James Craig - Sydney to Melbourne

The helmsman is peering for a star between the clouds, as they
swarm across the moon. James Craig is still racing along unbridled,
heading for an uncharted, unnamed bay. Cape Liptrap Light winks at us
from our starboard beam, and a ship is approaching at close quarters.
We light up our rig with powerful spotlights to ensure we are clearly
seen, and our wind-pressed tops´ls blaze a golden glow in the night.
The vessel nearby may well think we´re the legendary ´Flying Dutchman´!
At 0400 all hands are called to wear ship. The crew are ready at the
braces, Natalie Moore (from the barque ´Polly Woodside´) has the
wheel, Mr. Hitchman has the deck. "Up helm." The wheel spins, and the
ship turns. "MAIN TOPS´L HAUL!" With shuffles and grunts, and breathy
´heaves!´ the yards creak around. The wind hauls aft, and a team on
the fore deck shift the heads´ls across, along with the
maintopmast-stays´l. "LET GO AND HAUL!" The fore yards swing, like a
bird turning in the sky. We´re heading South now, away from the land,
and at 0530 another gybe to head NW towards Phillip Island.
At the break of dawn, a miraculous moment. The colours and mood of
the ship, sea and sky take us right into the well known oil painting
by Oswald Brett. That was painted 32 years ago, and the vision has
become a vivid reality.
Careful calculation has been made by the navigator to ensure we don´t
reach our destination too soon. Sail is gradually taken off her, and
then furled, in order for us to meet a pilot at the entrance to
Western Port. Pilot John Carroll boards, and he will be staying with
us from here to Port Phillip (Melbourne) on Saturday. The ship is a
tamed animal at last, marching stately up the Western Channel to
Cowes under bare poles. The admiralty anchor is let go in ten
fathoms, and the ship is brought up less than half a mile North of
Cowes. It feels strange not to have the deck dancing underfoot. The
ship is now a sleeping beauty.