Monday, March 26, 2007
Port Stephens
26 March
Went to marina to fill with water and do a couple of loads of washing. It is very social in the marina. We met a boat that sailed through the two days of 30knot+ winds from Lord Howe Island and Sassoon from Maloolaba. Chris came over for a farewell cuppa before we headed off in the morning.
25 March
Raining and very windy. Paul took Gene and Cate ashore between rain and wind squalls. We had Footloose II over for a cuppa and went over there for a sundowner.
24 March
Gene and Cate took us to the Hunter Valley wine region. We had a lovely day and it really is a beautiful area, reminds me of the Margaret River area. Very hot day but wine tasting was pleasant. We bought cheese, bread and olives and ate it in the garden of a winery. A really lovely day.
30 Knot winds started last night, played 500's and then hit the sack.
23 March
Sailed from Fame Cove to Nelson Bay to pick up new sewing machine from Post Office and do a bit of food shopping. Then sailed to Salamanda Bay and picked up a courtesy mooring. Expecting Gene and Cate night. They arrived at 9.00 and we had a game of 500's.
22 March
Taking the dingy up the inlet we went a long way, right up to main road and bridge. Upon return we then motored to Fame Cove and dropped anchor (had to do it twice due to soft mud). It is Hot 30+ degrees and met Jane and Harry from Comorant again for a cuppa.
21 March
We rang Samantha early in the morning for her birthday. I got into the dingy and washed the hull of the boat so it was clean and then treated the few rust bits that were coming through. Paul recieved the latest SeaMap disc. He installed it and got it up and running.
We motored slowly to North Arm Cove (we were going to Lemon Tree Passage but the tide was low and the depths minimal). We picked up a mooring in this bay, there are houses on the West side and bush on the south. Very pretty.
20 March
We both went ashore and explored this township, The beach has white sand and clear blue water. It is Samantha's 21st Birthday tomorrow.
19 March
Paul caught the bus to the dentist. I went to Bunnings to purchase sunshade material. I spent the day sewing back shades for the boat until I picked Paul up early that afternoon. They repaired his tooth and all if fine. The anchorage is rocky so have motored to Salamander Bay.
18 March
Spent the day sewing up a canvas cover to cover the middle of the boat. I am not loving my sewing machine as it is having a hard time with the canvas-broken six needles-so the cover does the job but I would not show it to anyone. Paul stays out of my way as I lost my temper a few times.
17 March
It rained last night and this morning it is very overcast and is a relief from the heat and humidity of yesterday. Picked up a courtesy mooring next to Azure. Paul is catching the bus tomorrow morning at 6.45am to Newcastle to see the dentist so we are going back to Nelson Cove.
Spent the day sewing up a canvas cover to cover the middle of the boat.
16 March
NE came in yesterday, making this a very rolly anchorage so early this morning we dropped the mooring at high tide and and motored (no wind and water still like glass) to Fame Cove watching the sunrise underway. We picked up a courtesy mooring in this lovely cove. It was a hot day and we went swimming, the water was warm. Coco was thrown into the water from the front of the boat and swam to the rear where she could climb back on deck. Now we know she will know what to do if she accidentally falls in.
15 March
Took the dingy into shore, tied up at the marina next to "Aphrodite" and explored the township of Nelson Bay. The wind is coming from the NE and we are going to head off tomorrow am to Fame Cove as the anchorage is getting rolly and we are having a pizza night tonight onshore with Chris.
Paul chipped his tooth and broke a section off. Paul will catch the bus to see dentist in Newcastle on Monday.
14 March
Lake Macquarie to Port Stephens-45.5 nm Total time 6 hours and 50 minutes.
Left for Port Stephens motoring down the Swansea channel at high tide, not bottom bouncing this time, we had a bridge opening at 9am.
After going through the bridge we did hit the bottom slightly going out over the bar but all okay. Putting the sails up we motor sailed to Port Stephens (we were going to Newcastle but the weather on the water was superb). The swell was 2-3 metres we went out to sea as there was NE predicted which we could tack into Port Stephens. We went close to many big ships waiting out from Newcastle.
The entry to Port Stephens is majestic, green headlands giving way to white beaches with sparkling white sand and clear blue water. Chris from "Azure" is here too. We picked up a mooring at Nelson Bay close to Azure and had dinner and drinks aboard Cockatoo. It is so good to see him again and catch up on all the news.
Listening to the big tourist cruise boats on the radio calling each other and telling each other where the dolphins are-poor dolphins.
Went to marina to fill with water and do a couple of loads of washing. It is very social in the marina. We met a boat that sailed through the two days of 30knot+ winds from Lord Howe Island and Sassoon from Maloolaba. Chris came over for a farewell cuppa before we headed off in the morning.
25 March
Raining and very windy. Paul took Gene and Cate ashore between rain and wind squalls. We had Footloose II over for a cuppa and went over there for a sundowner.
24 March
Gene and Cate took us to the Hunter Valley wine region. We had a lovely day and it really is a beautiful area, reminds me of the Margaret River area. Very hot day but wine tasting was pleasant. We bought cheese, bread and olives and ate it in the garden of a winery. A really lovely day.
30 Knot winds started last night, played 500's and then hit the sack.
23 March
Sailed from Fame Cove to Nelson Bay to pick up new sewing machine from Post Office and do a bit of food shopping. Then sailed to Salamanda Bay and picked up a courtesy mooring. Expecting Gene and Cate night. They arrived at 9.00 and we had a game of 500's.
22 March
Taking the dingy up the inlet we went a long way, right up to main road and bridge. Upon return we then motored to Fame Cove and dropped anchor (had to do it twice due to soft mud). It is Hot 30+ degrees and met Jane and Harry from Comorant again for a cuppa.
21 March
We rang Samantha early in the morning for her birthday. I got into the dingy and washed the hull of the boat so it was clean and then treated the few rust bits that were coming through. Paul recieved the latest SeaMap disc. He installed it and got it up and running.
We motored slowly to North Arm Cove (we were going to Lemon Tree Passage but the tide was low and the depths minimal). We picked up a mooring in this bay, there are houses on the West side and bush on the south. Very pretty.
20 March
We both went ashore and explored this township, The beach has white sand and clear blue water. It is Samantha's 21st Birthday tomorrow.
19 March
Paul caught the bus to the dentist. I went to Bunnings to purchase sunshade material. I spent the day sewing back shades for the boat until I picked Paul up early that afternoon. They repaired his tooth and all if fine. The anchorage is rocky so have motored to Salamander Bay.
18 March
Spent the day sewing up a canvas cover to cover the middle of the boat. I am not loving my sewing machine as it is having a hard time with the canvas-broken six needles-so the cover does the job but I would not show it to anyone. Paul stays out of my way as I lost my temper a few times.
17 March
It rained last night and this morning it is very overcast and is a relief from the heat and humidity of yesterday. Picked up a courtesy mooring next to Azure. Paul is catching the bus tomorrow morning at 6.45am to Newcastle to see the dentist so we are going back to Nelson Cove.
Spent the day sewing up a canvas cover to cover the middle of the boat.
16 March
NE came in yesterday, making this a very rolly anchorage so early this morning we dropped the mooring at high tide and and motored (no wind and water still like glass) to Fame Cove watching the sunrise underway. We picked up a courtesy mooring in this lovely cove. It was a hot day and we went swimming, the water was warm. Coco was thrown into the water from the front of the boat and swam to the rear where she could climb back on deck. Now we know she will know what to do if she accidentally falls in.
15 March
Took the dingy into shore, tied up at the marina next to "Aphrodite" and explored the township of Nelson Bay. The wind is coming from the NE and we are going to head off tomorrow am to Fame Cove as the anchorage is getting rolly and we are having a pizza night tonight onshore with Chris.
Paul chipped his tooth and broke a section off. Paul will catch the bus to see dentist in Newcastle on Monday.
14 March
Lake Macquarie to Port Stephens-45.5 nm Total time 6 hours and 50 minutes.
Left for Port Stephens motoring down the Swansea channel at high tide, not bottom bouncing this time, we had a bridge opening at 9am.
After going through the bridge we did hit the bottom slightly going out over the bar but all okay. Putting the sails up we motor sailed to Port Stephens (we were going to Newcastle but the weather on the water was superb). The swell was 2-3 metres we went out to sea as there was NE predicted which we could tack into Port Stephens. We went close to many big ships waiting out from Newcastle.
The entry to Port Stephens is majestic, green headlands giving way to white beaches with sparkling white sand and clear blue water. Chris from "Azure" is here too. We picked up a mooring at Nelson Bay close to Azure and had dinner and drinks aboard Cockatoo. It is so good to see him again and catch up on all the news.
Listening to the big tourist cruise boats on the radio calling each other and telling each other where the dolphins are-poor dolphins.
