tophatyachts.com

Posted: **Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:22 pm**

We've been thinking of organising a Top Hat sail away on Lake Maquarie.

Date Sat 3rd Sept, Sunday 4th Sept (Fathers Day).
At Wangi Workers Club.
Breakfast at Wangi RSL.
Dates to be confirmed.

This is in no way intended to detract from a Sailaway to Pt Stephens but it would be a good start for anyone who wants to do a recky to Port Stevens and on the way back home to drop in to Wangi on the Lake and meet some of the "Mad Hatters"
The Workers has a jetty with power for the princely sum of about $5 per night. (TBC)
I'm sure we can get at least 5 local boats to show up.
The sailing season starts on 8th, 9th Sept so for people with racing commitments it would allow them to have a free weekend.
If the weather is foul Wangi is easily accessable from Sydney, it is about a 1hr drive from Wahroonga.
Its 3 or 4 hours drive from Laurieton.
Pt Stephens is a little over 1hrs drive north of Lake Macquarie.

For a location see the waterways map;
http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/map ... _front.pdf
and
http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/map ... q_back.pdf (See inset No 4.)

For information on Wangi workers see;
http://www.wangiworkers.com.au/marina_facilities.php

Lake Macquarie is the best kept secret on the coast, don't tell anyone else!
For further enquiries see Bear Mcnally. :lol:

Greg.

Posted: **Wed Jul 20, 2011 8:37 pm**

hello hatters

Mr Greg started this I just happened to be ... :lol:

! We were having a chat about the "novice cruising" up the coast from Port Hacking to Port Stephens and in between . I was saying how the Middle Harbour side of the Spit Bridge was a great place to weekend cruise etc . Then we got talking about lake Macquarie and what a waterway this place is !,as we are both fairly new to this area . As I grew up on Middle Harbour and Greg a little further south .We were also saying how much fun Pittwater and the Hawksbury River were and so on .Then we got talking about Port Stephens and again what a great location ,the only disadvantages with sailing up there was the swell and sheltering in nasty conditions.Not to mention it's a good sail from Pittwater let alone Sydney or further south,and sailing Stockton Bight can be a bit interesting at times.That's when lake Mac came into the story regarding distance, and if things went pear shaped in between there is plenty of shelter from the winds,and on the lake it's not a great distance from Sydney and so on .

Like Greg said ,' this is not to detract from Port Stephens" but another spot for the "novice cruising hatters"
Oh! and I'm already here! :lol:

I'm a little concerned Port Stephens is that little bit to far for most Top Hatters and if the weather does turn foul between lake Mac and Port Stephens the only place to hide is Newcastle and that can be tricky .

Anyway Hatter just another idea ?

For further enquiries see Mr Greg

Posted: **Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:51 am**

Wow these dates you have suggested could work in perfectly with my schedule if, because of Weather, I dont sail Nth to meet Seaka.

My main concern is what Swansea Bar is like in a NE'er (it will be easier coming from the Sth as the bar & entrance is protected by Moon Is in a Sth'erly wind).
Does any of the yacht clubs there have a summer racing fleet that races in the ocean?, they would be entering consistantly on a NE'er.
What is the locals view of the Swansea Bar?
(for example: here is common knowledge that the Camden Haven bar is a lot easier than the Port Macquarie bar)

Greg, here is some excellent info you posted in reply to a question about entering Lake Macquarie viewtopic.php?f=3&t=247 , is this info still basically relevent?

Also what are the options for people to sail to LM before the 3rd & 4th Sept', & leave the boat there for a few weeks & sail home at leisure, moorings etc?

:idea:

What about a special guest appearance at the Lake Macquarie sailaway?....forget Jamie Mitchell 8-)

or JW

....what about our very own Phillip 8-)

from SEAKA!!, Phil you could simply tack on a few extra miles on the way home from Qld? (Lake Macquarie would just be like going to the cnr shop for you, after sailing to the Whitsunday's

), what do ya reckon Phil?

cheers
Shaun

Posted: **Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:13 am**

Sounds like a neat plan, although for those of us who are having trouble getting long weekends it might be still a long trip. Average of 8 hours from Pittwater?

I'm toying with the idea of driving up and chartering something up there. No, it won't be a Toppie, but it will be a boat, perhaps even two boats strapped together.....

Anyone else interested in sharing?

Michael

Posted: **Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:57 am**

G'day Shaun,
That info is still correct as far as I know. When I get the boat going I'm planning to do some whale watching, so I'll review it. If you arrive early on the bar before the nor east sea breeze gets up it shouldn't be a problem.
For up to the minute information on bar conditions Marine Rescue Swansea overlook the bar.

I think it would be EXCELLENT to get Phillip and Seaka at the sailaway. Could we do that??

Another suggestion, Lake Macquarie yacht club has moorings for hire, as well as RMYC Toronto and Marmong Pt marina. You could bring the boat up a weekend or 2 before the sailaway, gives you 2 days to do it and then sail back another weekend after the sailaway. That gives you a good chance to see the lake at a relaxed pace and you're not trying to fit into a weather window. You would need someone experienced with you as the trip can be difficult. There are boats for hire on the lake.

Toronto is serviced by bus and Intercity trains from Fassifern Stn and LMYC Belmont is serviced by a bus service to Newcastle (349, 350) and the intercity services from there.

For more information see Bear McNally.

Greg.

Posted: **Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:49 pm**

Hi Guys,

Well the plan at the moment is to get to Camden Haven around the end of August.

But that depends on the weather and it has lately, been shitty south of Morton Bay!

Allowing for the weather, I could meet the dates proposed, we can only wait and see.

Remember, you always sail from a date not to a date!

Voyage is going well, more blogs tonight or tomorrow.

Phillip.
At a very rolly Brampton Island. :mrgreen: