There is one sure way to avoid the ever-increasing crowds at your favourite tropical anchorages. Avoid the annual flotilla to the northern tropics and head south into the high latitudes instead. You can't get much further south than Bruny Island without needing a passport. Here you will find the kind of uncrowded anchorages that northern cruisers can only dream of. Think of a cool place of peace and tranquillity where the only dawn sounds you'll hear are the gentle twitter of birdsong, where mist rises up the valleys to the snow-capped mountains. Where sweet orchard aromas permeate the air. And when civilisation does beckon, there are vineyards, cheese makers, chocolatiers, apple orchards and berry farms all within a languid days' sail away. Did I mention the seafood? Tasmanian fishermen sell some of the best scallops and salmon on the planet if the hunter-gatherer in you has also gone on holidays.

Getting to Tasmania
Tasmania's east coast has a plethora of good cruising grounds for those prepared to make the crossing across the 'ditch'. And the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island are one of the best. Racing down to Tassie in the annual Rolex Sydney to Hobart is the obvious way to get there for summer, but it's not the only choice. A more leisurely voyage was organised by The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for 2009. The Club Marine 2009 Sydney to Hobart Cruise had staggered start times from Port Jackson to suit individual skippers, with the aim being to arrive in Hobart in time for the annual Wooden Boat Festival in February.

If you're really stretched for time (and bravado - let's face it, Bass Strait can be intimidating), why not fly down there and charter a bareboat instead? Yachting Holidays in Hobart offer a bareboat Beneteau Oceanus 411 for around $600 per day.

Wind and Tides
As with any cruise, weather and tide should be considered well before heading out, though tidal range is generally around 1m, with a maximum range of 1.5m during spring tides. According to Cruising Tasmania author J Brettingham-Moore, Tasmania's weather is largely controlled by the passage, from west to east, of low-pressure systems. During the summer, which is the best time to cruise, the cold fronts associated with these systems generally pass south of Tasmania, causing predominantly westerly winds. Brettingham-Moore quotes a soothing statistic to ease a cruising sailors anxiety levels: during summer and autumn, winds in excess of 35 knots occur less than 4% of the time. Poor holding weed and kelp beds are the main anchorage hazards to be aware of.

Weather reports are broadcast on HF radio from the Bureau of Meteorology, with the dulcet tones of 'Mechanical Mike's' computer generated voice broadcast every four hours. Warnings are given on the hour. Local Coastguard Stations can probably give a more personal forecast, or check with
 Coast Radio Hobart for the latest broadcast frequencies and times.

Starting from Hobart
With any southern Tassie exploration, your voyage will almost certainly start from Hobart. The Hobart waterfront is a crew's paradise with bars, restaurants and enough seafood restaurants and takeaways to satisfy the hungriest crew. Try 42 Degrees South for a funky drinks venue and Fish Frenzy next door for excellent fish and chips, both on Elizabeth Pier. But paradise beckons further south so I encourage you to head south before your crew get too comfortable. Don't forget to call into the Harbour Lights Cafe, next door to Peter Johnston Chandlers, to pick up some scallop pies before you depart. They're the perfect sustenance for a hungry crew while you meander down the Derwent River. The great thing about cruising this area is that the distances are small; it's less than 15nm from Hobart to the northern entrance to the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.

Circumnavigating Bruny Island
Before you reach the Iron Pot you'll need to decide if you're going to circumnavigate Bruny Island clockwise or anti-clockwise. Plan to cruise the east coast in the most favourable, light conditions. Storm Bay is so named for good reason, though you're in good company here with some legendary navigators having passed through in the late 1700's. No matter which way you go, you'll be spoilt for choices, with almost every anchorage offering spectacular views of the dramatic wilderness of Hartz Mountains peeking over the lower ranges.

The best anchorages on the east coast are in crescent shaped Adventure Bay, with shelter available in the northern and southern most corners. There's an astonishing daily show at dusk as fairy penguins waddle ashore to their rookeries burrowed into the dunes at the narrow neck that divides Adventure and Isthmus Bays. Climb the steps to the lookout, which offers a stunning view south along the isthmus. Aptly named Quiet Corner is the most popular anchorage with good protection from NW to S in gin clear water. From here it's a short walk along the beach, past the memorial to Tobias Furneaux who discovered Adventure Bay in 1773, to the township in the SE corner. At Adventure Bay you'll find a General Store selling fuel, gas and other essentials. Plus there's the licensed White Wallaby Café right next door. Walk a little further along the beach and you'll also come across Captain James Cook's landing place just past the jetty.

• The Wooden Boat Festival (Hobart) Febuary
• A Taste of the Huon (Ranelagh) March
• Huon Tasmania Salmon Port Esperance (Port Esperance Sailing Club) April
• The Wooden Boat Centre will launch their current vessel in Mar or April 2009 – check with the centre for dates

Check out the Events Calendar for this years dates.