James Craig - Sydney to Melbourne

The anchor winch squeals into action at 0555 hrs and away we go,
back down the channel towards the open sea. The morning sky glows
red...a sailor´s warning. By the time we are rounding into Bass
Strait the wind has picked up to 30, then 40 knots (75 km) from the
North. The sea is slate grey with spindrift streaking across, and the
wind has snapped our flag pole in two, one half wrapped around the
main t´gallant brace.
The coast is a desolate place of low scrub and snow white beaches.
One would never guess that beyond the dunes is a city of concrete,
glass and bitumen, bustling with four million people.
Fortunately the wind has eased considerably before we make our entry
to Port Phillip. The dreaded ´Rip´ is a place littered with
shipwrecks, and several of them are marked on the chart. Once safely
in the harbour, and making an Easterly course along the Southern
Channel with the wind on our port quarter, topsails, topgallants and
the flying jib are set.
The anchor is let go half a mile from Rye Jetty, and the ship brought
up at 1700 hrs. Our friends ashore are finishing their day at the
office, while we prepare for a barbecue on deck and an after-dinner
court case. The cook will be tried tonight.
STOP PRESS: Jimmy Parbuckle & The James Craig Reeelers will be
appearing on Greg Champion´s show, "The Idlers" on Saturday night
8pm, national ABC Radio. Don´t miss it!