Lake Macquarie

Hi there, we spent 4 nights moored in Rozelle Bay (easy access to the city by bus) plenty of shops, cafe's and laundermats just up the road. Moved to Middle Habour on wed 23th for 4 nights, had a good shower at the yacht club, a few cafes around. Got the bus to Warringah shopping mall to stock up supplies.
On the 27th we sailed 4 hours up the coast to Pittwater and moored in Snapper Beach. The next day we mooved to Coasters Retreat and caught up with Roseanne who we fisrt met in Eden.
The 29th we motor sailed to Lake Macquarie. The intention was to sail to Port Stevens. The weather was not as forecasted. The wind was under 10 knots and it was cold and raining, we decided to cut the trip short and go in to Lake Macquarie. John crossed his firt sand bar, all good.

After a day in the city and Manly high & dry

Manly

Snapper Beach Pittwater

At Snapper Beach Pittwater

Bridge Lake Macquarie (has to open for yachts)

Port Hacking - Sydney

Well here we are in Sydney -- Left Jarvis Bay 16/5/12 at 6.20am motor sailed all the way to Jibbon Bay at Port Hacking arrived at 8pm it is quite daunting  approching in the dark and relying on lead lights and your gps. Thursday morning John took me ashore in the dingy and I walked to the ferry and went to Cronulla. What a lovely town, lot's of expensive homes and big boats.
Left Jibbon Bay at 6.45am Friday for Sydney. What a thrill coming into the heads of Sydney and going under the bridge in your own boat. We anchored at Rozell Bay at 11.40. The bus just across the park takes 20mins to The Rocks, where I was lucky enough to stay Saturday night with Ashlyn and her friend Kate.
We went to the Sailer's Thai for dinner the food was great. Ashlyn visited us on the boat Sunday before she had to fly back to Brisbane.

Leaving Port Hacking

On the way to Cronulla

Arriving in Sydney

At Bondi with Ashlyn





Jervis Bay NSW

We spent 6 nights in Eden, and met other couples on their way up the east coast to get away from the Tassie winter.Left Eden 9.30am Friday 11/5/2012 in the company of sailing vesels Roseanne & Seabird , smooth seas and light wind. At 3.30 the expected change arrived, wind up to 25knotts, and following seas, with waves and swell reaching 4mts.In these conditions we felt like we were in a washing machine for the rest of the trip.
This was our fith over night trip since leaving Adelaide. Arrived at Jervis Bay with our anchor set at 11.30am Sat. Jervis Bay is a lovely spot with a lot of  options to get out of the weather.

This is on entrace to Jervis Bay if you look closely you
can see 2 light houses. (I think I need a better camera)

Eden

We spent 7 nights in Refuge Cove Friday the 4th May we got up at 4.30am, it was raining and dark, had to wait untill  7.15 before we could see well enough to leave. This was the hardest leg for us, the sea ranged from 3mt to 4 mt with a 1.5mt swell. wind north west to south west up to 35knotts. We did a fair amount of surfing. John only had the jib half furled and the motor ticking over and we reached eight knotts at times.
The waves seemed huge and were braking over the boat, the dolphins din't care what the weather was doing, they are still out there. I must admit I was scared at times, and hung on to the scalf mum knitted for me. We arrived at Eden NSW and had the anchor set at 9.15pm Saturday. I was happy that Bass Straight was behind us. We stayed on anchor 2 nights and then move closer to the town, and rafted up next to an old fishing boat on the wharf. From the wharf we can walk up the hill to town , the shops, launder mat and shower at the fishermans club.
The Endeavour is in Eden for a few days, Monday night we went to the fishermans club for dinner, and chatted with some guys who paid $1800.00 to do a leg on the Endeavour from Melbourne to Eden, (they paid to work) They said most people were sea sick. They enjoyed the eperience but would not do it again.

Eden

John's boat at the wharf Eden

The Endeavour

Lunch at the wharf

Wilsons Promontory - Refuge Cove

Left  Apollo Bay Thursday 26/4/12 at 6.30am, sea rollie, 7knt breeze southwest. I thought we were going to get a sail, but it only lasted for 15mins, conditions changed and the motor was started. Early Friday morning we went around the most southern point of the main land. John chose to go through the shipping channel  in between the rocks, rather than going around them, the later would probably have been a better option as we didn’t get anywhere in a hurry. We were struggling against the stream of Wilsons Promontory and the tide, had to boost the motor to make head way. We arrived at Refuge Cove (about half way through Bass Straight) at 11am Friday morning. Refuge Cove is a lovely little cove that is a protected anchorage in most conditions. It is only accessible by water, and hiking. We had a nice calm night, Saturday morning I took my canoe ashore and explored the bay a delightful place you could hide out here in solitude. In the afternoon a front came through and the wind gusted to 40 – 50 knots, even in here we copped it, the boat was healing over and going in all directions. (Still felt safe in here at anchor) Sunday morning all calm. Monday morning we left at 6.30 with the intention to go to Eden ( 238nm @4knots = 59.5hrs) 15knots north by north west wind, doing 6knots , didn’t last for long conditions change wind on the nose and a easterly swell made it hard, we were struggling to do 1 -2knots , it got worse the further we went. At 1.30 the decision was made to return to Refuge Cove. Arrived back at 7.30pm, and spent a comfortable night.  

going around the point of vic

Refuge Cove

beach Refuge Cove