For those of us who love to sail to the Furneaux Group, with all their challenges, the proposed harbour and marina at Lady Barron might come as a mixed blessing:

www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjH07L9rI7lAhXfHDQIHelxBOcQFjAAegQIABAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flinders.tas.gov.au%2Fclient-assets%2Fimages%2FCouncil%2FDownloads%2FAgendas%2F2017.09%2FAnnex%252013.%2520B7.%2520Safe%2520Harbour%2520Final%2520Report.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0wRhUa-cIImLuOFY1KyBzS

On the one hand, it would be great to tie up to a pontoon in flat water after a long passage. But one of the attractions for me has been the isolation, with only the odd one or two other yachts berthed there on my visits, and I can see it ending up like Refuge Cove during the holidays.

One thing they will have to do if it attracts more recreational craft is to sort out the approach from the eastern side of the island through the Pot Boil. The shoals move with each storm and even if you are on the leads you can end up in trouble. I have listened in to VHF maydays there on two of my visits. Both skippers were experienced sailors. And when I sailed out that way I had the (normally very accurate) Bidata showing zero under my 1.2m keel for a minute or so, despite being in the white sector (3.2m on the chart) at half tide. I guess a decent degree of heel saved me from a few bumps. I would not do it again without first checking with the locals.

Cheers, Graeme