By now the Rally is a sail too far, however Port Davey is not.

At last twenty days after the fateful bullet of wind  that has somewhat shattered our plans, we are ready to go somewhere in an entirely shipshape fashion.

Prevailing wind patterns and the fact that the rally boats are two thirds of the way around the island already, means that the rally is a non event for us.

Instead we are going to make our way to the remote SW corner and to Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. It's on the planned rally route, but they aren't due there for another fortnight or so.

Sunrise -looking astern to Maatsuyker Island

A good run around to Port Davey in relatively pleasant sea conditions had us arriving  24hrs after we left the Elizabeth St Pier , where we had stopped to  enable us to procure a National Park Pass from the appropriate office in town . This we required in our own right as we were no longer covered by the rally passes.

A few hours before these photos were taken I was privileged enough to watch the indescribably fascinating antics of seals playing in the wake and the phosphorescence trails they left . Something I have never seen before.Dolphins yes but never before seals. Watching them speeding towards the hull and then rolling away at right angles and missing the hull by inches was mesmerising.Unfortunately the video footage didn't work but it rates right up there with the best of natures displays I have ever witnessed.

and looking ahead to SW Cape

Port Davey is a marine reserve and covers all the waterways and up to 20km inland covering the streams and rivers that empty into Bathurst Harbour. The whole area is part of the SW National Park. The rules are strict as they try to preserve the natural environment.
It is stunningly beautiful and wild. Apart from getting there by boat, you can walk in - carrying everything or it is possible to fly in a light plane on to a dirt strip, but b.y.o everything from that point!

The day we arrived it was sunny,hot even.We anchored in Schooner Anchorage. Had a little explore around in the late afternoon found Ochre cave and a midden of shells.

Next morning we shifted (motored) through the  Bathurst  Channel into Bathurst Bay, anchoring off Claytons Corner.It was hot, 35 degrees at least so not a huge amount of activity , although we did meet the current owner a boat that Steve ( who has sailed with me on K'Gari )used to own.To mis-quote Bogart in Casbalanca, - of all the yachts, in all the world, to anchor in this remote anchorage!

Went for a run in the dinghy up to Melaleuca, which is the location of the airstrip, some basic walker accommodation , and a building which was once a bird hide constructed by Deny Hide (a tin miner and naturalist who lived in the area for 50 odd years). The building is now a small museum and has a telescope as it is still possible to see the endangered orange bellied parrot. The known presence of the  parrot played a great part in having the area declared a national park. We were indeed lucky enough to see one whilst we were there.
Nearby is the Needwonnee Walk - a short 30minute walk created to allow a glimpse of the lifestyle of the local group of aborigines. It would have been so cold and desolate here -it still will be when winter comes again this year.To be honest it’s desolate now, we just happen to be here on a day when it’s 35 degrees plus.