Boating – Page 2 – The Poppy Files

Category: Boating

Game : Set : Match

Hobart International

There’s nothing quite like a great weekend full of social activities including international sporting events, 40th Birthday parties and a day on the boat with old friends.

On Saturday we enjoyed the Hobart International Tennis Women’s final with our old friends, Keith and Lil who were visiting from Launceston. Enjoying the delights of a sunny day, a corporate box, a lovely lunch and an Esky full of Morilla’s finest, what wasn’t there to enjoy? Well, Eugenie Bouchard didn’t win, but it was a great game and a fantastic location to watch the tennis from.

We rushed home, said ‘hi and bye’ to the kids (and my sister who was babysitting), and a quick outfit change before scooting off to Depha’s 40th Birthday at the Avalon City Retreat. Nick and I met each other through Depha, so she is a very special friend to both of us. Beautiful food, more bubbles, good conversations and even a boogie, saw us returning home just before turning into pumpkins.

On Sunday we took Keith, Lil and their gorgeous brood to Bruny Island for the day on the boat. Lazing in the sun chatting, fishing, paddle boarding and eating was just what the doctor ordered. Oh how I love these summer days spent with wonderful friends. Xx

Hobart International Depha's 40th Sandy Bay Little James, Big James and Poppy George and James Lil James Fishing Fishing Stingray Bruny Island James asleep on George James and Lil The crew

Tuesday, 19 January 2016 0 Comments Short URLAvalon City Retreat, Bruny Island, Hobart International Tennis, MorillaBoating, Poppy : James

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New Year Festivities

New Years Eve

I love this time of year in Hobart as it always reminds me of my previous days of travelling overseas. Where you wander the streets hearing romantic languages of the French, the Spanish and other alluring accents that instantly transport you back to when you were experiencing far off shores in your twenties!

I also love the welcome the locals and other visitors provide the yachts and their crew, who have sailed for many days in the various ocean yacht races, often through treacherous seas, to be finally enveloped by the sanctuary and beauty of this harbour city and the reassuring notion that everything will be alright.

I love the big cheer from the crowd as they berth their vessels of varying sizes (and budgets) where hot showers and a comfortable bed awaits. To sample some of the local produce at The Taste – a week-long food festival celebrating Tasmania’s food and wine, where the salty taste of the sea, soon becomes a distant memory.

The flags on yachts flutter in the warm sea breezes, lazy afternoons drinking the local cider at the Rolex Tent with friends, balmy evenings on board welcoming in a New Year, with new resolutions to truly live in the moment and to appreciate all those surrounding us and the beautiful place in which we live. Xx

The Hobart Waterfront Mistraal The Taste The Rolex Tent New Years Eve Food Digger Hobart Cath and I New Years Eve Sunset

Thursday, 7 January 2016 0 Comments Short URLDiscover Tasmania, Hobart Summer Festival, Mistraal, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, The Taste of Tasmania, YachtsBoating, Today I Am Loving

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Sailing : Hobart to Launceston

Dawn at Schouten Passage

There are times in life where all the stars align and you are presented with an opportunity that is just too good to refuse. Our good friends are sailing in the Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race in their superb Beneteau 57 – Mistraal and I was asked to hop on board for the delivery trip. How could I say no?

The crew consisted of five women – our Skipper, Jacinta and also Amanda, Colleen, Emma and one tolerant fella … Chris! We all met at the Derwent Sailing Squadron in Hobart on Wednesday morning, where we headed off on a crystal clear day. As the nautical miles ticked by, we ate, talked, laughed, took photos, ate more and well … just relaxed.

I soon found the rhythmic groove of cruising – sleeping, eating, lazing in the sun, watching the changing horizons, the rising and setting sun and the amazing marine wildlife. We were visited by numerous dolphins and a show-stopping Humpback Whale who decided to wow us with the gorgeous backdrop of Cape Hauy on the Tasman Peninsula.

Dolphins Humbpack Whale Breaching

Home is where my heart is, but I loved being away for a brief snippet and from the daily requests for the next sandwich, water, nappy change, bath-time, the bedtime battles and keeping everyone happy. To me, there is nothing quite as indulgent than having a mid-day sleep whilst cruising at sea. The gentle whir of the engine complimented by the roll of the sea, especially when there are no little ones on board to supervise. In the end, Amanda and I used the excuse of going below to ‘wash up’ but would sneak off for another blissful kip.

To be on this beautiful yacht, cruising the majestic Tasmanian coastline with old and new friends, I felt truly content. We arrived at our destination at day-break on Friday morning and I was excited to be heading home to ‘my crew’ but I will fondly remember this voyage and ‘this crew’! xx

The crew passing Swan Island Loading on our gear Ned Kelly Leaving Hobart Crew on deck Cape Raoul Dolphins Mistraal Heading towards Tasman Island Cape Pillar The Mermaids (with crazy hair)! Captivated by the geology Whale Spotting Jacinta Lunch Jacinta Emma, Jacinta & Amanda Emma Amanda & Em Maria Island Crazy Yacht Hair Mistraal off Maria Island Sunset Sunset over Maria Island Dawn at Freycinet Peninisula Sunrise at Freycinet Red Granite Sunrise over Freycinet Sunrise Day Beers Colleen's Lasagne! Dolphins Light reading Skipper Sailing Sailing Sundowners Our gear Our destination Mistaal Our mafia van

Monday, 21 December 2015 0 Comments Short URLBeneteau, Beneteau 57ft, Cruising, Discover Tasmania, East Coast Tasmania, Humpback Whale, Sailing, TasmaniaBoating

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Face Painting : Santa : Speedy Boats

Facepainting

Another busy weekend including a 40th on Friday night, a 4th on Saturday morning, Santa visiting the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in the afternoon, friends for dinner in the evening and a blast in the speedy boat on Sunday morning. Phew! Fun times for the big and little ones! xx

Facepainting Santa at RYCT Cuppas on Mercury Speedy Boat & Mercury Mercury Mercury

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 0 Comments Short URLRYCT, Speedy BoatBoating, Poppy : James

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New Friends : Beautiful Places

Peppermint Bay

When I was expecting our first baby, I had an insatiable appetite for reading all the pregnancy books under the sun and for gaining new knowledge about what our world would look like with a ‘plus one’! I actually didn’t think too much about the subsequent years and all the joy (and frustration) that having a baby, would bring.

Now we have ‘plus two’, no where in my research did I read about all the amazing people who you meet through having little people.

We have met so many lovely people, initially through my Mother’s Group and now through Day Care, which has opened up a whole new network for Nick and I. We enjoy spending time together, and so do our children.

This new group of friends met last Saturday on the lawns of Peppermint Bay where the kids ran wild and the parents were able to enjoy a lovely lunch and conversation, largely uninterrupted. The sun shone, the kids played, ate ice cream, got wet in the water feature and had a rough and tumble. It really was an amazing afternoon.

Liberty and little toes Peppermint Bay

Peppermint Bay

Thank you to Em and Fiona for some of your fab photos!

We took the boat down the Channel to lunch and within ten minutes of getting back on board, James, Poppy and Maisy were all fast asleep. They were so exhausted from playing all afternoon. We cruised back up to Richardsons Beach where we met our other friends, who we have met through boating.

With the setting sun over Mt. Wellington/kunanyi we enjoyed more lovely food and company. The next day … a moody overcast one, was spent on the beach. I tried out our new Stand Up Paddle Board for the first time and even though I was a little wobbly to start with, I loved it and look forward to more summer fun.

To live in such a beautiful place and to share it with such special people, truly is a blessing. Xx

Spellbound Brett the blonde bombshell! Richardsons Beach RYCT

Thursday, 3 December 2015 0 Comments Short URLBeach, Families, Peppermint Bay, Richardsons Beach, Stand Up Paddle Board, WoodbridgeBoating, Poppy : James

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Boat Licence

I have been meaning to get my boat licence for quite some time now and last week, I finally manage to jump on a course at the RYCT and pass all the requirements.

When away on our boat, I am more than capable of steering and getting us to where we need to go, but when it comes to maneuvering, putting down the anchor or rafting up, I always looked to Nick to take the helm. As we are planning to go into Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour for two weeks in January, I realised I have to step up and become a true ‘first mate’.

I joined four other fantastic women last Tuesday night for a really interesting evening. Doing figure-eights on the Derwent with squeals of laughter, a mock man overboard, maneuvering up to a buoy and a scenario of running out of fuel and having to call in a ‘Pan Pan Pan’.

We then hit the papers and theory component (with a bottle of Jansz to aid our learning) where we all passed our written exam. I now know the difference between Cardinal and Lateral markers, a Pan Pan Pan and a Mayday, and the importance of wearing the appropriate PFD.

Now it’s time for stepping up on ‘Spellbound‘ and to reach my ultimate goal of going away for the night with only a few girlfriends on board! xx

Boat Licence RYCT

Monday, 2 November 2015 1 Comment Short URLBoat Licence, Hobart, RYCTBoating

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Show Weekend : Boat Weekend

Sunset at Partridge Island

The Hobart Show weekend always allows for an extra long weekend where we escape Hobart to explore further waters. This year was no exception and we headed to South Bruny Island for four glorious days.

We left on Thursday morning and enjoyed a smooth voyage to Partridge Island, some three hours later, to catch up with our friends. Arriving to an oasis of turquoise blue waters due to a phytoplankton bloom in the water at this time of year. Blue, blue waters, radiant rainbows and a gorgeous sunset. What more could we ask for?

Partridge Island

The next day we went for a walk on the island where we discovered signs of European gardens and mature oak trees. We moved over to Mickey’s Bay in the afternoon and had a big roast pork on board ‘Mistraal‘. The next morning we donned our packs and walked over to Cloudy Lagoon where James fell asleep as usual, and Poppy did a stellar job walking most of the way and learning more native plants.

In the afternoon we went to Tailors Beach for a picnic with all our boating friends and the kids were in their element making sand castles and playing in the water until little teeth were chattering and I had run out of dry clothes.

I love being in my happy place with my family and our amazing friends. Not to mention the breathtaking scenery of this part of the world. xx

Little Pirate

Partridge Island Yum - mayo and lettuce Fishing lessons Jamesy cuddles Doggy kisses Spellbound, Yoda and Pops The Davies at Cloudy Bay Pops Squiggly cuddles Smoochy dog. Smoochy toddler Sunset kiss

Friday, 30 October 2015 0 Comments Short URLBoating in Tasmania, Bruny Island, Discover Tasmania, Partridge Island, SpellboundBoating

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Open Day

Ten pirates (little and big), one boat, good food and several bottles of sparkling wine, equals a fantastic day on the water to celebrate Open Day and the start of the sailing season in Hobart on Saturday.

After the official sail past, and a long lunch in the sun we continued onto Kings Pier where we stayed on board for the night with our other boating friends. We dined at Fish Frenzy for dinner, had a big sleep and went for breakfast at T42 in the morning, all within a hop, skip and jump from the marina.

Hobart turned it on once again with fantastic weather – I just love this time of year. ♥

Little Jamesy Multi-tasking Little Pirates Big Pirates Open Day Breakfast James and the girls James

Monday, 12 October 2015 0 Comments Short URLBoating, Fish Frenzy, Hobart, Open Day, Sailing, T42Boating, Poppy : James

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Contrasts

Great Bay - Bruny Island

We have just had a night away on the boat for the weekend. On Saturday afternoon after a lovely day time sleep to the gentle roll of the Chanel, we anchored in Great Bay on Bruny Island to go to Get Shucked for some tasty oysters – a la Kilpatrick and a Virgin Mary.

As we were waiting for our ‘Mother In Laws Kilpatrick‘ to cook a family visiting from China pulled in and were most delighted to pat Maisy, who was tied up at the gate greeting these visitors with a zesty wag of her tail. They were so taken by their experience that the ‘Mum’ pulled out her selfie stick and took several photos of her and Maisy – who obliged accordingly.

There were gushes over our little curly-haired blondies with more photos taken, in front of the signs and with their oysters.

As I wandered back over the road in our gumboots, onto the beach and into the dinghy with our dog and two blondies in tow, this experience got me thinking. Thinking about the contrasts of life. We live in this ‘isolated’ southern island, with desolate beaches, bush as far as the eye can see, savouring seafood that is freshly plucked from the ocean and enjoying simple days with our family. I wondered what kind of world they lived in – a high rise in Shanghai, surrounded by a billion people perhaps?

I love living our life in our Tasmanian home, but there are so many ‘lives’ to be lived in all manner of locations. I sometimes forget how ‘the other half’ live until I am reminded of my past travelling days or when I meet new people who marvel at all the unique values of Tasmania.

So Maisy is probably famous on some Chinese website by now, but we are still tinkering away on the water, fossicking for shells, picking flowers, marvelling at dolphins and making more family memories. Xx

Get Shucked

Great Bay

Great Bay - Bruny Island

Freshly picked flowers

Flowers and starters

Sunrise

Missionary Bay

Sunrise

Dolphins

Missionary Bay

Poppy and her shell necklace

Swinging on the fenders

Monday, 7 September 2015 1 Comment Short URLBruny Island, China, Tasmania, TravelBoating

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A Weekly Wrap

Poppy at Salamanca Market

Another week has passed and Friday is upon us already!

With hints of Spring in the air, we have enjoyed a party for Nick’s 40th birthday, our 7th Wedding Anniversary, Book Week costumes galore and a mid-week night away on the boat.

Nick picked me up from work on Wednesday afternoon, which was a beautiful day in Hobart – we grabbed the kids and jumped on the boat with Nick’s brother Will, his wife Tup and their gorgeous girls. We cruised to Fish Frenzy for dinner and then continued on and anchored off Nutgrove Beach. Poppy and James went to bed and Nick and I watched a movie to the gentle sway of the swell. I love Hobart and how easy it is to access nature, even on school-night, whether it be by boat, bike or foot.

It is a rainy day here today and we are cooking pancakes for breakfast, doing puzzles, playing with train sets and resisting that daily urge to pop the tellie on before we go to Hill Street to stock up the pantry. Xx

Hill Street Grocers