Wintering in Hobart

Hibernate?  I think not.  Beautiful soft katabatic breezes and temperatures up to 15C.  Nights can be cold and sometimes there is frost on the deck.

This panorama was taken in 'Quiet Corner' Adventure Bay on the outside of Bruny Island, Tasmania.  June long weekend so close to the shortest day.  Went there for a couple of nights for the 'Adventure Bay Blues and Roots Festival.  What an event!! 10 bands in 12 hours with BBQ and good wine.  70 NM round trip.  Quick trip down there in fresh westerly but slower punching into a moderate northerly on the way back.  A great weekend and surprisingly mild considering the time of year.  The event is held annually and is about 300 metres from the sheltered anchorage pictured.

Gale force winds today

Reminds me of some serious conditions Portobello has been through: 40 - 50 knots of smoking water excitement off  Pirates Bay and 30 - 40 knots off South East Cape returning from Port Davey a couple of years ago. Now that was a great trip. What a place - Ah the serenity!

 

Clayton's Corner at sunset.  A stunning anchorage.

 

 

Previous Life

Portobello was in a sad state when I bought her :-(

Looking towards V Berth

after

kitchen before

 

 

so there was considerable work to get her up to a habitable condition. Fortunately all the important stuff was quite sound!

Why a Doven 30?

Doven 30s have the lines of a more traditional masthead sloop and were designed and built in Tasmania. 30 or so were built, solid hand laid fibreglass in a pair of moulds. Portobello is basic construction but very solid and as a recent survey showed has shown no structural deterioration over the 33 years since it was launched.

Portobello

 

Portobello was designed in Tasmania under the IOR half tonner rule around the early 70s. Typical of the design is a rather pinched stern, considerable tumblehome and short water line length when not sailing.  These were all features to maximise rating under the rule. The 'DOVEN 30' design had some great features for sailing in the temperate climate and roaring forties around Tasmania these included relatively large internal space for getting out of the cold and relatively small rig.

 

I bought Portobello in a neglected condition in Port Stevens, New South Wales. My previous boat a Triton 24 sold quickly and helped in the purchase and delivery costs.