We were lucky. Just after publishing our last post, we got the go ahead from Yarra’s Edge Marina to moor in the same spot as we were in July, despite the fast flowing river and debris. We had to dodge a few rafts of branches and floating logs as we approached the Marina, and wait for the Parks barge to clear the logs that had piled up in the little ‘lagoon’.
Check out the size of those logs… and quantity!
The Yarra has never been a very clean river, but it is particularly dirty now. Our boat’s toilet looks like someone had a bad case of diarrhea and did not flush. Too much detail? OK, moving on!
The good thing about being at the Marina is that we have easy access to town for all our errands. We had so much to do… we still have all the medical stuff next week, but we are now a little more under control and starting to meet up with friends and family.
We have been treated like royalty at Yarra’s Edge. Look at the little sign!
And we have caught up with other catamaran owners which is always fun. John on Alidade, an alluring Outremer 49, and Terry on Macanudo, a Leopard 45, follow our travels so it was great to meet them in person. At 38ft Take It Easy looks a bit diminutive next to them, but it does not stop us from exploring far and wide!
As we have often said, having friends join us for sails is a treat for us as much as for them. Leanne, Fine Art Photographer friend, spent a day with us and although the weather was rather iffy in the afternoon, we went out for a sail in the bay. She saw her home town from a very different angle!
Melbourne from the Yarra, just past the Bolte Bridge
The container ships coming up the Yarra are always a little daunting.
Large container ship coming up the Yarra!
Make way!
As the afternoon passed, the weather changed from sunny to threatening. The clouds were beautiful and gave a very moody feel to the city skyline. If we broke any record it would be for the slowest sail we have ever had, but it did not matter! We did a bit of a triangle: out to Williamstown to pick up our serviced dinghy outboard, then a sail towards St Kilda, double back to Altona and back into port. We got rained on a little bit during the motor back up the Yarra, but managed to dock before the big downpour.
Passenger cruise ships and the Spirit of Tasmania at Port Melbourne!
Close up of Melbourne town with the distinctive Eureka tower.
Threatening clouds over the Melbourne skyline, time to get back before we get drenched!
And a few days later Wade’s family joined us on board. They were keen to go for a sail too and it was a bit more windy. We even thought the boys would get drenched as the waves from the short chop were hitting the bows!
Sailing to Altona with a reefed main
We even saw Alidade as it was raising its main. We don’t know how John manages to run this big catamaran on his own, but he does a great job! Enjoy the passage back to Adelaide JD!
The count down has started! We leave for France on Sunday night the 17th, so we might post once more before we go then it is Au Revoir!
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