CONTESSA 32 STORY             

 

THE ADVENTURES OF A "CONTESSA IN AUSTRALIA"

E-MAIL 1 - AUGUST 2003

Hello Robin

 

My partner, Elizabeth Stevenson-Ryan and I are currently negotiating to purchase 'Chanson de Lecq' from Sundance Yacht Sales, Sandringham, Victoria, Australia (on Port Philip Bay).  If successful (subject to survey and test sail) we will be relocating her to Yaringa Boat Harbour on Western Port, Victoria (the other bay!) www.yaringa.com.au

 

 

We are finding your website brilliant and have learnt a lot about the Contessa 32 already.  Once the sale is completed we will be joining the association.  Are there any other Contessa 32s permanently based 'down under' - an Antipodean division maybe?

 

It would seem from the little I have gathered that Chanson de Lecq has a very impressive cruising record behind her and we only hope we can live up to her expectations.

 

Our current boat is an Australian classic - a Compass 29 and we are sorry to part with her.

 

Look forward to hearing from you in due course and we will keep you posted on the purchase

 

Best wishes

 

Allan Coxson & Elizabeth Stevenson-Ryan

 

E-MAIL 2 - SEPTEMBER 2003

Hello Robin,

We have relocated Chanson de Lecq from Sandringham on Port Phillip Bay to Yaringa Boat Harbour at the top of  Western Port Bay (off Watson’s Inlet) so now we can get down to the serious business of applying the TLC (Truck Loads of Cash?) to bring her back to pristine condition.  Five people on board and not a camera between us!!  Anyway please find enclosed a few details, a photo of her at Sandringham had and a couple of rough and ready charts.

We left Sandringham at 12.30 on Wednesday 3rd September with a crew of four, late due to various reasons, and headed off down the Bay.  As you would expect the wind went round to the southwest and freshened to 25 knots + - right on the nose so we ended up motoring to Queenscliff at the entrance to Port Phillip.  Arrived there at  8pm having navigated the west Shipping Channel in the dark - there is only one port hand buoy and a green stbd light at the entrance to a narrow cut with a 3 - 4 knot tide running out.  Luckily Elizabeth was conning me in from the bow and spotted the beach and breakers in time!.  Overnighted at Queenscliff and picked up the fifth crew member.

Left Queenscliff at 0710 on Thursday and went through the Rip at the start of the ebb at 0810.  The Rip was calm although a heavy swell was breaking on the rocks either side.  The Rip has a fearsome reputation - think of Chichester Bar but two miles wide with an eight knot current at spring ebbs.  The sea bottom goes from 20 metres to 90 metres and back up to 20 metres again in the space of less than half a mile.  The eddies and overfalls are incredible.  A Pilot Launch (virtually unsinkable) was lost with all hands a few years ago when it was sucked down in a whirlpool never to be seen again.  Cleared the Rip at 8.30 into Bass Strait with a north-westerly wind at 5 - 10 knots and a 2 to 3 metre swell.  Motor sailed down to Cape Schank as I wanted to get into Western Port before the forecast northerly gales arrived.  We rounded Cape Schank  at 11.30 and picked up the flood tide - 18 miles in 3 hours.  Entered Western Port at 13.15 having been questioned by the Naval Gunnery Range at Flinders as to our intentions and before we fouled the range for a firing serial at remotely controlled boats.  Turned the corner at Sandy Point at 1400 for the run up Western Port  (40 miles in 5 and a half hours), and the northerly hit gusting up to 50 knots.  Only making half a knot through the water and another narrow channel which would have had 1 to 2 metre seas to get into Yaringa so discretion was the better part of valour and we went to the marina at Hastings, half way up the bay.  Even in the shelter of Hastings Bight we reckoned the gusts were still 50 knots+. 

Chanson de Lecq didn’t bat an eyelid.

Left Chanson de Lecq at Hastings until Saturday - work calling for all of us.  Left Hastings at 1300 on Saturday in a 10 - 15 knot westerly and broad reached up and down the bay at 6 knots plus - finally getting a chance to see how she performs.  Three Yaringa boats came down to greet us and we headed up the Bay in company (will forward those photos when I get them) berthing in our pen at 1600 to the popping of champagne corks and rounds of applause together with the 'oohs' and 'aahs' as we were welcomed in.  Chanson de Lecq is certainly turning a few heads!  As somebody said - you don’t get that sort of quality build in an Australian yacht.

Long term ambition is to try and complete the five Great Capes (She has definitely rounded Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leuwin (Western Australia), she may have rounded South West Cape on Stewart Island (New Zealand) but I can’t confirm that, which definitely leaves South West Cape in Tasmania to round.

Regards

Allan & Elizabeth

(Your Antipodean correspondents)