This week did not exactly go to plan. We had to bow to the weather gods and stay in Batemans Bay for a few days, before dashing south. But we are now floating around at our favourite Gippsland Lakes.
Between the wet, wild and stormy weather, the strong wind flicking from north to south multiple times, we had to wait a while to get ‘around the corner’ into Victoria… We ended up staying at Batemans Bay for five days, preferring to spend our time parked in the marina, but able to get ashore for walks between showers and with access to fresh produce.
Here is a different view of the marina, just before a storm hit. The sky was getting very dark, the light fading. Wonder what the place would look like if shot in ICM (Intentional Camera Movement technique)? The lines and shapes are pared down, just hinting at our location.
And here is another one, shot from our deck with the early morning sun shining. Freehand, ND6 filter on, sunburst as a bonus.
We had been watching the weather obsessively to decide how and when we would make it back to the Gippsland Lakes. Would it be in several day hops or in one long nonstop passage? The weather windows are so short that you have to use what you can or risk getting stuck for ages. In the end we had the conditions for one big overnighter, although the reality was quite different from the forecast!
The whole passage was a succession of fast downwind or beam sails in rather brisk wind, interrupted by periods of light wind on our nose, with confused seas and both engines pushing us along. It was not our most pleasant return to Victoria!
The highlights: sailing more than we expected, seeing beautiful shy albatrosses and petrels soaring, the sure sign we are back in Southern waters, and a stunning sunset just as we passed Cape Howe into Victoria.
By 11.00am we were in front of the Entrance, and crossed the bar in sedate conditions, trying very hard not to run over the seals playing near the breakwater!
The bar cam captured this image of us, forwarded by cruising mates Colin & Pagen who had been tracking our progress down the coast from afar.
It was a 30-hour journey from Batemans Bay to Lake Entrance, then a further 3 hours to a mooring at Duck Arm, for a well-earned rest and recovery. These long passages take a lot out of us. We chose to spend a couple of days by ourselves, in these gentle, calm, dreamy surrounds, before coming into Paynesville.
We are spending several days in the Gippsland Lakes, our favourite haunt in Victoria. It gives us time to sort out a few things with the sale of Brunswick, the work on the Jan Juc house and on Anui. Remember the water maker membranes? They are here, ready to install! Of course we are also catching up with friends, just chilling while we wait for our guest Trevor to join us and the weather to allow us to continue slowly towards Melbourne.
Sv-Anui 
Yay! Well done on getting around the corner. The flip flopping wind seemed endless as you were tracking south.
So glad to hear the sale of Brunswick is progressing and you don’t have far to go now to reach Werribee.
Have fun installing those membranes! You’re pros at that now!!
We’re still revolving around Sydney Harbour with the wind and today is a haircut day on the other side of the city so I’m hoping the drizzle will let up.
Enjoy you’re tranquility in the Lakes ❤️
Hiya Helene,
The flip flopping is a good way of describing the weather of late! The switches were savage, particularly during the night: 5 to 30 in a split second on the beam, then 15 on the nose… chaotic!
We have literally and figuratively turned the corner with our arrival at the Lakes… over the hardest part of the trip and the organisation for the houses.
Welcome back to Victoria
Thanks, Murray. Freezing down here… 7 degrees this morning! Brrr 🥶
Well, you are THERE! The trek of which you were not quite the ‘master’ is over and practicalities can be taken care of. Rah-rah! Have some favourite photos outside of watching you learning new photographic techniques. Absolutely love the sunset near Cape Howe and those gorgeous playing seals not giving a darn you were there . . . Trust there are no unexpected holdups now on land and looking forwards to next week . . . be well . . .
Morning Eha,
Good to hear which photos are your favourite. Passing Cape Howe at dusk, we were hoping the stormy skies would colour up and they did! Momentous and symbolic…
And the seals were too busy playing to notice that big blue boat coming at them. I saw a couple surface looking quite startled 😳 as they saw us, jumped away hurriedly and dived down deep! Made me forget how green I felt after the rock and rolly night.
It’s been a great adventure to get back south, wow! Anui looks great entering the pass into the harbor. Harbour. I think the blurred photos are very beautiful!
Thank you John, we are enjoying our return south, except for the weather! But cold moody days do give opportunities for atmospheric photography. Trying to go beyond the blur … to express impressions.
Got it, and its been cold by Las Vegas standards here too which made for some excellent moody mountain and cloud photos. Be well! 🇦🇺
Wellcome back to Lakes Chris & Wade.
Lou and I would like to catch up but recognise you won’t be here long and we are currently back and forth to Melbourne. We will both be back in Metung on Tuesday next week. Probably miss you this time.
Take care
Tom
Hi Tom, yes we are floating around at least until Tuesday, when we are picking up a friend in Paynesville in the afternoon, then weather dependant for a departure. We will stay in touch and message you privately.
Love the ICM picture of Duck Arm which we are hoping to see for ourselves in March and congrats on sale of your house. We will no doubt be in touch later to pick your brains a bit more about Gippsland Lakes. Hoping to have a couple of weekends away on our little boat before Xmas , then a short trip to Melbourne mid Jan to see both our kids who will be there and take in some of the tennis and then 2 weeks in Moreton Bay in Feb on the big boat before our SUV trip south.
Busy time for you for the next few months! Will you be taking the little boat to Gippsland or is it Antidote? Either way, plenty of great spots to explore! Happy to help with some info.
Glad you enjoy the ICM photos… this type of photography really appeals to me… more freedom of expression than the traditional photography.
Little boat to Gippsland attached to SUV.
Envious of your photographic technique. Most of my pictures are UCM (unintentional camera movement0.
😂 and believe it or not trying to do blurry in a good way isn’t as easy as you’d think… lots of photos end up in the rubbish bin for me!
Sunset picture of Cape Howe had a max epic serenity vibe!
Thanks again for sharing your journey, we were again with you in spirit ….
We’re living in sub zero temps at the moment, so rather envious of your upcoming Victorian summer!
We used to like the ‘marked’ seasons some 10 years ago… struggling with the drop in temperature although we do sleep better! And yes, passing Cape Howe at sunset… momentous as well as stunning!
Pictures are beautiful! Feels surreal to see the masts like that before the storm hits.and then the sunburst. You get to see the wildness and the gentleness of nature out there. Stay safe, healthy, and happy while sailing.
Glad you like the photos Esther, and your choice of words to describe the extremes of nature they capture.
Thank you! Your pictures show me a part of nature shots photos that I don’t have access to see personally in my experiences. Happy sailing.