a fine clear moonlit night with light variable winds , and cleared Pon Phillip entrance at 8.30 am . At 11 . 20 we were abeam of Cape Schanck Lighthouse , and it became necessary to take all the way off the yacht lo release kelp from the leading edge of the keel . The sea was full ofkelp and the log became inoperative becauseofthis . At
5 pm the wind had turned south and we were close reaching under full main , genoa and jib . With the wind steadily increasing up to 20 mph , rounded Wilsons Promontory half-mile distant at 2.30 am on 17 January .
At 6 am the spinnaker was hoisted and the yacht was surfing with the wind turning south and a heavy swell . At noon we had cove . red 75 miles in the last 9 1 ( 2 hours and h ' ld averaged IO knots over the last 3 1 ( 2 hours . At I pm the wind staned to haul to the east , andfresheningESE to 20 knots , we sailed under a full main jib . The wind increasing to 25 , the going became very wet , and at5 pm we entered Lakes Entrance in a very confused but negotiable sea with the motor on . We Jay alongside the ferry wharf until 12.30 am when , with a wind shift to the nonh , we decided to set sail , cleared the Entrance in a moderate sea and heavy swell . A very rough passage and all hands were glad ro be clear .
With a nonherly wind and a strong wind warning current for the area , we were abeam of Gabo Island in a rough . sea and nonh winds of 25 knots at 8.30 pm . These conditions persisted throughout the night , but at 6.30 am on the 20January the wind dropped away to a zephyr and we arrived at Eden under motor and sail for the last few miles .
Left Eden at 4 pm and , with the wind south at 25 knots . we bowled along under a full main and poled-outgenoa . later managing to hoist a spinnaker and arrived at Ulladulla Harbour at9 am on the 2lsL Thoroughly enjoyed breakfast in the town and left at J 1.45 am , passing Point Perpendicular at 2.45 pm , Wollongong Head at 9.35 pm , and Cape Bailey ( Botany Bay ) at 3 am on uie 22nd .
We arrived happily at the club at Pittwater at 11.30 am on the 22nd .
This voyage 10 Melbourne and back was indeed notewonhy . and it is interesting that apart from a small tear in the spinnaker on the way to Melbourne and a few pop rivers that ' popped ' where the spreaders attach ro the mast , Saltash suffered no damage at all . The pump was never used and the only water that came on board was spray , and this was dried up with a sponge .
Rodney Sharp on the spinnaker brace on
SalttJJh II .
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