A horror week for Australian boating

[BlueSun]

It has been such a tragic Easter for the Aussie boating community with wild weather all over the country. We send our sincere condolances to the families that must be going through hell right now.

As well as the tragic loss of life, boats in the Tasmania Three Peaks Race ran aground, six men were rescued in Bass Straight after their yacht started taking on water, and now we hear an empty liferaft has washed up in NSW with evidence that it had been recently inhabited

We are worried about fellow CF members Banyandah who headed to Port Davey on the Tassie South Coast in March. Communications down there are pretty much limited to HF but if anyone has heard from them, please let us know.

All this has really brought home just how dangerous the life we have chosen can be sometimes.

Stay safe everyone.
Caitlin

Yachtie dead after falling overboard in high seas
Ocean deaths mar Easter holidays
Authorities baffled by empty raft found off Sydney

[Boatguy30]

Perhaps time to get a bit more serious about the carbon trading scheme???

[BlueSun]

Hm. No doubt the weather has been quite extreme the last two years. And before that Australia was in drought for 10 years! Anyway, lets not turn this into a political discussion...

I haven't been able to find out much more about the yachtie that was lost overboard in Tassie. Police dont seem sure whether or not he was wearing a life jacket.

[Wand]

And Venus Bay also...Police find body of missing teenager Stuart Crompton after Friday's boating tragedy | Adelaide Now

...alll victims it seems of the same vigorous front as it moved across the south of the continent.

[BlueSun]

We were tucked into Pt Esperance and apart from a handful of 20kt gusts we hardly felt the strong winds.

I see Jessica Watson's team won the Three Peaks Race. Congratulations to the team! Very glad the organisers delayed the second leg of the race (once a few boats got into trouble... wow Im cynical today) to ensure they got to Hobart safely.

[GordMay]

Condolences, and best wishes to all in harm's way.

[Holby]

My thoughts to all, involved and their families from a fellow three peaks yacht racer in UK. ( successful completion in 2011) and who is doing it again next year.
Sail safe and sail fast.
Dave H.

[sctpc]

Originally Posted by BlueSun

We are worried about fellow CF members Banyandah who headed to Port Davey on the Tassie South Coast in March. Communications down there are pretty much limited to HF but if anyone has heard from them, please let us know.

Jack and Jude are fine
Jack and Jude - Life afloat: Again To Never-Never Land great adventure as usual.

[BlueSun]

Originally Posted by sctpc

Jack and Jude are fine
Jack and Jude - Life afloat: Again To Never-Never Land great adventure as usual.

Thanks sctpc! We were glad to get their newsletter the other day - sounds like a great trip. We are heading to Port Davey ourselves tomorrow - very exciting!

[Jim Cate]

Hmmm,
Guess we were fortunate, for we just arrived in Eden having left Hobart last Monday. Had a decent crossing of the ditch after turning back at Eddystone Point Thursday when we encountered 30+ knot headwinds. Listened to the 3 Peaks boats trying to get through the Denison canal, running aground and having to resort to engine use.

All in all not a nice period of boating weather.

Oh... it's LOTS warmer here than it was in Tassie! Onward towards the sun!

Cheers,'

Jim

[sctpc]

You take care Sydney is sending down crap weather.