The successful completion of the inaugural Club Marine Cruise to Hobart was celebrated at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania last Friday night after all boats arrived safely in Hobart by the alloted time of 1200h Thursday 5 February. There was the traditional quiet little drink and dinner at the Shipwrights Arms that night and a dinner and formal presentation at RYCT Friday night.

Five boats participated including the legendary Plum Crazy with veteran owner/skipper Tig Thomas, Brian Todd’s brand new Marten 49 Suesea, visiting U.S. yacht the 52’ steel cutter Maamalni skippered by Suzan Nettleship, David Champtaloup’s  beautiful and famous Tasmanian built boat Caprice of Huon, and also from the CYCA Denis Doyle and Lynne Smith’s Sextant with both owners aboard for the cruise.

All yachts found their way via different ports of call and stopovers for weather and just plain cruising with ports of call including Bermagui, Eden, Wineglass Bay, Schouten Passage, Triabunna, Maria Island, Port Arthur and Dunalley canal all being on the list. Of special interest is the fact that Caprice of Huon (1.9m draft), Plum Crazy (1.73m ) and Maamalni (2.5m draft) all successfully transited Marion Narrows into Blackman Bay and through the Dunalley canal North to South without incident although Maamalni claims to have improved the depth of the channel part way through Blackman Bay.

There was a large number of boats encountered along the way making their way to the Wooden Boat Festival, either to participate or just simply visit, and to join the RYCT’s Circumnavigation of Tasmania commencing 11th February. Some joined up and cruised together or simply celebrated cruising on board each other’s boats with the accepted feasts of the plentiful seafood available along the way.

Many stories of interest are yet to be told and will come to you in the future. – Denis Doyle, Sextant