In fact the journey around the south of South Island was a little windy, but not too bad, and we took the opportunity to head into Dusky Sound and then Doubtful Sound before heading further north.
The morning weather had been rather overcast, with rain at times, but the clouds parted for us to see more than just a little blue as we headed into Milford Sound around mid afternoon. It was a pleasant interlude and had most folk on deck to see the towering cliffs reaching straight out of the water up to well over three thousand feet. After a suitable viewing interval we turned and headed out, despatching the pilot before we turned the last bend back to the Tasman.
The first of our two days crossing the Tasman Sea was fairly comfortable, with light winds and a somewhat confused swell. The second however, gave us a good taste of the ‘Tasman Devil’, and can best be described as the ‘Roaring Forties’ at their best. The great delight though, was the wandering Albatross that seemed quite unperturbed by the elements and continued to criss cross our track all day, sometimes with wingtip just millimetres above the waves.
Hobart was welcome, in more ways than one, and passengers were soon away on their tours and wandering into the city in pleasant sunshine. The old quarter, not so far from the ship, had a mix of bars and shops blended into old warehouses and contemporary buildings. Just up from the quays lovely bungalow houses, built in the early 1900’s with their typical covered porches and corrugated roofs were a reminder of perhaps busier times.
In fact the port, ship wise, was rather quiet. Even so, it had a greater security presence than many a port I have recently entered. I was advised that the increasing costs of security have actually resulted in some vessels abandoning Hobart completely. A great shame, I would suggest, as our passengers returned with glowing praise.
We sailed back into the great bay that shelters the city and headed first east, and then to the north around Tasman Island, just catching for a while the south westerly swell curling around Tasmanias’s southern cape. Sydney is next, many folks are leaving, including my wife and I. Captain Neil will be here to bring the ship home. We wish fair winds and a safe passage.