Hobart - 03 04 09
I arrived about 1.30am after a quiet sail up the river. It was great not to be rocked and rolled by the Southern Ocean swell. Customs and quarantine were there to greet me and quarantine wants to come back this morning to look at my French food boxes!
I didn't get to bed until 3am but then had my first four hours of continuous sleep since leaving Cape Town. It would have been longer, but I'd arranged to meet some guys on the boat at 8am.
Now I'm looking forward to a good lunch, as everything was closed when I arrived last night!
Will do a more in depth blog later.
©Sailmike2009
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I've always wanted to go to Tasmania, it seems like fascinating place with loads of history. Hopefully you can find a little time to explore. Although I suppose if you have "free time", sleeping would be more important than sight seeing.
Here is a great picture of Hobart taken from Mount Wellington:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Hobart_from_Mount_Wellington_Panorama_1.jpg
Comment by Aj on April 4th, 2009 at 4:26 amOoh!!!!now what do you have in those French food boxes, I wonder?!!!!!
Comment by Kate and John on April 4th, 2009 at 7:11 amEnjoy the break, hope all the niggles get fixed.
Take care and be safe
Kate and John
The Devon geriatrics
Dear Mike,
Welcome to Australia, my third home,after Dar and UK, and land of my mum's birth (Newcastle NSW)- I trust you will enjoy some decent Aussie hospitality. For the most part, we're a generous-hearted lot and I hope when you get going again, you'll have one or two nice memories to look back on.
Best wishes, David and Brigid, Taunton, Somerset
Comment by David Akenhead and Brigid Kellett on April 4th, 2009 at 10:21 amHi Mike,
Well done on the last 7000 mil;es or so , you have coped brilliantly and so resiliently! We are all so proud of what you have already achieved. Have a real rest now and enjoy Hobart. make the most of every minute and stay as long as you need!
Here comes the fun!
russ
Comment by russ (cumbria) on April 4th, 2009 at 11:23 amMike,
Enjoy the rest of your travels.
You made the New York Times today:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04/04/world/AP-AS-Australia-Solo-Sailor.html
Best wishes from the Connecticut, USA shoreline,
Cheers!
Jim
Comment by Jim on April 4th, 2009 at 1:42 pmgreat achievement...all those sea miles with added excitement. Hope Hobart Ozzies treat you with good 'ol Oz mateship and are not too fanatical with your French food. Good luck with the chores and enjoy the invigorating Tasmanian air while your feet ate planted on firm ancient land!
Comment by umm bilal on April 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pmof course that is "ARE" planted...the fingers got carried away thinking of you being in my country of birth but the ATE may have slipped out whilst wishing you have some hearty meals...and stock up on chocolate!! I guess such a stop means you can dispose of rubbish...it must pile up, all those pringle containers, and maybe do some laundry. Must be a very busy time. Enjoy!
Comment by umm bilal on April 4th, 2009 at 2:18 pmNews article on Mike
http://www.madmariner.com/news/story/TEEN_CIRCUMNAVIGATOR_WEATHERS_PROBLEMS_040409_AP
Comment by Ken Greig on April 4th, 2009 at 2:24 pmIt's good to hear you have arrived safely Mike. Enjoy your time in Hobart.
Take care,
Carol
Comment by Carol on April 4th, 2009 at 2:59 pmWell done Mike on making it to Hobart. Hope you get all your boat "niggles" fixed & catch up on some well-deserved rest...& that gorgeous hot shower you've been looking forward to ! Perhaps you'll get to see something of Tasmania whiccsounds like a really interesting place. Whatever you do, take care & have fun.
Comment by Sue on April 4th, 2009 at 7:44 pmAll the very best,
Sue
Hi Mike
Well done to you. Especially your pilotage up a strange river at 1.30 in the morning after so many days at sea. Amazing the number of ole time blue water sailors who confessed to getting really twitchy on making landfall after a long time at sea.
As for OZ Customs and your French grub, they're not hassling you. Just ptotecting themseves against the accidental introduction of wee crawlie beasties and other things which could affect their local livestock/agriculture etc.I remember running the Californian Fruit Police - at their impressively large border posts. Apparently every car going into the state of Calif is stopped and asked "Do you have any fruit or vegetables in your car Sir ? " And yes, they carry guns !! If you admit to "contraband" they confiscate it !!
.
Enjoy your rest5 back in the world of rules and
forms and complications and all that stuff.
SUERTE
PETER
Comment by PEEJAY on April 4th, 2009 at 9:25 pmhi Mike
Re your French grub bags.
I've just been on the "Transat" site (started today - La Rochelle - West Indies solo) and I clicked on the " Kiddies Guide" . Would you believe that item 1 on the site was "Nautical Terms" , item 2 was " Food" and Item 3 was "Sleep Patterns" How French is that ? Remember my comments on the Vendee videos from the French guys .. "... today is Hachis Parmentier ..yum yum .my favourite ..etc etc. don't ye just love them !!!!
Best of luck with Oz Customs. Might be a good idea to have a couplr of jars of Marmite on hand as freebies when they turn up . LOL.
Enjoy, relax and refresh yourself .. who knows it might be the only time in your life that you see Hobart (unless you fancy Sydney -Hobart )
SUERTE
PETER
Comment by PEEJAY on April 6th, 2009 at 12:06 amHi Mike
Just read local OZ reports about your arrival. Desscribes you as "British" - surely "English" - credit where credit's due !!LOL
SUERTE
PETER FROM SCOTLAND
Comment by PEEJAY on April 6th, 2009 at 12:30 am