Ash is OK with any time of the year, and March seems to give us the best options with price vs probability of good weather. Daylight Saving is still in place which is a bonus. It’s a busy month though with Labour Day Long Weekend and Easter, which I’d like to avoid to keep down costs. Plus – someone needs to throw a Good Friday bash. . .

There are some culinary suggestions in the itinerary below. Please let me know if these are not to your taste.
There is no doubt we can come up with something that suits everybody.

We have a Beneteau Oceanis 34 yacht for March 22 – 25 (arriving after 6pm on Friday March 22, departing at 3pm Monday March 25) for four. (John, Ash, Steve, Neil)

January 2 UPDATE: All 3 Dufours are booked for the weekend that John is available, so I’ve changed the booking to a Beneteau. Cost of boat remains the same.

Our Boat.

We’ve changed to a slightly smaller, much newer and more luxurious, Beneteau. There are 4 distinct sleeping areas if you include the dining table area in the centre of the boat.

The 3 day charter cost remains $2583 divvied 4 ways ($645.75 each) for the boat.

What to Bring

Sleeping

Either linen and pillows or sleeping bag and pillow. I’ll use a sleeping bag and inflatable pillow.
 They do not currently supply linen.

Eating

Bring On-Deck Munchies. For the rest… Leave it to Neil – I’ll organise the food. I’ll also bring the GPS/Radios etc.


Wearing

• Rain Jacket/Wet weather gear.
• Sunhat and Beanie
• Toiletries and towel.
• Togs/Boardies/Bathers
• Thermals NOT required 😉
• Shoes with non-marking soles – Crocs are good, as are Dunlop volleys.
  Anything NON-MARKING will do.

Something to read

• iPod/Phone/CD’s to play on the boat stereo as we cruise along. The kind of thing you’d listen to in the car. The boat has to be secured for the night by 5pm each day.
  
  
• Pack of cards for Texas Hold ‘em (or Snap?) Strip poker might not be a good idea.

Charter Terms and Conditions document is available HERE.

Points of Interest

Charter Limits – where can we go?

The charter cruising limits are:

• In the east: Barrier Landing and Kalimna Jetty. The boats cannot cross the entrance into Lakes Entrance township.
  
• In the west: Plover Point at the western end of the McLennan Straits.
  
• Tambo River (north): the Princes Hwy bridge for yachts, the cliffs for cruisers.
  
• Nicholson River: the Princes Hwy bridge.
  
• Mitchell River: explore the silt jetties, speak to Riviera Nautic before venturing further.

Gippsland Lakes

ITINERARY

FRIDAY NIGHT

1. Drive to Metung (Depart around 6:30pm) I’ll pick up Ash, then come to Steve’s to get Steve and John so we drive down in one car. I’ll leave Croydon around 5.30PM on the Friday evening.
   
   
2. Dinner at McDonalds in Traralgon around 2030. We can take care of any last-minute supermarket requirements across the carpark from McDonalds.
   
   
3. Arrive Metung around 2300 to have supper (Hot chocolate and Brownies, with Rum) and sleep on the boat at the Riviera Nautic Marina.
   
   
4. Read the materials left on-board by the charter company, including the navigation, charts and hazards. 

   
   Carstairs Bank is definitely to be avoided. I have gone aground there, and it wastes a lot of your valuable charter time being rescued.

SATURDAY

1. BREAKFAST: Toast and Cereal.
   
   
2. Morning Briefing (ask about overnight mooring facilities at Loch Sport).
   
   
3. Out into Bancroft Bay to get a feel for the boat handling under motor, then under canvas.
   
   
   • Then (maybe) across to Box’s Creek and then down to Barrier Landing past Nungurner.
     
   • We may visit Metung and poke our heads around into Lake King during the day.
     
     
4. LUNCH: Ham and Salad Sandwiches.
   
   
5. Aim to camp at Barrier Landing near Lakes Entrance on Saturday night.
   
   
6. Some may like to walk 2.5km East up the beach to Lakes Entrance bar. You won’t see a soul. We MAY see oil platforms depending on the weather.
   
   
7. DINNER: Hopefully a Sandra Spaghetti Bolognese. Will know more later.


SUNDAY

1. Get up at our leisure.
   
   
   • Have a nice poo in the long drop toilet.
     
   • Have SHORT showers on board if we wish. (Hot water holding tank is supplied by the engine cooling water.)
     
   • BREAKFAST of Bacon and Eggs with toast cooked by Neil.
     
     
2. Head out to Reeves channel and sail up to Bancroft Bay.
   
   
3. Look at Box’s Creek if we didn’t get around to it yesterday – possible beach up and swim.
   
   
4. Sail to McMillan Strait via north side of Raymond Island. Possible investigation of entrance to silt jetties – Mitchell River mouth. This is apparently the 2nd largest such structure in the world after those at the mouth of the Mississippi River as it enters the Gulf of Mexico. These were largely destroyed after hurricane Katrina in 2005 leaving the Mitchell River as possibly the largest silt jetty in the world.
   
   
5. Motor down to Paynesville for LUNCH – may be bought or cooked on board – still deciding.
   (If on board, possibly hot dogs with cheese and onion.)
   
   Visit Coast Guard and check out their radio room. These guys helped when I radioed from Velocé during a trip to Sydney 13 years ago when we had to offload a crew member with shoulder burns to the water police 40 nm off Lakes Entrance.
   
   
6. Continue down the strait and head across to Duck Arm, then around near Sperm Whale Head and perhaps Rotomah Island. Consider Loch Sport or Ocean Grange as an evening destination. (I have not yet been to Loch Sport but would like to see it.)
   
   
   • Have fun sailing and head for destination. 
Ocean Grange requires some tricky navigation.
   • Afternoon drinks and nibbles.
   • Check out the ocean beach at our destination.
     
     
7. DINNER: Burritos. Apple Pie and Ice Cream for dessert.

MONDAY

1. Get up at our leisure.
   
   
2. BREAKFAST
   
   
   • Pancakes with fresh strawberries and blueberries cooked by Neil.
   • Cereal and toast as well for those who want it.
   • Obligatory 20-minute poo with reading material.
   • Optional SHORT shower.
     
     
3. Head to Loch Sport (if we stayed at Grange) or Grange (if we stayed at Loch Sport). Grange takes a while to get in and out, and we must be back at Metung by 3pm, so we need to be prompt in any case.
   
   
4. Fun and merriment, with singing of sea shanties or old school/modern music by those so inclined.
   
   
5. LUNCH onboard or at Paynesville or Metung. Sandwiches/toasties OR something ashore.
   
   
6. Sail back to Chinaman’s Creek via south side of Raymond Island and then return the boat.
   The boat must be back in Chinaman’s Creek, Metung by 3PM.
   
   
7. Have proper shower if so inclined. Might be a good idea.
   
   
8. Drive home to Neil’s. DINNER at Traralgon.

Sleepy times. (zzzz). Nice shower/bath.
Well-earned sleep. (zzzz)
Slap a mozzie (zzzz)

HAPPY DREAMS & MEMORIES

---

Here are some places you might wish to look up on the Internet or Google Earth/Maps for fun:


• Paynesville / Raymond Island
• Metung / Nungurner
• Ocean Grange
• Loch Sport
• Lake King / Lake Victoria
• Mitchell River Silt Jetties,
• Nicholson River,
• Tambo River
  (These three feed the lakes system into Lake King as does water from Lakes Entrance. It creates tidal flow around the Barrier Landing. The Avon, La Trobe and Thompson Rivers also feed Lake Wellington.)
• Riviera Nautic Website.

Cheers – Neil