the Voyage of ID - from Mooloolaba to Adelaide
Gratis Bob
I bought the Roberts Spray ID from Ken & Marge Campbel Brown in 2007
I sailed her back ( with a crew of 4) from Malloolaba to Adelaide in
January 2007
It was a long trip taking about 3 weeks
We were plagued with bad weather ( lots of southerlies whilst we were
heading south down the East coast
and ID, although nearly perfect objected to going to windward !
We left on the 7th of January, (after a week of wild weather) and
sailed for two days then in to Coffs for two days then sailed on only
to be hit agains so in to Sydney harbor where we moored at the CYCA .
Initially this was to be a short stop waiting for good weather but the
alternator died and it was Saturday midday so we stayed and made many
sacrifices at the club bar.
Monday we repaired the alternator and finally left on Tuesday early
morning headed for Eden.
We were 12 miles out of Eden when another Southerly hit us and it took
us 6 hours to cover the last 12miles
Stayed in Eden for two days then left at first light for Refuge cove
at the tip of Wilsons Prom.
The weather was predicted to be 25Knts from the NE but we got 50Knts +
instead! , Had to jibe in the middle of the night or hit Flinders
island, but we survived with a few blown out stainless mainsail
cars.
Made Refuge cove next evening and stayed there for two more days with
wild westerly's
Shaft coupling bolts sheared as we were leaving so we left for Apollo
bay no engine but then again its a sail boat !
Made Apollo Bay in two days sailed in through the breakwater
(Definitely breaking!) in the late afternoon .
We stayed in Apollo made repairs and left next evening
Running west north west along the Vic then SA coasts , excellent
weather but 100 miles from Back stair passage
and the head sail clew eye blew out so on main and engine alone.
Sailed through BackStairs passage (between Kangaroo Island and Cape
Jarvis) , flat calm, (unusual) and then turned north in to St
Vincent's gulf arrived Adelaide 1600 on Sunday 28th- 21 days after we
left Mooloollaba.
The boat is up on the hard stand,being fully refitted electrics,
plumbing , new engine, new standing rigging, changing open aft deck to
standard cockpit, removing diesel genset and going with
inverter ,batteries, large alternator and solar panels.
New Galley fit out, new Ice box with 12V compressor, new head, new
electronics, added furler to the staysail
new port and pilot house windows, new stainless railings and posts,
new paint job and renaming her GRATIS.
The last is a problem, An old sailor here at the Royal South
Australian Yacht Squadron told me that we must have 12 virgins to
sacrifice to neptune. Have advertised for months no response!
Its a work in progress but hope to be back in the water before winter
and ready to sail by next summer.
Gratis is 18T, 42' OD, 47'OA, 5' draft,MH cutter with pilot house,
Built around 1982 in solid glass and very well built at that. (Ken did
a great job)
I hope Ken & Marge will be pleased when I am finished and I will then
reveal all !
Regards for now Gratis Bob