Time to Sail Home - January 2011

In early 2011 we prepared Erica to sail southwards from Sydney for the first time, heading home to Adelaide with owner/skipper Phil at the helm. Peta decided to fly home because the sail from Mackay to Sydney had been extremely rough in the lead up to the 2010-11 "Summer of Storms" in Queensland. The sail home was meant to be a "Boys own" adventure, with Michael and Denis joining the crew in Sydney, and what an adventure it became. We departed the CYCA Rushcutters Bay on 12 January 2011 at 0710hours, and arrived RSAYS Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide on 27 January 2011 at 1215hours. Along the way we had an extended stay in Lakes Entrance, Victoria, while Phil travelled by car to Melbourne for a funeral. After that short break, we continued homewards. The weather for this entire delivery trip varied between rough seas/no wind, rough sea/gale conditions, calm sea/fog and occasionally, some really great sailing conditions with dolphins dancing at the bow...

Very bleak day departing Sydney






Weather improved part of day one!







Finished the day with head winds and rain entering Jervis Bay at dusk







Life at Sea on way to Eden







Fog at Gabo Island - Visibility 100 metres







Sleepy Crew on last night before Lakes Entrance