Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Lakes Entrance (Lake MacQuarie)
13 March
We motored around the corner to the public jetty to fill up with water, we did two loads of washing.
The wind picked up and we sailed to Belmont Yacht Club were we picked up a mooring outside the club. We put the washing out all over the boat-looking like a chinese laundry and got some looks from boats passing by.
We went ashore, had a drink and lunch at the club before heading off down the main street.
Leaving at 7.30am for Newcastle/Port Stephens tomorrow.
12 March
Hazy conditions this morning and swell was picking up as there was a strong Southerly expected tonight. We motored to Pulbah Island and then sailed with genoa as the sind was behind us. We anchored in beautiful Styles Point near Rathmine Reserve. We went ashore for a walk through the reserve-lots of birds, rosellas, galahs, kookaburras and ended up at the other side of the point where there was a small shopping centre. Northern Star was here as well. We were well protected from the southerly that evening.
11 March
Motored to the south side of Pulbah Island were there are no boats and a mooring free. Picked up the mooring and will do a bit of fishing while the newletter is written up.
No fish, decided to explore down to Mannering Park end of Lake Macquarie where the powerhouse is so motored and anchored off a bay south of Point Wolostoncroft. There are lots of skiers in the area and a catamaran "Mahi Mahi" selling hot food. Dave and Lynn came over for a drink and a chat later that evening before heading back to their marina.
10 March
Carole and Len from "Running Gale" the other Roberts Offshore came over for morning tea, we had a lovely time and then Paul built the shelf around the water separator in the workshop. He even tidied up the workshop and it looks fantastic.
9 March
Overnight it was raining and very windy. We waited for the tide to rise making our way up the channel. It is well marked and there were a few places that were very marginal, touching bottom. One spot we waited a while for the tide to rise more. It is quite deep once in the Lake.
We motored to Toronto Bay, where we picked up a moring outside the RMYC while we went ashore and explored the township of Toronto.
Here we purchased more fishing tackle, sunshade and wood for some jobs we had to do on the boat. We also shouted ourselves a cappacinno while we read the newspaper.
Dropping the mooring late afternoon we motored down the Wangi Wangi bay before putting sails up and tacking to the northside of Pulbah Island in the middle of the bay. There was a mooring free so we picked that up. The island is a nature reserv e and looks a popular weekend spot as it is busy filling up with boats. There is a strong SE expected and we will be protected here. Paul took the dingy across to another Roberts Offshore that just arrived and did not come back until 8.30pm.
8 March
39 nm 8hours and 30 minutes
Well we left Brisbane waters in the Hawksbury at 9am as the tide was just coming in, we were still touching bottom as we went out over the bar and this took us about 1 hour.
We then headed off for Lakes Entrance with light winds around 10kts (18km) this slowly increased to around 16kts allowing us to sail up the coast for a fair way. Tracy moved the main and lost the brake over the side so Paul got busy and fixed it up making it possible to do this from the cockpit rather than having to go out on deck. Clever man. We arived at 4.30 pm at low tide crossing the Swansea Bar with breakers on our starboard side touching the bottom as we went in here also but did not get stuck. We had on our lifejackets (law in NSW) and the companionway boards in just in case but it was a perfect crossing..
It was quite amazing to see how many ships are waiting to go into Newcastle for coal as this AIS photo shows over 60 are at anchour.
The bridge opened early for us and we have taken a courtesy mooring up river as the tide current was very strong deciding to wait until morning to venture further upstream as some of the depths are minimal.
We motored around the corner to the public jetty to fill up with water, we did two loads of washing.
The wind picked up and we sailed to Belmont Yacht Club were we picked up a mooring outside the club. We put the washing out all over the boat-looking like a chinese laundry and got some looks from boats passing by.
We went ashore, had a drink and lunch at the club before heading off down the main street.
Leaving at 7.30am for Newcastle/Port Stephens tomorrow.
12 March
Hazy conditions this morning and swell was picking up as there was a strong Southerly expected tonight. We motored to Pulbah Island and then sailed with genoa as the sind was behind us. We anchored in beautiful Styles Point near Rathmine Reserve. We went ashore for a walk through the reserve-lots of birds, rosellas, galahs, kookaburras and ended up at the other side of the point where there was a small shopping centre. Northern Star was here as well. We were well protected from the southerly that evening.
11 March
Motored to the south side of Pulbah Island were there are no boats and a mooring free. Picked up the mooring and will do a bit of fishing while the newletter is written up.
No fish, decided to explore down to Mannering Park end of Lake Macquarie where the powerhouse is so motored and anchored off a bay south of Point Wolostoncroft. There are lots of skiers in the area and a catamaran "Mahi Mahi" selling hot food. Dave and Lynn came over for a drink and a chat later that evening before heading back to their marina.
10 March
Carole and Len from "Running Gale" the other Roberts Offshore came over for morning tea, we had a lovely time and then Paul built the shelf around the water separator in the workshop. He even tidied up the workshop and it looks fantastic.
9 March
Overnight it was raining and very windy. We waited for the tide to rise making our way up the channel. It is well marked and there were a few places that were very marginal, touching bottom. One spot we waited a while for the tide to rise more. It is quite deep once in the Lake.
We motored to Toronto Bay, where we picked up a moring outside the RMYC while we went ashore and explored the township of Toronto.
Here we purchased more fishing tackle, sunshade and wood for some jobs we had to do on the boat. We also shouted ourselves a cappacinno while we read the newspaper.
Dropping the mooring late afternoon we motored down the Wangi Wangi bay before putting sails up and tacking to the northside of Pulbah Island in the middle of the bay. There was a mooring free so we picked that up. The island is a nature reserv e and looks a popular weekend spot as it is busy filling up with boats. There is a strong SE expected and we will be protected here. Paul took the dingy across to another Roberts Offshore that just arrived and did not come back until 8.30pm.
8 March
39 nm 8hours and 30 minutes
Well we left Brisbane waters in the Hawksbury at 9am as the tide was just coming in, we were still touching bottom as we went out over the bar and this took us about 1 hour.
We then headed off for Lakes Entrance with light winds around 10kts (18km) this slowly increased to around 16kts allowing us to sail up the coast for a fair way. Tracy moved the main and lost the brake over the side so Paul got busy and fixed it up making it possible to do this from the cockpit rather than having to go out on deck. Clever man. We arived at 4.30 pm at low tide crossing the Swansea Bar with breakers on our starboard side touching the bottom as we went in here also but did not get stuck. We had on our lifejackets (law in NSW) and the companionway boards in just in case but it was a perfect crossing..
It was quite amazing to see how many ships are waiting to go into Newcastle for coal as this AIS photo shows over 60 are at anchour.
The bridge opened early for us and we have taken a courtesy mooring up river as the tide current was very strong deciding to wait until morning to venture further upstream as some of the depths are minimal.
