tophatyachts.com

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has sailed to LHI. I'd be interested to hear others ideas on heading out there, the best time of year etc for favourable winds (late winter / early spring??) and any stories on the experience in general.

I've been there a few times, once by ship, the Island Trader out of Yamba. We encountered the worst storm you could want in a flat bottom boat and most boats for that matter. The head and I were very well acquainted for a few days! That was on the way out, the trip back was very calm.

I have one potential taker (you have to come now Phil - it's been made public!)....anyone else up for a cruise??

Scott,
Lapse of Reason
Jervis Bay

Gday Scott,

Its one of my sailing goals to sail to Lord Howe Island,

However i feel i need more experience to tackle such a voyage , i'm also interested in info on best time of year etc to go, & any books or info on the web.

Have you read about Jan & Ian's trip to Lord Howe on the links page?
http://homepage.mac.com/clatimer/TopHat ... ing11.html
plenty of excellent reading

cheers
shaun

ps, the Camden Haven River would be a perfect departure port!

Evening Scott, Shaun and All,

Seems that the months of October November are the best.
Hence that is when they have the race to Lord Howe.

I would suggest that during this period, the first weather window AFTER the race has returned would be best.
We will not get tied up in that rush .

I do believe they charge to moor in the lagoon and bookings are advised.
Being close, near Port Macquarie, I can find out if there are interested parties for this year.
I think they have an office here.

Scott, I cannot make it until 2010 at the earlist. But when I go I will also sail north 100nm to Elizabth Reef and if possible spend some time there before returning to the coast.

Phillip
SEAKA

PS With 26C today and being very calm, almost went out for a sail but heard a radio call from a motor boat that went out, thro' the Camden Haven Bar, that it was too rough outside and he was returning. John (Longdeepthinker) and I later went out to the bar, in Johns tender, and was I glad that I didnt go out

G'Day Scott and everyone,
I sailed to Lord Howe in 1983, long time ago, on a 43 ft steel cutter. That was late january, still in the cyclone season. I was very inexperienced and soon learned heaps. I think May to Ocotber is the best time as it is out of cyclone season and you don't get the storm leftover from a cyclone.
Lord Howe is a great place. You must Climb Mt Gower to the goat house and visit the wheat sheaf-Balls Pyramid for a bit of fishing.
I believe you can't stay on board and have to have accomodation on the island booked. Accom is restricted. That means you are on a schedule, not a good way to sail.
In the lagoon at high tide the waves come over the reef and the boat rocks to its beam ends, at low tide it sat on the bottom, 6ft draft. If bad weather is coming they order all the boats out of the lagoon.

We went over the Taupo Sea Mounts on the way out, because it was very calm. Went for a swim in the clear ocean and you could see the fishing lure hanging 50m below the boat. But the tiger shark made us hop back on board. Don't swim in the open ocean as any splashing will attract predators, even Dolphin fish. Use a bucket to cool off.

Some friends in a Roberts Spray were returning from the island, they got hit by a 50 kt squall and took a direct lightning strike to the mast. Only saw the flash and no thunder. Their electrics started failing after that.

We sailed on to New Zealand and then Tahiti. We returned to Oz by plane, as is the common case for most skippers and crew, ie separate planes
"Nothing goes to windward like a jet !"

Try sailing with some experienced people first if you think you haven't got the experience. ON the windiest day go to the beach and see if you would like to be out there sailing, because you will have no choices at sea.

I wish you all the best, should be a great adventure.
Greg,
Felicite

Hi everyone,

Why is it that as soon as I buy another yacht, I become more busy and don't have time to see it, let alone sail it!

Anyway, as for LHI, thanks for the info Greg. I climbed Mt Gower with my wife at the time and forgot to take water. She was less than impressed! We sipped water off leaves Les Hiddens style, to which she was still unimpressed! Yes, I forgot about the having to book accomodation. Still, it would be worth it. Personally, I can think of nothing better than seeing the island looming in the distance. Though I would like to land it on, as opposed to Jan and Ian's trip that Shaun pointed out. How frustrating.

That article is an interesting 'case study' actually and it's interesting too to consider how much easier things are these days with GPS. Not that it can be solely relied on, but chances are they wouldn't have become lost along the coast if they had one. Interesting too that they set out in what seems to of been a less than ideal forecast. Personally I would have waited till the front went through before leaving. And also, with the southerly currents, why didn't they head further north to say at least Port or preferably Coffs and then head east? Maybe their short window (two or three weeks leave from work) had something to do with it.

I'm certainly not being critical of them or their ability and good on them for going for a sail.

I don't count myself anywhere near experiened enough yet for such a trip, but some coastal trips over the next 2 or 3 years both alone and with someone experienced will hopefully solve that one. I have it planned for my LSL in 2012.

Scott.

Hi Scott,
Sad to hear you have sold your TH, & your aspiration of sailing to LHI has been shelved for the time being, anyone else considering this trip?
Im hoping to slowly work up to it with experience, by maybe heading out say 50nm & returning, then 100nm & return.
A big downside is the apparent complicated process of actually stopping at the Island.
regards
Shaun
ps, Scott dont go getting any crazy ideas of paddling your sea kayak to LHI , watch the "Solo" doco again if ever you start to think about that!