Anchorages Archives - this rough magic

Franklin

In 2022 I relocated Freebooter to her new home on a swing mooring 120m upstream from the Wooden Boat Centre and Living Boat Trust in Franklin, Tasmania.

I had thought about Franklin as a suitable base for Freebooter since arriving in Tasmania but nothing had prepared me for its beauty and the friendliness of its locals.

Franklin is situated a leisurely four hour sail up the Huon River from where it flows into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The oldest town in the Huon Valley, Franklin is only ten kilometres downstream from Huonville which offers excellent opportunities for provisions and services and is a 40 minute drive from Hobart.

Before finding my current swing mooring I based Freebooter at the small and welcoming Franklin Marina, right next to the Living Boat Trust.

Franklin Marina, Tasmania recorded with my Spry+ in 2022.

The water in Franklin is brackish meaning it’s great to help the barnacles fall off the bottom of Freebooter’s hull.

The Living Boat Trust

The Living Boat Trust is a boating community “dedicated to keeping Tasmania’s marine heritage alive and maintaining traditional boat building, repairing, rowing and sailing skills”. Its hub is the shed with a kitchen, bathroom, toilet and changing room. “It has an extensive collection of tools, sailing and rowing gear” and is “the home of good work, good company, good talk, and good food – the last being especially true every Monday evening when [they] host [their] dinners”.

Stewarts and Ladies Bays (Port Arthur)

Safe and comfortable anchorages in Port Arthur can be found in the first bay north of the historical site in Stewarts and Ladies Bays. I anchored at Stewarts Bay for a week in north-westerlies and then moved 200m to Ladies Bay when the winds changed southerly.

Both Bays have easy access to the beach and Stewarts Bay Lodge jetty. The Lodge has an excellent and reasonably-priced restaurant.

I anchored in 3m over sand in Stewarts Bay, just 200m from the beach.

A short walk up the track at the top of the beach leads to the NRMA caravan and camping park with a small shop for basic necessities as well as a coin-operated laundry.

A short walk up Stewarts Bay Road via the jetty leads to two general stores on the main road, one with an excellent cafe.

The cafe on the main road makes excellent coffee as well as selling sour dough bread.

On the right up Stewarts Bay there is a farm outlet where you can but fresh local vegetables and fruit.

The local produce shop uses the honour system with extremely reasonable prices.

My old mate, Peter Godson, joined me for a week of day-sailing and swimming off the beach.

After Peter returned to Melbourne I spent a week sanding and oiling the gunnels and rub rails.

The walking track south of the lodge leads to the historical site.

All in all I spent three weeks in these wonderful bays during the best of the summer and would happily return again.

Port Arthur

As a cruising destination, it is hard to surpass Port Arthur on the south of Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula.

It took a while to find favourable weather conditions but in February 2021 I finally crossed Storm Bay to visit Port Arthur’s and anchor in Stewarts Bay.

World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site, the best preserved convict site in Australia. and among the most significant convict era sites worldwide, is a large outdoor site spanning over 100 acres with over 30 buildings and ruins to explore.

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MAST public floating marina outside Constitution Dock

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) provide an 8 berth public floating marina outside Constitution Dock in downtown Hobart. Vessels can stay there for free for up to 5 hours.

The courtesy berths are located in Sullivan’s Cove just outside Constitution Dock and next to the Kings Dock Marina.

If you need to stay overnight, text 0418 145 439 and advise your name, name of vessel and estimated time of departure.

The berths are located just a few minutes’ walk from Constitution Dock’s seafood cafes as well as Salamanca Market.

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Bull Bay, North Bruny Island

Bull Bay is an excellent anchorage on Nth Bruny Island – especially in the predominant west and south-westerly winds.

Anchor in three to four metres of sand in the south of the bay close to the beach. It makes an excellent staging point while waiting for good conditions to cross Storm Bay or move to Frederick Henry and Norfolk Bays.

Ashore in Bull Bay with friends, Bettina and Stephen Blackburn, in January 2021

The beach is very secluded as there is no public access through the private farmland from the nearby road.

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The Duckpond, North Bruny Island

Just a few kilometres east of Kettering you will find “The Duckpond”, a delightful all-weather anchorage in North Bruny Island.

The Duckpond lies to the far east of Barnes Bay

I anchored there with good friend, Neil Adams, in three metres over sand on day one of my first cruise after Melbourne’s 2020 COVID lockdown. Unlike the north arm of Simmonds Bay, crowded with vessels on swing moorings, we found ourselves alone in the safe and tranquil waters of the The Duckpond.

Chef Neil preparing dinner for the BBQ

We both had a great swim on arrival and before dinner

Crayfish, oysters, roast sweet potatoes and salad for dinner

The Duckpond is a spawning ground for young flatheads so, if fishing, make sure you adhere strictly to the Bruny D’Entrecasteaux region fishing guide.

The anchorage is surrounded by land so it’s like swimming in a pool.