Private moorings in the Gladesville area

[Bruce]

Hi everyone.

I have owned my Top Hat for about 12 months now and have been on a commercial mooring at Church Point, since I bought it. This arrangement has suited me while I find my feet, but as I live in the north west,I am thinking of both relocating to be a bit closer and changing to a private mooring to lower the cost. I have thought about the Brooklyn area as this is roughly the same distance, but there are long waiting lists for a spot.

Does anyone have their boat on a private mooring on the north side of the Parramatta River west of the Gladesville Bridge? It is not too difficult to get a mooring there, but I am interested to know what parking is like and whether there are places for a dinghy to be locked up? My boat gets a lot of use so it needs to be reasonably hassle free.

Also, how is the sailing? Is it crowded? How long does it take to get to say the Harbour Bridge etc. Any thoughts, pros/cons appreciated.

Bruce

[SeaLady]

Hi Bruce,

I have a mooring in Tarban Creek just near the Gladesville Bridge as do a number of other Top Hatters.

I find it great. Nice and calm, good view of the city, easy access, parking and places to keep the dinghy. Anywhere you leave the dinghy be aware it may get damaged or pinched. I have had both happen to me. Always have it chained up and have a bung hole below the water line. The older and uglier the dinghy the less likely it is to be tampered with.

You really need to check out the bays yourself to see what the access is like and make your own decisions.
It is a fun few days checking out moorings. I certainly enjoyed it. Some like Valencia Street are very bumpy especially with all the party boats. Also look at the number of steps etc. What seem not much can be huge at the end of a tiring day. Also look at places to pick up and drop off guests. The pontoon in Tarban Creek is not suitable at low tide.

Anywhere west of the Harbour Bridge is fairly calm and quiet with only occasional races. You do need to watch out for the kids on dinghys as there are a few clubs but they are fairly easy to spot and keep out of their way. Also need to check for River Cats. Check the depth and be aware the tides are about 1/2 hour later than Fort Denison.

I am also wary of swimming as the water is murky and local fishermen have told me that it is a Bull Shark breeding ground. Noone has seen a shark there but they have pulled in 1/2 a fish, where something else in the water ate the other half.

Sydney Harbour East of the bridge can become a washing machine on busy summer weekends. And the people racing ignore the rules of the road. They think they own the water.
It takes me about 1/2 - 3/4 of an hour to get to the bridge depending on wind and how much of a hurry I am in. The wind is always flukey under the bridge and around Circular Quay.

Other plusses, easy access to the Fish Markets, they have a wharf where you can tie up, again very busy in summer, they say they charge you $25 but noone has ever charged me. And you can get a Lobster and salad for $19.90

I also live in the north west (Glenorie) and am on the water within an hour.

Hope this helps.

Diana

[mmts]

Hi Bruce,

I have a mooring up at Brooklyn and I'm also a member of the HRYC....great little club. I was also concerned about the long waiting lists for moorings in the area, I put my name down on the waiting list and before the week was out I was offered a mooring, it may be that all the people in front of me on the list had either died or gone elsewhere. Needless to say, to be offered a mooring you need to be on the list, you might be surprised how quickly one will come about. It would be great to see another Top hat racing with the club

Regards

Mark

[8philip8]

hi Bruce
I'd have a mooring at Gladesville , Parramatta river. opposite D'Albora marina
it's about an hour to harbour bridge.
Parramatta river yacht club is located at the end of Wharf Rd.
it races on sat. but only for a handful of boats ,
there are council's (pay) lockable dinghy rack there too. don't know the cost!
you can pick up friends at Banjo Paterson park wharf.or near or at Scotts College's rowing club at Shackel Ave.
there are planty of open water to sail there without going all the way to the harbour.
best for you to take a drive around the area to see for yourself.
parking there is never a promblem.

I was there for 8 months ,while I was in the waiting list for Long Bay Middle harbour.
8philip8
SYLPH mkIII Middle Harbour

[Miker]

Bruce, we had Dulcamara moored with Gladesville Bridge Marina until we moved to Careel Bay in Pittwater. The part of the harbour between Gladesville and the Harbour Bridge is lovely to sail around, but is limited once you've sailed it for a year. Then, if you do want to sail the outer harbour or around to Middle Harbour, it's a longish way when the tide or wind turns against you. What ever you do, don't apply for a mooring in the main channel under the Gladesville bridge itself. It's a nightmare, and whilst there is a "no wash" zone, no one takes any notice, even Waterways boats..... The River cats set up such a wash they'll tip you out of your bunk if you're not careful. Also, the tide runs pretty fast there, so if there is a westerly blowing and the tide is going out, it's really hard to row against.

We're happy in Pittwater, although we live in Dee Why, so we can get out of bed, get packed and be dropping the mooring inside an hour.

We have all of Pittwater, all of Brisbane Water and all of Broken Bay, plus on a good day it's not far to the harbour if you have a weekend to spare.

It took us only 8 months to get a very good spot in Careel, and you might get one quicker if you do what Bear suggested in another post.

Cheers,
Michael

[Bruce]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Will ponder the dilemma for a while longer! I do like it on Pittwater and had a closer look around Gladesville on the weekend. Not sure if it's the best option yet.

Mark, is there a public wharf in the Brooklyn area deep enough to pick up/drop off people?

Bruce

[SeaLady]

Yes, the petrol wharf at the marina in Brooklyn, near the train station is fine at low tide and is calm.
I did it 2 weeks ago at low tide.

I have been told that the public wharf at the end of the park north of the marina is ok as well. I have not tried it as it can be bumpy.

Diana

[mmts]

Yes Bruce, there is a floating pontoon inside the breakwater at Parsley Bay.....just need to be a little careful on very low tides, I have dragged my boat through the mud on a few occasions

Mark