tophatyachts.com

I know these are baby steps compared to what some are doing. Recently completed a successful trip from Parsley Bay (Brooklyn) to Sydney and back. Stayed at CYC overnight on the Saturday. Nigh perfect sail back, but once on the home mooring my mate capsized the dinghy. Sorted things out, then i did not tie painter on properly and dinghy drifted away. Eventually everything was sorted out and there were bruises and bruised egos.

Now planning on sailing from Parsley Bay to Brisbane Waters (lunch at Gosford Sailing Club is one option). Crossing the sand bar will be our biggest challenge. I know some of you have knowledge of this area and request info and advice. Any suggestions where we can have lunch will be welcome (Might be good if we don't need a tender/jetty available). We have thought of getting our wives to drive up and meet us for lunch. Here again local knowledge will be useful.

Thanks in advance, John

I don't have the info you are after, John, but good on you for doing the trip and for planning more. And stuff does tend to happen from time to time, it just seems to be part of boating ya always working on avoiding but sometimes can't avoid. For example, one fellow who was starting a week away in his boat handled the tiller and motor while his mate cast of the lines to the dock. They got a few metres then one of the dock lines that had not been pulled properly onto the deck and secured wrapped around the prop and they drifted away until rescued. End of trip.

The more trips you make the more you learn. That's one of the fun things about boating, always something to learn and we all have to start somewhere.

troppo

Hi John

Sounds like you had a great trip...

Like the previous post I cant give you advice re. Brisbane Water, other than I've seen the tide rip through there, so you definitely want to get it right!!! Like our Swansea Channel it will make you pay if you get it wrong.

I just wanted to reinforce Troppo's post. Sailing is a great way to keep your ego in check.. and to remind us that physics is more dependable than humans. I've got my share of bloopers Id be happy to share if you make it up to Lake Mac one day. Enjoy "the learning"

The over run at half tide rocks is about 2.5 hours, so head in about 3 to 6 hours after low tide and you will have the tide with you all the way to Gosford. When leaving Gosford go 3 to 6 hours after high tide and you will have an easy trip out. It takes about 1 1/2 hours from Little Box Head to Gosford. Marks are pretty clear and provided you stay within the channels your Top Hat should have plenty of water. There is a long jetty on the North side of Gosford Sailing Club that has plenty of deep water or you can grab a spare mooring if you bring a dinghy. The sailing club will let you overnight but you will need to contact them first, provide insurance details etc. There are also public pole moorings near the old Equana Joe's restaurant. Marine rescue administers these and if you call Brisbane Waters Marine Rescue they can fill you in on them.

When you come into the entrance from Broken Bay keep near the centre or starboard side of the channel as a couple of the port channel markers are in pretty shallow water. The Channel is really OK in all conditions except in very large (3m+) Southely swells. I have been in and out hundreds of times and never had a problem.

Oh, and you will need your motor as It is only on very rare occasions that you can sail all the way through because the channels are narrow in places and the wind can be fickle especially around Waggstaff and Saratoga. I always go via the Saratoga channel rather than via Woy Woy as there is a better chance of sailing most of the way. Make sure you follow the marks all the way into the Gosford Broadwater as there is a shallow bank to starboard for some of the way in.

Goos Luck with the trip,

Mark
Phantom 32
Pretty Beach

Why do your wives need to drive up.
Surely they are coming along for the trip?
Or is it a woman free zone?

SeaLady wrote:Why do your wives need to drive up.

Us boys don't like looking like fools so we don't really want witnesses when we capsize our dinghies or have our anchor slip off the bow and grab when we are trying to sail away!

troppo

Bugger..

Another reason why female sailor and yacht owners like me are single.
Our numbers are growing.