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TN14 Days 4 and 5 Report

posted Feb 12, 2014, 4:29 AM by Unknown user   [ updated Mar 30, 2016, 3:37 AM by Posts Editor]

Day 4 was blown out.  Some of the fleet gave it best and went home,  but the weather report for day 5 (Tuesday) was auspicious, and so the remainder gathered before 7 am to hoist sail.  The promised northerly breeze turned out to be a northerly zephyr – so those sails didn’t have much to do for a while, and oars were more effective.  Martin and Deb caused some mirth by maintaining a reef  – their Lazy E must be VERY twitchy – but the rest of us did little better with all our canvas set.  Somewhere between Middleton and Gordon we gave up and took a tow past the Gordon Corner, where a beautiful southeasterly sea breeze kicked in.  We rollocked along past Arch Rock, Huon Island and then Garden Island when a decision had to be made about whether or not to stop at Randall’s Bay.  We had the sun on our backs and the sailing bit between our teeth, and chose to push on.  It was a good decision – even the slowest of the boats (Swiftsure) maintained a steady five knots all the way to Port Huon and beyond.  In an audacious attempt to steal a march Swiftsure took the eastern channel to the Egg Island canal, but it turned out to be a scenic  ‘longcut’, and she arrived back at the wharf a little after the other boats.

A great day’s sailing.


TN14 Day Three Report

posted Feb 12, 2014, 4:22 AM by Unknown user   [ updated Feb 12, 2014, 4:22 AM]

Day three was supposed to be a lay day with nothing much happening, but, as everybody in south eastern Tasmania knows, mother nature decreed that Sunday afternoon would be a time when things DID happen.  A storm erupted that most if not all of us at Kettering could not recall the like of.  Certainly, watching a whole shed cartwheeling and sailing past Chris Wilson’s head to come smashing down on a row of boats was not a sight that your correspondent had ever witnessed before.  Tents were ripped and flattened, boats were torn off their moorings and cast up on the rocks,  and the Mermaid Cafe lost its roof.  A wind speed of 130 kph was recorded just across the water at Dennes Point, which sounds about what we experienced.  The good news was that, having accounted for David Ellis and Oscar Metcalfe who were amongst many blown to Bruny, nobody was hurt, and the LBT fleet is still intact.  We will meet in the morning and regroup.




TN 14 Day Two Report

posted Feb 12, 2014, 4:18 AM by Unknown user   [ updated Feb 12, 2014, 4:19 AM]

The forecast was for an early calm and then increasing winds through the day.  The Gordon corner is a good place not to be in a small boat in increasing winds, so a rise before dawn was called for, with only a small expectation that it would be achieved.   However Julian Robertson’s singing has apparently been used to rouse generations of camping school children from their slumbers, and it certainly did the trick for us.  Tents were packed, breakfast eaten and boats rigged and departing by 7.30am.  And, as with yesterday, the forecast proved accurate, with only the lightest of airs to start with, but the with the more adventurous sailors surfing downwind by mid afternoon when they arrived in Kettering.  We onshore had to leap to our stations when John Walduck came hurtling into dock hours ahead of schedule, did a couple of wheelies, threatened to mow down a catamaran before deciding it was too big, and eventually got his mainsail down so that we could get him berthed.  And this was in a Grebe!  The rest of the pack soon followed, and are now safely nestled in the Kettering marina, overlooked by we happy campers (see pic below).


TN 14 Day One Report

posted Feb 12, 2014, 4:15 AM by Unknown user   [ updated Feb 12, 2014, 4:51 AM]

Sometimes, just sometimes, days go according to plan, and Friday was one of those days.  The fleet got away at the stipulated 7.15 (well, 7.45) with the tide and the land breeze, which took us down to Port Huon before dying away in time for morning tea.  We rowed across a mirror past Bullock’s and Brabazon points, stopped for ‘small lunch’ and watched the grey band of a boisterous south westerly change  advance steadily up the river.  Oars were stowed, sails hoisted again, and we were away, tacking speedily down to Randall’s Bay.  Tents were erected, eskies raided, beers drunk, meals cooked, birthday cheers sung to Peter Laidlaw, yack had, then off to bed.  
Will we pay for it tomorrow?  Stay tuned.

An opportunity to join Tawe Nunnugah

posted Jan 31, 2014, 6:38 PM by Unknown user   [ updated Jan 31, 2014, 6:39 PM]

Liz Smith is looking for a crew of two to join her on Tinderbox for our ‘Tawe Nunnugah Lite’ expedition which departs Franklin next Friday morning (7th Feb) on the outgoing tide.  For those who don’t know her, Tinderbox is a fast rower and gentle sailer,  ideal for  short inshore expeditions such as this one.  The picture below shows her moored beside Imagine at Recherche Bay during last year’s Tawe Nunnugah.  If you are interested register here, or contact sec@lbt.org.au

Campsite at Kettering

posted Jan 25, 2014, 11:54 PM by Unknown user   [ updated Jan 25, 2014, 11:58 PM]

We will be staying on a nice level site immediately behind the marina workshop, just down from the pub, and a short walk from the ‘facilities’.  Looks ideal.  Thanks to Julian Robertson for sorting this one out. 

General view of site, with workshop, marina and Kettering harbour to right.

Closer view of site

Access steps leading up to the site from next to marina workshop

Sail TN14 on the Yukon

posted Jan 17, 2014, 11:04 PM by Unknown user   [ updated Jan 17, 2014, 11:19 PM]

For those who prefer a little more comfort.

Enjoy the spectacle of a small boat event from the steady decks of Yukon,
ideal for photography, visual artists.

Depart Franklin on Friday 7th Feb at 7 am calling Randall’s Bay or Gordon.
Embarkation on Thursday evening is possible
ReturningFranklin on Tuesday the 11th Feb 5 pm

Yukon will be taking part in the Kettering wooden boat rally and Sunday afternoon keel boat event.

Price:  $625 (includes $ 125 donation to the living boat trust)
Day rates available.

Participants must be members of the Living Boat Trust Franklin.  

Price includes:

1 bunk cabin / saloon (First come, first served)
Breakfast  / lunch /dinner, coffee and tea .
Saturday BBQ at Kettering will cost an extra $10
Sunday Dinner at Kettering will Cost an extra $30

.BYO: Sleeping bag, drinks and snacks.

For all enquiries   Call David on 044 797 2342.

Planning Checklist

posted Jan 14, 2014, 11:44 AM by Unknown user   [ updated Feb 1, 2014, 9:39 PM]

The committee are using the checklist at Planning as an aid to getting things organised.  Check it out, and if you can suggest improvements let us know: info@tn14.org

Randall’s Bay

posted Jan 14, 2014, 2:38 AM by Unknown user   [ updated Jan 14, 2014, 3:56 AM]

We have had the great good fortune of being able to use John Young’s beach block and shack.  For details see  http://bit.ly/1iMNPPz

TN14 Ultralite

posted Jan 9, 2014, 4:27 PM by Richard Forster   [ updated Jan 12, 2014, 3:44 PM by Unknown user]

The committee met on January 6th and made the decision to alter the format for this year’s Tawe Nunnugah to broaden its appeal.  The major change is that there are now NO FEES – the cost is only $25 per day to cover common organisational expenses.  This is based on participants being largely self sufficient.  You still get to do all the important stuff  – cruising the beautiful inshore waters of the Huon and the DEntrecasteaux Channel in good company (both on and off the water), but you will have to throw your own snag on the barby in the evening.

Here, in summary, is the new plan.

  • The event is now a ‘cruise in company’ for a duration of five days – four days in passage and one at the Wooden Boat Rally.  

  • The schedule, subject to conditions, is as follows.

    • Cast off from the LBT pontoon on Friday 7th 0700

    • Stay at Randalls Bay that night

    • Depart Randalls Saturday 8th  at 0700

    • Stay at Kettering or Gordon that night depending on conditions

    • At Kettering for Wooden Boat Rally Sunday 9th

    • Depart Kettering 7am Monday 10th

    • Spend night at Randalls

    • Tuesday 11th to Franklin

  • Participants will be expected to be self sufficient in all respects.  

  • Participants will be expected to contribute $25 per day to cover common organisational expenses.  There are no fees.

  • Those bringing their own boats to participate in the Wooden Boat Rally will need to register: cost $25.  See http://bit.ly/1cyPdmc for the entry form and conditions.  Boats not participating will need to organise their own anchorage or other accommodation at Kettering.

  • All participants must be financial members of the Living Boat Trust.  Those who wish to be involved but who are not currently members will need to join up.  See the details for doing this at http://bit.ly/1cyTzK6

  • There will be safety boats and minimal land based transport and support, subject to some of the event participants making themselves available to crew these operations.

  • There will be no catering provided.

  • The land transport will consist of a utility towing the food trailer, which can be refrigerated when there is power.  BBQ’s and a small marquee with extension tarp will be carried on the ute and trailer.  There will be space for a medium esky for each person, plus a SMALL amount of general luggage.  

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