Whittling in the wind

DAY 5   Davey lay day

 

Awoke to the sound of the wind chop slapping away at the hull, along with some moans and groans from the team after what had been a large few days of rolling around the south-west picking up rubbish. We had arrived in the sheltered waters of the Bathurst Channel, knowing of the fast-approaching wintery gale to the west. For many sailors, fisherman and seafarers alike, the surrounds of Port Davey have been all too familiar, being the only safe haven within 200 miles of coastline to sit out a storm. It also happens to be one of the most truly beautiful places in the world, one of those areas that will leave you completely wide-eyed with a grin as wide as an untouched horizon. To have a safe haven to shelter from the roaring 40’s, within truly wild and rugged country, radiates this feeling in you that can only be experienced. It is as if the landscape is there for you like an old friend who’ll always be there when you need. 

 

To be able to have the opportunity to help this old friend of ours, the south-west, by cleaning up her untouched beaches and coastlines, is something that is truly special. So when the crew rolled out of their bunks to the bullets of wind rolling through Schooner Cove, it was nice to feel safe under the presence of ancient mountains and (relatively) sheltered waters. 

 

With the weather being far from motivating, the crew had a rather slow start too it. It might have had something to do with the cold Moo Brews and live music rolling into the night, but we’ll leave it down to the wintery weather. Despite what was looking to be a lay day tucked in Schooner, the crew wasted no time and got stuck into a yoga session on the deck of the Celtic Rose aimed at limbering up tight muscles we’d acquired whist digging fishing nets out of wet sand. A mean breakfast cook up, a couple of chilly dips in the black tannin waters and books in the patchy sun took us through the rest of the morning. To keep the cabin fever from setting in, Stu pulled out some lumps of driftwood and whittling tools to keep us all entertained for the afternoon. Wafts of aromatic Tasmanian timbers drifted around in the swirling wind whilst trinkets and tools were carved out of timbers that had thought they’d seen their end on a desolate western facing beach. 

 

We proudly cooked and served dinner with new salad spoons and spatulas feeling very accomplished for a lay day in the wind. All rested, energised, and ready for some more beach combing, we head into tomorrow due for large swells and lights winds, allowing as to tackle some of the outer fringed beaches of Port Davey.

Words by Oscar. 

Photo by Lee.