This subject came up on the Site after one of our members was refused official entry in the Melbourne to Launceston Race at the last minute due to size. Robert and crew were ready to go and set off unofficially on the day before the race. Coincidentally we had a C28 and a C29 on delivery from Sydney to Hobart as well as Kareela returning down the NSW coast from the Reef. Ken Miller a big boat, blue water cruiser, who had just bought Intrigue replied “For me the design and features indicated, yes! Not ever having been on one, and deciding to purchase one on the assumption that looks and pedigree are enough, we are now putting this theory to the test.”“Intrigue was in poor condition and in need of a lot of TLC. Because of the obvious, I decided not to get a surveyors report, my theory there was, why pay for someone to tell me what I can already see. I went ahead and purchased the boat on the word of the broker (David McKay) who described it as "good honest boat, no osmosis, worth a look, a bit of a tidy up and should get you to Hobart". Now I know everyone told me NEVER TRUST A BROKER, but I did. We put it to him after a quick look and inspection, (about 40 minutes, weather shocking and had a plane to catch home) if he would include slipping and anti-fouling, fix the diesel leak from the engine, replace the batteries, get the switch panels working, fit new skin fittings and stop valves for the toilet, we would have a deal. This was all agreed to. Returning to Sydney to finalise the purchase, inspect the work done and have a better look at the boat, we meet Gary the delivery skipper and took the boat for a run. We discovered more work that would be required before setting off. All the running rigging would require replacing and genoa to be re-cut with a new UV strip fitted as well as more work on the engine. Gary agreed to sail her to Hobart, providing the auto pilot worked, and a new storm sail was purchased to complete the sail wardrobe which included a new main. I still didn't feel comfortable about the rigging and agreed to pay $1500 for it all to be replaced by David McKay’s contractor plus spectra halyards. In the meantime, the engine had decided to have many fits and turns, new fuel pump, injector system and a disintegrated governor had to be replaced. David McKay honoured his word that the boat was a "good honest boat, worth a look" and arranged these extra repairs to be carried out for free. Meanwhile Wild Goose II was heading off to Hobart from Broken Bay with a 10/15kt NE. Intrigue had a pleasant trip to Ulladulla averaging 5kts. A slight leak from the stuffing box was noticed and attended to in Ulladulla where she was joined by C28 Wild Goose II. Both boats left for Eden on Tuesday 15th January however the gremlins struck again and Intrigue’s autopilot decided to go in circles. Gary, being on his own had to pull into Batemans Bay Marina. Unable to get anyone to repair the auto pilot, Ken’s wife, Lynne, flew to Batemans Bay to crew for Gary. They set out on the 17th into a SE expecting a NE change down the coast. Conditions were SE 10/15kts, 2 reefs in main, partly furled genoa, tacking 10miles out to sea and back, covering 20miles to go forward 7.5miles along the rhumbline, averaging 5kts but only going forward with an average of 2kts. Short steep seas, south going current, against wind not making conditions easy. No autopilot, steering in shifts of 3 hours on 3 hours off. The dreaded weather helm we have read about hardly exists?? Finally the NE change came in at 2am Friday10/15kts. Arrived at Eden at 1030, total time taken to cover 89miles, 27hours; average speed 3.3kts. The Wild Goose was still at Eden waiting for a favourable forecast to cross Bass Strait. Its 254 miles across, if the boat can average 5kts that’s 51 hours. The forecast was not good, E-NE 20/30kts increasing to 25/35kts before a Southerly change of similar strength. So both boats stayed in Eden. It was noted on the WEB-site re the weather helm on the C29, that the new main and sailing with 2 reefs in 15 knot breeze had made it negligible.Trevor’s Wild Goose II was being delivered for Trevor by Harry Gilfoyle from Pittwater to Cygnet (southern Tas). Their plan was to either track via the Kent group or N. Flinders Is on the Sunday AM. Wild Goose II left Eden Tuesday morning and was reported by a coastal patrol to be off Cape Baron 6AM Thursday and sailing well. They came briefly into mobile range when south of Eddystone Point and SMS that they would keep on going as long as the Northerly winds lasted. They added that Trevor had got himself a good sea-boat! Gary and Lynne in Intrigue didn't get away from Eden because Gary had other commitments back at Lake Macquarie and it was decided that if the expected northerlies didn't arrive by Monday afternoon then there was a risk that he would not be able to fulfil his other commitments. So Intrigue was left on a mooring at Eden. It would appear from conversations with Gary and Lynne, that the performance of both boats in various offshore conditions is very good. Gary has said to Ken that he thinks the boats are capable of going anywhere, if sailed right, though Lynne has many bruises from being tossed around in that windward bash. Wild Goose II is on her mooring at Port Cygnet and Skipper Harry is enjoying all his own home comforts. He arrived home around 2pm Tuesday and started the regular Tuesday night twilight race at 6pm on his own Clansman "Subrette" with Trevor pulling the strings for him. There is no stopping the man!
The last part of the trip went: Eden to Brian's Corner (north of Schouten Island) - Tribuna - through Marion Narrows and the Dunally Canal to Lyme Bay - to Barns Bay (Bruny Island) to home.
His comments, gathered while they sailed Subrette were “She is a dry and safe sea boat that gave him no problems at all under sail. She is basically very stable but like most boats will roll uncomfortably with a beam-sea and little or no wind. She will self-steer for long periods with the wind forward of the beam. She handled well and felt safe under triple-reefed main and #4 jib at 40knts in East Bass Strait (there are storm-sails in the wardrobe but weren't used).
Harry thinks that we have got ourselves a great boat for what we want to do (mini-cruising) and our location; D'entrecasteaux/Huon.Meanwhile although not an official entry in the Melbourne to Launceston Race, Robert Bradley’s Felissity C28, passed the entrance to the Tamar estuary after 2 days 10 hours at sea (inc the Cock of the Bay) with the crew looking forward to a beer and a shower in any order! After a couple of weeks cruising, Robert sailed back to Port Phillip solo. Summarised from Ken, Robert and Trevor’s posts – with Thanks Geoff Raebel