SUNDOWNER Y86 east coast Australia

[storm petrel]

Rob,

I was just driving home from work past the Gosford Yacht Club and spotted an unfamiliar Mk11 anchored with a blue hulled yacht just North of the yacht club. Is that you and the boat you are cruising North with?


Cheers,
mark

[rob.lovelace]

yep that's us, it's nice and calm here but very noisey with the trains at night. I'm looking forward to moving on tomorrow and having a look up the Cowan while this low passes. I'll have a look for your boat on my way out. It's like a maze getting in here.

[storm petrel]

Yes, the trip to Gosford is a bit tricky. We usually go out to sea from Pretty Beach. I only go up to Gosford for the New Years Eve fireworks or if the tides and seas at Box Head make it too dangerous to get out of Brisbane Waters.

I have been caught up with work this week but could get out at mid day tomorrow for a sail. I suspect, however that the weather will still be crap and Storm Petrel will probably stay at her mooring. Saturday is also out because I have a surf contest.

I have tried to ring you but have not managed to get through as yet. When do you think you will be heading North?

Regards,
Mark

PS Hope you get a chance to check out Refuge Bay and the Basin which are both great hide aways from a southerly.

[rob.lovelace]

I saw storm petrel on the way out sweet boat. Wind against tide getting out of there was a bunch of laughs I tell you. there's not much room for mistakes and my motor was making 1/2 knot headway at one time. We went up to refuge for a day (I've never seen so many moorings, I could have jumped from
one to another to get across the bay) and then up to Bobbin Head for a day while the low passed. tonight I'm back in Mackeral beach ready for an early start for lake Mac.

[Shaun]

G'Day Rob,
Hopefully you had a good sail to Lake Mac' today.
Are you planning to stop in the Camden Haven?
cheers
Shaun

[storm petrel]

Sorry I missed you Rob, perhaps we can catch up when you head back down the coast. I surfed yesterday at box head. Great waves about 20m from the channel where yachts were coming in and out of Brisbane Waters. You are right that the channel is narrow in sections but if you run with the tide and remember there js a 21/2 hour over run it makes life much easier.

Best wishes for your sail North.

Mark

[rob.lovelace]

BROKEN BAY TO LAKE MACQUARIE

left at 4am eew, with predicted 10-15 SW -S winds that didn't arrive. had very light winds only reaching 10kts for about 30mins so rather than flap I burned more fossil fuel $$$ bugger eh.

Swansea bar was fine even though there was a 2m+ swell and a ebb tide.
Went under the Swansea bridge with the tide ebbing and fair on sh1t my pants.
It was very hard to hold her and I had all 8 horses screaming. I might have to treat the yammy to a new set of rings when I get home, she's getting some hours on her.

Wangi Wangi workers club has berths for $10 a night with power and water so we couldn't go past that.

Port Stephens is my next stop if I get under that bridge safely again that's as far as the plan goes for now Shaun, and yeah maybe on the way back Mark, although I'll probably just stay at Mackerel.

[storm petrel]

Rob, if you stay at Macquerel Beach or the Basin on the way back I will try to get some time off and sail across for a visit. Keep us posted on your travels.

[Phillip]

Yeah,

I hate that bridge too!!

[Phillip]

Rob,

Have you noticed the big storm coming this weekend.

I would suggest that the appropiate bays within Lake Macquarie will be a nice place to be rather than the limited choices in Port Stephens.

30 knots with 7m [seven metre] waves predicted off Newcastle around Saturday.
Preceding this storm we will have days of northely winds.

Ask Greg or Bear where the best places are to hide.