. We’re not there yet – the ExaminerShe who asks awkward questions of the crew and tests them with difficult tasks. struts the course with flail at the ready and we’re waiting for the Vogon poets to start their assault on the bus shelterExplanation here – scant protection, we fear and no sustaining alcohol.