Monday, 25 October 2010

I got back to Port Macquarie about 15:00 on Friday after a really good trip down from Coffs Harbour. Left there at 03:30, there was a full moon and it was good weather, not much wind until late in the morning when a good north-easter came in and with that plus the east coast current running at about a knot and a half, I was making 7 – 8 knots over the ground. I tried putting the blooper up instead of the jib, but it wasn’t successful. It is far too big to get a spinnaker pole on and sailing downwind without a pole meant it was all over the place. I have used it once before when the wind was just abaft the beam and it worked very well then.

I was a bit concerned about the bar at Port as my ETA was just on the end of the run out tide, the worst time to cross. I made the boat ready, stowed everything that was loose and put the washboard in. The wind was just on my starboard beam when I lined up for the bar, so I left the sails up to help go against the outgoing current which can be around 3 – 4 knots. It was a bit frisky again, but not too bad, she tried to broach a couple of times, but with the extra speed from the sails, she responded well to the helm.

Chez was on the sea wall waiting for me and Nicole cadged a ride in the sea rescue RHIB and came out and meet me just inside the break wall. She took some photos on her phone and I will put a couple on to this blog. Chez had quite a long walks from the wall around to the marina, but was there to help me berth. Nicole transferred on to Paragon and took the helm for the trip up the channel to the marina while I took the sails down. Couldn’t get Paragon to back into my berth due to the fresh nor-easter, so had to put her in bow first, but turned her around yesterday morning before the wind came up.

Sad, but this is my last blog, until next time. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather wasn’t too good and sometimes the winds weren’t as I would have wanted, but you’ve got to take the bad with the good. Over 400 hours underway and logged over 2000 nautical miles.

Thank you to all my loyal readers and I will let you know when we’re off again.

Friday, 22 October 2010

In Coffs Harbour tonight after a really good run down from Iluka. Left there at first light, the bar was quite flat. Wind came in from the north east about mid morning and I was able to sail right down to Coffs doing between 6 and 7 knots.

There were large numbers of shearwaters (mutton birds) all around and I had to laugh at them. When flying they are superb, skimming the water with their wings only a couple of centimetres above the water, but when they come in to land they just do a belly flop; their head goes under the water and they look quite funny. When on the water they are completely oblivious to the boat and do not move out of the way, they just get pushed out of the way by the bow wave, then give me a dirty look as I pass them.

Today’s piece of succinct advice – “When in trouble or in doubt, sail in circles, scream and shout!”

Tomorrow’s winds look really good and I intend leaving here at about 3:30 and be in Port by about 15:00.

My trip is almost at an end quite sad, but there will be more.

Thursday, 21 October 2010

Unlike Tuesday, today was a good day. Started off with a light southerly and about half way it freshened and backed to the north east, so I was able to make good time. I consider anything above a VMG of 5 knots to be good and today it was 5.1. The bar was a bit frisky coming in, but not as bad as some I’ve done.

I’m now at anchor in Iluka Harbour and intend leaving here at day break for another 12 hour trip to Coffs Harbour. Hope tomorrow is as good as today.

Have just checked weather for next 2 days and it is superb, north/north easterlies both days up to 15 knots; great sailing conditions.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

I am now in Byron Bay, at anchor and sheltering from strong southerlies. I went over to Runaway Bay Marina on Sunday afternoon, there was still a fairly strong wind blowing and I had difficulty in getting the anchor up. I had to keep driving forward a few meters, dashing up to the bow, pull in a few meters of chain, then go back to the cockpit and start again. I did this 4 times before the anchor was up. It was good to get into the calm of the marina. Walked down to the shopping centre and did some shopping then it was a very early night as I hadn’t got much sleep the night before.

On Monday morning I rang Raymarine and got the tracking number for the part, then rang Toll Priority who said it would be here by 13:00. Exactly at 13:00 I rang Toll again and was told it would be with me in 15 – 20 minutes. I was getting concerned because I had set 14:00 as my deadline for getting away. The part turned up just before half past and I only took about 15 minutes to fit and test it. I was away just before 14:00. It was good to have “Charlie” back and working, though not as good as a live Chez.

It was a good run down to Byron Bay, with light SE winds, motor sailing all the way. Got in about 22:00. Byron anchorage was a bit rolly, but not as bad as some I have had. I departed here about 5:30 yesterday and was having a good trip down to about Lennox Head when a 20 knot southerly came up. The seas and swell also were high and I was only making about half a knot. I knew I would never make it to the Clarence before high tide to get over the bar. I made the decision to turn around and head back to Byron Bay. Got the main up, turned around got the head out on the spinnaker pole and gull winged all the way back to Byron. First sail I’ve had for a few weeks and it was glorious. 6 – 7 knots and very smooth.

This time, in the bay, I kept away from the recommended anchorage and headed over towards a trawler that was at anchor. They usually know the best place to anchor. Closer in to shore here and more sheltered by the cape. I also but down a “bird”, as trawler men call it. A weight hanging from the spinnaker pole into the water which acts as a damper against rolling. Seems to work as, although the wind was stronger last night than the night before, I had a more comfortable night.

Have just checked weather and both Seabreeze and BOM are indicating good winds for tomorrow and Friday, so I’ll be getting an early start for Iluka tomorrow, then its Coffs on Friday. That’s the plan anyway!

Gale Force Winds

Saturday, 16 October 2010

A horrible night last night at anchor. The wind started just after 18:00 and quickly got up to gale force; 30 to 35 knots. I was too worried about dragging the anchor to go to my bunk and instead went out on deck in the wind and rain checking anchor, putting down second anchor and making contingency things in case of dragging. I got out ropes to extend the anchor rode if necessary. I pulled the second anchor in on two occasions when I was concerned that the 2 anchor rodes would entwine. I had my wet weather gear and lifejacket on even during the times I was down below watching the GPS to pick up anchor drag quickly. I had several false alarms which necessitated more trips up forward.

It died down to nothing about 00:30 and finally about 01:00 I went to bed. Two hours later it started again and I was up and ready should anything happen. About 05:00 it died again and I was able to get another hour in bed before it started again. Its now blowing about 25 – 30 knots, but I’m not as concerned now as I know we were able to survive 35 knots continuous wind. However, I intend taking shelter back in the marina once the tide starts to flood and I have enough water to get up there. At least the rain has finished and we have blue skies this morning. The winds are forecast to abate around lunch time, so I shall delay going over to marina until this afternoon.

On a brighter note, I heard from Raymarine yesterday, they were unable to fix my auto pilot unit, so are sending me a new one by express delivery; it will be here Monday.

I have just checked the 7 day wind forecast and it looks good from Tuesday until, at least, next Saturday for heading south.

Thursday, 14 October 2010

Nothing much has happened since I last wrote, (Sunday). I took Chez out to the airport on Tuesday, about an hour and a half bus trip. I'm missing her already, she did a great job helping me bring the boat down here after the auto pilot failed, especially as she had injured her shoulder badly.She got into Port about 18:00 and our neighbour, Gwen, picked her up. Thanks Gwen.

Wednesday morning Barry Middleton from Raymarine looked at my auto pilot and confirmed that the gearbox had gone. He said it would be quicker for me to pack it up and send it down to Sydney myself rather than let him do it. I sent it off express delivery and Raymarine should have received it this morning.

After some last minute grocery shopping, I left the marina and am now anchored just off of the channel opposite the entrance into Runaway Bay shopping centre, so that I can take my dinghy over to do the shopping and pick up auto pilot when it returns.

Bad Weather

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Still stuck in Runaway Bay, the weather has been atrocious, torrential rain and gale force winds. There has been a lot of flooding around the Sunshine Coast, where we were last week.

Chez really has to get back to Port Macquarie because of commitments and has booked a flight for this coming Tuesday, she was only supposed to be with me for three weeks and it is now eight. She has been an absolute boon, I would never have been able to cope without her. She says it has been more of a learning curve rather than a holiday.

I’m stuck here until the weather improves which, probably, won’t be till end of this week, so I’m going to get the auto pilot fixed, even if it means sending it down to Sydney and awaiting its return.

Our fridge has now packed in so we went out and bought an esky and are now relying on buying a bag of ice every day. I’ll wait til I get back to Port to get that fixed. We’ve had to run down most of the stuff we kept in fridge and now have to go shopping every day for perishables. Have to brave the wind and rain, but we’ll catch a bus today.

The winds this afternoon were absolutely terrible, up to 45 knots, according to the internet. The long range forecast on “seabreeze.com” indicate that Thursday and Friday there is going to be good northerlies. Hope the auto pilot is fixed by then.

Bad Weather

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Still stuck in Runaway Bay, the weather has been atrocious, torrential rain and gale force winds. There has been a lot of flooding around the Sunshine Coast, where we were last week.

Chez really has to get back to Port Macquarie because of commitments and has booked a flight for this coming Tuesday, she was only supposed to be with me for three weeks and it is now eight. She has been an absolute boon, I would never have been able to cope without her. She says it has been more of a learning curve rather than a holiday.

I’m stuck here until the weather improves which, probably, won’t be till end of this week, so I’m going to get the auto pilot fixed, even if it means sending it down to Sydney and awaiting its return.

Our fridge has now packed in so we went out and bought an esky and are now relying on buying a bag of ice every day. I’ll wait til I get back to Port to get that fixed. We’ve had to run down most of the stuff we kept in fridge and now have to go shopping every day for perishables. Have to brave the wind and rain, but we’ll catch a bus today.

The winds this afternoon were absolutely terrible, up to 45 knots, according to the internet. The long range forecast on “seabreeze.com” indicate that Thursday and Friday there is going to be good northerlies. Hope the auto pilot is fixed by then.

Thursday, 7 October 2010

We are now in Southport after a pleasant trip down through the channels and islands at the south end of Moreton Bay. We started off on a rising tide, so that we could get the current behind us, and also, more importantly, we could get to Jacobs Wells about high tide. This is the shallowest part and the channel is only about 2 meters at high and impassable at low. We got through there OK, very gingerly. VMR Jacobs Wells have their radio base right by the channel, and we were called up by them to let us know that we were straying from the channel. Another confusing part is the “W”, so called because it zig zags. There were so many channel markers that it became quite confusing, but we got through OK. I did go aground once during the trip when I strayed from the channel, but with a bit of reverse and help from the rising tide we were soon afloat and back in the channel.

We are now in Runaway Bay Marina, small but nice, and we might be here for a few days as there is a strong wind warning as a southerly front moves through. Hopefully it will subside over the weekend.

Am including 3 photos taken today. One is of a large ferry overtaking us in the “W” and very close in the narrow channel. The next is the buoys, also in the “W” and the last is of an osprey nest on top of a port marker. Rather than disturb it they have put in another marker next to the nest

Moreton Bay

We are finally in Moreton Bay and heading for Southport. We got away from Mooloolaba yesterday morning after having paid up until Thursday; I asked if we could get a credit for the 3 days, but it doesn’t look like we are going to, or I would have been contacted by now.
Yesterday’s trip was very good, we even got some northerly winds to help us along, and the swell was about 2 meters, but virtually no sea. Chez was pretty anxious at the start, thinking it would be the same as last Friday, but she soon settled down when she realised conditions were pretty reasonable. Last night we anchored at the south end of Bribie Island, there was about a 2 knot current running and we were dragging our anchor very slowly, so we pulled it up and found a vacant mooring which we borrowed for the night.

Today has also been a good day even though it was a 5:00 start. Nor’easter came in again after lunch, so even though we had the current against us when the tide turned, we made good time. Today we didn’t bother dropping anchor, but picked up another mooring at the south side of Coochiemudlo Island. Hopefully another quiet night like last night, and sunshine, again, for tomorrow.

Monday, 4 October 2010

We’re still here in Mooloolaba. After we came back in last Friday we decided to bite the bullet and book in here for a week at a slightly reduced rate. The weather forecast indicated that the winds and seas would not abate until at least Friday, but of course the bureau were just being pessimistic and the weather cleared a lot earlier than expected. We could have gone today, but still had a few things to do, so we’re off early tomorrow morning.

On our walk yesterday we came across a memorial to HMAS Brisbane, she is scuttled just off of Mooloolaba as an artificial reef for fish and diving on. The memorial points directly to where she is lying, 2 miles off shore. The memorial includes her mast and I am putting on a couple of photos that I took of it

Hopefully my next blog will be from well south of here.

Stuck in Mooloolaba

Friday, 1 October 2010

We’ve been in Mooloolaba since Monday and today we really thought we might be able to get away. We booked out of the marina and headed out, but after only about 15 minutes outside in the bay, we realised that the seas were just too big to go out in. The swell was about 3 meters and with up to 20 knots headwind it would have been too uncomfortable. Chez was petrified, it was about the worst conditions she had ever been out in, so we decided to come back in and wait for the winds and the sea to die down a bit.

Looks like another couple of days here and I shall try to get a few jobs done around the boat.