Sailing around Australia; Six Good Reasons

8^th March 2014; Six good reasons.

Our sailing around Australia Adventures will no doubt see us arrive and depart many ports of call along the way. There are six good reasons our time in Streaky Bay will certainly remain one of the highlights. Blancheport is very picturesque, a well used jetty is the focal point. Crabs, fish and razor fish are all easy to catch, the anchorage is within an easy stroll to the well serviced town with business owners very happy to help. Streaky Bay is a friendly welcoming town, and particularly for the great friends we have made.

The “end” of the bay is actually known as Blancheport on our charts. This bay is surrounded by gently sloping farmlands, which were a burnt beige sort of colour when we arrived. Since then, courtesy or the 110mm or so of rain received by Streaky Bay, the surrounding hills have turned a pretty green and are now sporting a carpet of yellow flowers.

The town jetty is a hive of activity. Ladies exercise group in the mornings all putting us slobs to shame. The jetty has many sightseers wandering along during the day and quite a few trying their hand at crabbing or fishing. Once school is out each afternoon the anchorage echoes with the sounds of youngsters having fun in the fenced off swimming area, off the side of the jetty. There is also the odd fishing boat tying up and dropping off their catch, re-provisioning and then heading off again.

Leanne and I have caught our fill of crabs, without having to leave the anchorage. We just mosied around in our dinghy dropping a pot in any patch of weedy sand we found and caught a dozen within a few hours each day. “Bugs”, a local identity introduced us to razor fish, which were quite different. Sort of like a scallop once we got the hang of cooking them they were a tasty treat. Oysters were also in plentiful supply as there are a few farms here in Streaky Bay. David and Heather were very kind to take Leanne out in their boat where they caught their bag limit of King George Whiting.

At the end of the jetty is a café restaurant called Moceans. Hardy and Margie run Moceans, which became a favourite hang out for our gang. Leanne and I celebrated our wedding anniversary there with a long, long lunch. The food at Moceans is superb. We should know we have tried most of it. There was perfect pork belly, marvellous mussels, beautiful boarfish and super sweet potato wedges.

Also just across the street from the end of the jetty is the main shopping area, pub, post office, banks etc… . We spent up on some spares and bits and pieces at the hardware store, where we found the staff very helpful and willing access what they didn’t have.

In general, Streaky Bay has a very welcoming and friendly vibe to it. Most people give you a smile and say hello and that is just walking along the street. Many locals stopped and asked us if we were off the boats near the jetty and were generally interested in where we were from and where we were going. There was only one old dear who told us that we were blocking up their harbour and if we could kindly move on that would be a good thing! I am sure even she meant well.

We had a really nice night out at Peter and Josette Smith’s place with wood fired pizza’s and general boating type chat. We hope that Peter and Josette will be joining the yachting family soon. Also met Tony who works on Cocos Island and Patrice who, with her husband owns a yacht, that is in Kote kina balau. That was very interesting.

The most special thing about Streaky Bay for Leanne and I though, is our new found friends in Geoff (Killa) and Heather Georgiou. Business owners like ourselves before our sailing adventures began, new sailors as we were not so long ago and just really great people, we are sure a long term friendship has begun. We hope to host them on our boat at some time in the near future.

Geoff and Heather could not do enough for us and joyfully provided us with rainwater and the use of their vehicle. They run a really good business at Killa’s Fuel and Tackle with many boating supplies, fishing gear and other bibs and bobs that you just wouldn’t expect to be stocked in a country town. Again anything was available overnight and nothing was any bother or too much trouble.

So with a quite rare north east breeze forecast for today, the sailing trio prepared to depart Streaky Bay today. The alarm went at 6 am ready for anchors up at 7.00am. Everything was tied on, battened down and ready for the 40 nautical mile trip to Sceale bay. Except for the skipper. Except for the crew. Except for the other crew on the other boat. So Zofia, Eva and B2 have departed Streaky Bay alone.

Easy Tiger and Urchin have decided that with a 3 metre swell forecast and six good reasons to stay, we will, for another day. Good conditions mean we sail tomorrow. Possibly.