Voyage Planning Rules Our Lives

As I write, we’re in the midst of an intense decision. No telling what we’ll do. It’s getting colder down here at 43 south, and when the virus alarm bells first rang, we made bookings on a Jetstar flight back to our shack in the Northern Rivers of NSW, where our kids and little ones live. In less than a day, we madly packed the boat for its winter stay. Then, just as we finished, our flight was cancelled. That put us in a pickle as no future flights were offered.

First, we looked at returning home in a campervan as the Spirit of Tasmania was still crossing the Bass Strait. But then the borders started closing. Staying the winter in Macquarie Harbour, where water can freeze in July and August, would risk pneumonia or something just as deadly, so we reckoned that shifting somewhere warmer and drier would fall under the essential travel exemption.

Around midweek, we had the choice of sailing a thousand miles home to Ballina or sailing five hundred northwest to Adelaide, where we have a berth at a quiet yacht club.

Of those options, Jude favoured sailing home, so we made a few calls only to learn our neighbour’s jetty was unavailable. With no other safe moorings, we decided sailing home was not such a good idea.

Then a weather window appeared for a four-day journey nor’ west to the Adelaide Gulf, and we have been watching it while our thoughts have switched between staying here to freeze through winter and taking our chances across the seas. This weekend is the decider. A big front is passing over, bringing a juicy big high-pressure cell lingering behind. But it’s still too far away to see if we can cover all the miles to South Australia with it. Meanwhile, both of us are prevaricating over what’s best to do. Tasmania has the lowest exposure to the deadly virus. But, it gets mighty wet and grey and cold in Strahan.

Adding extra spice to this mix is the fact that Jetstar has just reinstated flights from Hobart to Sydney, completing the first. So, is Australia getting on top of this pandemic? Could air travel be restored before the onset of freezing weather?

Jack and Jude
SY Banyandah
https://jackandjude.com/

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• Australia Biosecurity Requirements
• More COVID-19 Field Reports
•  COVID-19 Coronavirus: Special Procedures Being Introduced in Ports of Entry Worldwide

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Please share your current experience with COVID-19 restrictions and how it has affected your cruising plans. Contact Sue at [email protected] with your field report.

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.