What crazy weather we are having! SW storm, NE gale, Westerly gale… the only constant is the strong wind and quickly moving weather systems. We left East Telegraph Bay on Three Hummock Island after a Westerly gale eased, and had a beautiful sail to Stanley, a fishing village on the far North West coast of Tasmania.
Sailing to Stanley, with the Nut in the distance
The harbour is small and shelters the Hursey fishing fleet. We were the only yacht there and tied up to a cray boat so we would not have to worry about wind, surge, or three meter tides! This time we were sheltering from a NE gale one day, and a Westerly blow the next.
Tied up against a cray boat
But we have enjoyed the change of environment and pace. Stanley is a lovely historical village nestled under the
Nut, a sheer bluff which is the remnant of an ancient volcanic plug. We have enjoyed being tourists. We have sampled the seafood, have spent a bit of Bengie’s inheritance on stunning craft work, and have gone for long walks up the Nut of course and to Highfield to get panoramic views of the region. We have done some domestic things too like the laundry and replenished our supply of fresh fruit and vegies. We have also picked up replacement parts we had ordered for our starboard engine. We had a broken gear cable and a lever that went for a swim back at the Hunter Islands! Don’t ask… Let’s just say it made manoeuvring in the harbour interesting, but all is good now.
We are today heading off to Rocky Cape and are likely to spend Christmas in the Port Sorell area. If we don’t send another post before Christmas, we wish you all the best for the festive season and hope you have as enjoyable a time as us.
Here are a few photos showing the moody weather and lovely views of Stanley.
45 knots blow at East Telegraph Bay, Three Hummock Island
Calmer conditions at East Telegraph Bay, just before leaving for Stanley
Sailing to Stanley, with the Nut in the distance
Stanley’s Nut from the ocean
Stanley fishing harbour
Tied up against a cray boat
Stanley’s main street
Stanley’s quaint shops
Stanley and the Nut from Highfield
Highfields ruins just above Stanley
Rocky Cape, our next destination
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Sv-Anui 
We have been having some wild weather at Paynesville / Gippsland too. Port Sorrell will be nice.
Hi Doug – just anchored at Burgess Cove, around from Rocky Cape. What a spectacular place to come to! Here overnight then onto Port Sorell. Life is pretty good even if it is arctic here!
The nut is amazing! What images of old and solitary land. Imagine being there in 1887 when they put up that store. From a UK/Irish perspective, the weather in Northern Tassie probably seemed quite mild. What a tiny harbour. Was takeiteasy lying on the sand at low-tide or is it an “all-tide” harbour? As they say, “Time, tide and wind wait for no-one” so take the breaks in the weather as a blessing and relish the free and unchecked power of the storms (hopefully from a safe harbour!)
Hi Craig Stanley harbour has 3m at low water. It is an active fishing port for crays and scallops in particular. We’ve just had a gorgeous sail early this morning to spectacular Rocky Cape. This is the sort of sail and anchorage that confirms how much we love doing this.
Might be arctic there but the temperatures here are climbing daily with next tuseday forcast to be 40 deg and so hot Michelle is not game to leave the animals till it cools down. So sailing is on hold.
Farming sounds much the same as sailing; it’s all weather dependent! Are you getting away for your 4 days after Xmas?
Michelle may stay home on the farm, however Madeline and her boyfriend Tim will come sailing for the week. As the week unfolds the sailing plans will evolve in line with the saying ” crusiing plans are written in the sand at low tide”.
You like that say don’t you! You’re learning!
That saying helps me come to terms with not being able to make solid sailing plans.
Looks like a spectacular journey so far. Cheers!
Hi Robin – it is and despite the very changeable weather we are exploring and discovering.
It is a nice place Stanley glad you enjoyed it. I am glad I am not there, As you know I hate the cold. We are enjoying nice warm weather here, although it is cloudy today. Continue to enjoy your trip. Going to Di,s today. Have a great Christmas love Sue xxx
Merry Christmas to you Sue. We are sailing towards Port Sorell where we are likely to be for Christmas. Had a beautiful overnight anchorage at Rocky Cape, a spectacular place. All going well. Take care 💕💕
Have fun in the new Port. Cheers Sue
Not a port as such, but a small town on the Rubicon Estuary. We won’t be in town but anchored somewhere quiet in that estuary, which is significant birdlife – waders and especially oystercatchers!