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Discover the history of the HMS Cossack from 1854 to 1875.
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02 March 1872
Latitude 43.45S. Longitude 143.38E. Course N85E. wind north force 4 becoming NNW force 4.
Under plain sail. Very thick fog which prevents getting sights for the latitude or longitude and did not clear away until about 1400. This enabled sights for latitude and longitude to be taken. These almost agreed with the dead reckoning.
Noon. Altered course to east.
1530. Sights showed a westerly drift of about 10 miles. Strong breeze from NNW clearing fog. Barometer steady. Bent cables.
2000 Altered course to E by S.
03 March 1872
Steaming up D’Entrecsteaux Channel.
1900 anchored in Apollo Bay. Wind south easterly force 4 becoming ENE force 3. Barometer 30.37 inches . maximum temperature 59F.
0200. Wind hauled round to SW and southward force 5 to 6. In first and second reefs of Top sails. Barometer 30.14 inches and rising.
0500. Altered course to ENE.
0600. Out reefs and made to Top gallant sails.
0610. Sighted Menstone rock NNE 80.
0620 Up steam under both boilers.
0845. Sighted South Cape NE.
0900 commenced steaming. Shortened and furled sails. Set fore and aft sails.
1035. Sighted the Eddystone rock E by S. Course NE by E.
1200. In fore and aft sails.
1300. Sighted Bruny Island Lighthouse N16E. Course N by E.
1430 Altered course for D’Entrecsteaux Channel. .
1500. Lighthouse Bruny Island N64E.
1600. North end of Partridge Island NE.
1850. Stopped and anchored in Apollo Bay in 9 ½ fathoms with sandy bottom. Veered to 2 shackles.
Midnight. Wind although not too fresh followed us around to SE, NE and was then light from the NNE.
04 March 1872
0515. Steamed up the Derwent River to Hobart. 0900. Anchored in Apollo Bay Tasmania . Wind north force 3 becoming SSE force 1 to 2. Maximum temperature 76F.
0500.Weighed and proceeded under steam for northern entrance of channel.
0840. Came to in Sullivan’s Cove in 12 fathoms with sand bottom. Flagstaff of Prince Alberts Battery and Signal Hill in one.
Remarks.
Swan River to Hobart Town
This passage has taken an unusually 21 days and on the whole experienced fine weather with one or two exceptions. One started with a SE wind with which we stood off from the Cape Leeuwin about 200 miles and on our 5th day out in latitude 36.40S the wind hauled round to SSW and SW force 3 which we held for a week with two days of balmy light and variable airs from SE, eastward and northward. The remainder of the time north westerly and occasionally backing round to the eastward. He highest barometer was 30.44 inches with a northerly wind and had seldom been lower than 30.00 inches during the passage. The highest with southerly wind 30.38 inches.
Off the Cape Leeuwin we felt the westerly current of about 1 knot and then for only one or two days and then with southerly wind a NE by easterly current for 7 days at about 20 knots per day on average and with the northerly wind a current setting E by S and S51W for 2 days at 10 knots per day.. March 3. A current had set us west nearly 2 ½ knots per hour and consequently we only sighted the Menstone Rock at 0600 and South Cape at 0845. Maatsurykest (?) and Needle rock were sighted – the former a wedge shaped island sloping to the coast. at 1035. Sighted the Rocks of Pedra Blanca and Eddystone – the latter resembling a tower or pillar. Bruny Lighthouse 335 feet high visible 22 miles revolving every 20 seconds.
The Channel of D’Entrecsteaux is not recommended for sailing vessels except in the summer season owing to the contrary direction given to the winds from the high hills and the openings. Therefore the passage by Storm Bay is strongly advised. We passed up mid channel nearly the whole way; the only danger being the Actaion Shoals which were seen breaking heavily. The Whirlpool Rock on which is moored a black can buoy which we passed on our port hand side and the Bank between the Three Huts and Cape (???) Point which is also marked by beacons, and by bearings on the other shore it is easily passed. Not being able to fetch in Hobart Town by light anchored in Apollo Bay ( About 20 miles from the town)in ten fathoms (mud). The channel which is about 30 to 40 miles long varies from 4 miles within the entrance to ½ mile at the northern entrance. With plenty of water and beautiful scenery with several villages and farms. Next morning stood up channel and were telegraphed up to Hobart Town by signal from Mount Louis, Point Pierson. A pilot came off but he was not wanted.. Passed a whaler at anchor a few miles south of the town. they generally appear to call for provisions. A very few vessels in harbours. Two steamers run to Melbourne and Sydney weekly
