Cape Jaffa to Robe

Cape Jaffa Marina Berths

Tuesday 6th April

After our tiring passage from Wirrina we intended to take it easy, but Mark Hayward the sales and marketing manager for the Cape Jaffa development had other ideas. he offered to take us to Robe so we could stroll around in SE latte land while he did some work in his office. There are grand plans for the Cape Jaffa development and it's an impressive place with extensive sandstone marina walls and a huge area for waterfront housing. We wish them well. Mark has a strong sailing background and sailed with Peter Page and other yachts out of the CYC. It was great to visit Robe and we sussed out the marina there. Despite rumours about the expense and non welcoming nature of the marina ,we found the opposite. For $39 we were able to access a first-class facility with access to the showers at the Yacht Club included. We met the marina manager, dog catcher, general inspector, Michael Wilkin who was very welcoming. We returned to Cape Jaffa and retired early after a repast of fresh flake we'd bought in Robe. The rain and strong winds have settled and tomorrow will be ok to make some progress south to Robe.

Wednesday 7/4

Departed for Robe at 8.30am in light conditions before a change due later in the day. Had to clear North Rock and Margaret Brock Rocks and the gamut of craypots on the way out. Very light winds so Mr Yanmar will get another workout. The only significant landfall on the way to Robe is Baudin Rocks and it seemed to us that the name of this great navigator in our waters could have been applied to a far more significant feature than this modest outcrop. It is always enticing approaching a new port destination with checks on navigation, hazards, tides and entrance details keeping us busy. Robe can be shallow at the entrance, and once in the lee of the breakwater, there is a need to snug the curve of the breakwater to avoid the shallow ground to port. Nature has given a narrow, waif-like entrance and adding to the squeeze was commercial trawlers from King Is and Geelong. We were pleased not to encounter another craft on the way out. In the early evening the "front" sputtered through, and the clean evening skies that followed gave hope that we could leave for Portland or Port Fairy in the morning. If we could not clear Robe in the morning we ran the risk of being stuck in port until next week as a heavy weather system was due to sweep across SA/VIC border waters over the weekend. Thursday's dawn broke fine, the forecast looked good so we got set to go. We then realised that the Council still had our Insurance documents so Cookie the resourceful grabbed an unsuspecting early morning fisher on the wharf and convinced him that driving her to the Council Office (and return after waiting for her!) would qualify as his good deed for the day. Where the need is great... In gentle conditions, after giving way to a returning cray fisher in the entrance, we cleared Robe for Victorian waters.

The "Karratta Mooring"

Leaving Robe Harbour