Donna and Pete On Track

Wild Wave - Sydney to Hobart yacht once half owned by yours truly I had a hankering to spend New Years Eve at Constitution Dock with the Sydney to Hobart revellers. The thought came to me while on board the Spirit of Tasmania - that I was in the right place at the right time to finally attend that event. A long time ago when my kids were babies; their Dad, Ian and I had a 47ft Tasmanian built huon pine yacht, Wild Wave. She was launched in 1951 and sailed in the 1953 Sydney to Hobart, was first across the line, 4th on handicap, but was disqualified for something that happened on the start line. While we owned the boat in the mid nineties, she was invited to compete as an historical boat in the 50th anniversary of the race Boxing Day 1994. The kids and I, and from memory, my sister Shayne, were supposed to meet the boat in Hobart at the end of the race, enjoy the celebrations of the race and New Year, and then sail home with Ian. Sadly this never eventuated as the boat wa...

Bird parking rock Our beach Lucky for us the family who camped all around us at Sloop Reef was a gorgeous couple of sisters from Hobart, their husbands, kids, dogs and various other hangers on who camp there for three weeks every Christmas and have done for decades. Fiona, Pippa etc were warm and inclusive and totally feral in a good way. Every time we needed to drive in or out of the camp, several awnings had to be dropped, poles and ropes, to make room for us to pass. Never a hassle for them. We swam once or twice a day in crystal clear water, rock hopped, and the wind settled down at bit.  Down on the beach Pete the firebug doing his thing Eastern view from our camp                           Roadside view up Lottah Road Lottah Road up to the Blue Tier                 foxglove (weeds)                 The sisters recommended a few places ...