tophatyachts.com

Hi all

Anyone planning to be on Pittwater from around 24th Dec to 28th Dec ? All things going to plan we'll be sailing those fine waters for a few days around that time

Cheers
Dan

Hi dan,

My boat is moored at Pretty Beach and we sail over to Pittwater regularly. If you give me your contact details before you go I will give you a ring and organise a time to meet for a chat/sail.

Cheers,
Mark

Mark, that'd be great will drop you a message when my dates are firmed up

What's it like going through the channel there, all ive heard is bad things so far.. is it really that bad?

Hi Dan,

The entrance to Brisbane Waters is OK provided you come in with the tide and out with it and that you keep the buoys on the correct side (ie green to your starboard going in) when you do the dogleg around half tide rocks. Slack water in the channel is about 21/2 hours after the top or bottom of the tide by the Sydney charts. I would not try to come in if there was a large (>2m) southerly swell running around Box Head but this really only happens a dozen days a year.

We usually go out when the tide is at or near low and come back in during the rising tide (ie back by 21/2 hours after high). The minimum depth is about 7ft when there is very low tide, so a Tophat has no trouble. We can push against the tide in the channel but it takes about twice as long and can get tricky if there is a solid swell running around Box Head.

There are a couple of spare moorings near my boat if you wanted to spend a night at Pretty Beach and there are a couple of public moorings in Hardys Bay. If you wanted to explore Brisbane Waters it is just a matter of going with the tide under the Rip Bridge and following the markers until you are well into the Broadwater. There are more public moorings at Saratoga and Gosford in the Broadwater.

Cheers,
Mark

Thanks Mark

Will have to see what happens for xmas, wife had her hand pulled into a winch today.. (we were tacking and she was pulling in the sheet when a gust caught the sail and took her straight into the winch).. ouch! was only gusting about 20knts at the time but seems to have been enough.. had to high tail it back to the mooring

off to get it xrayed we go! (It does look pretty busted)

Dont fancy my chances of getting her back onboard in the nearest future (particularly with a cast on), but fingers crossed!!

Dan

Sorry to hear that Dan. My wife and I were also out today, about 3-4 miles off Maitland Bay and there were some strong gusts. I have taught my wife to grip the rope with her thumb up (away from the winch) when she turns the rope onto the winch. (This is what Jack Earl taught me when I graduated from dinghys to keel boats thirty five years ago and it is a lesson I have never forgotten.) I hope your wife if OK and that the accident will not turn her off sailing.

Happy to cacth up whenever you make it up this way.

Best wishes
Mark

Dan,

Hope your wife's hand is not too bad.

Please pass on my best wishes and a speedy recovery.

Phillip
SEAKA

Dan, you really must look after new wives.... they can break easily! I broke Gabi's toe once teaching her to dance.... very upsetting.... hope your bride's hand repairs quickly.

We'll be about all over the Christmas break, and you can get moorings in The Basin, Refuge and Americas Bays, depending on prevailing conditions. You can also be lucky and find moorings in Careel, Saltpan and McCarrs Creek. Would be good to catch up if you're around. Send me a PM or email if you want a phone number.

Michael.