Lake Macquarie sailaway/driveaway Sept 2011

[Shaun]

Quick question Greg,(is it your turn to take questions?)
On your story about you entering the bar(on the link I posted)....You noted about that at 1hr past High Tide(H 0600), when you went through the bridge at 0700 there was a 1.2kt current, that is an in-going current I presume?,
as there is about a 2hr lag on the Swansea bar?
cheers
Shaun

[Dolphin]

Yes Shaun,
Its easy when you understand that Lake Maquarie stays at the average level of the open sea. That is because it is such a large expanse of water (4 Sydney Harbours) and a small inlet. So what happens is that on the top half of the tide the water is running in and the bottom half it is running out.
You are right, it takes about 2:30 for it to change along the channel. Additionaly, when there is a low pressure system the lake level rises and a big high will push it down.
Also, on top of that, if a Nor easter is blowing it pushes the water down to the southern end of the lake but then if you get a big southerly buster it will push the water up the lake. It can slosh back and forth a few times over about 2 to 3 hours.

NW 20 to 30 knots followed by a S change 20 to 30 knots taken at LMYC Belmont.

20110210 lake Mac Tides Sunday NW 2030 S20 30kts.JPG (23.58 KiB) Viewed 6152 times

THe tidal range is usually about 200mm but the average level can go up 500mm. Makes anchoring and mooring a sinch! None of this 2m king tide stuff at Christmas.
Greg.
For more information see Bear McNally.

[bearmcnally]

Hey Greg

I reckon ! come in on the tide and go out with the tide !


Bear

See Greg for more advice on entering by sea ? as I came by truck

[Dolphin]

You should always enter and leave on a run in tide as it stops the rough water and breaking seas on the bar.
Greg.

[Phillip]

Ok,

So what do I do. I've got a 6m tide on Tuesday Morning

Phillip
Back in the MacKay Marina!
See why in blog tomorrow.

[Dolphin]

Phillip, I'll give you the advise a wise man gave me;
"Nothing goes to windward like a JET!".

I was at Marmong Pt Marina today.
For a Top Hat a marina berth is $40.00 per night and $165.00 per week.
You can't get a decent motel room for one night for that!

A swing mooring is $20.00 per night and $61.00 per week. There is no tender service so you would have to organise something.

Marmong Pt is quite protected but it is a bus ride to the Toronto shops, and about a 1km walk to Teralba where there are only basic shops and a pub. The Sydney trains do not stop there.

For more info ring Marmong Pt Marina, 4958 3333.

Hope it helps.
Greg.

[Miker]

I'm considering making the trip from Pittwater, weather permitting. It may mean an early start to get up on the Saturday.

The tide chart is saying that the high is at midday in Fort Denison, so am I right in thinking it's two hours behind and will be high at about 2pm?

If that is the case, what is best practice for getting through the Swansea channel.

Anyone else heading up from Pittwater or Sydney?

Michael

[Dolphin]

Mike, the tide at Swansea Heads is nearly the same as Sydney and Newcastle. It is best to arrive on the bar on the top of the tide or 3 hours either side. This has often necessitated a night sail to get the right tide. If the tide is high at 1200 and the trip will take 8 hours it means you must setoff at 0400, and hope all goes well. I would not do that on Saturday 3rd, you'd be exhausted on Sat night.

You should also be aware that there are a number of Reefs offlying Terrigal to Norah Head. The Tuggerah reefs. It is not an easy passage to make.

Greg.

[Dolphin]

G'Day Mike,
This little document, linked below, should help explain the process.
The picture shows "The drop off" the last sandbar to the lake in the lower right of the picture and it is looking SE out to sea. It just misses showing the heads and bar. If you do it right and get the high tide you should be riding the rapids down 0.6m into the lake. Yeee harrr.

http://www.livinglakemacquarie.org/file ... hannel.pdf

You now know more than I do about lake Macquarie. I hope it helps.
Greg.

[Shaun]

What goes in must come out (unless your a Seagull that ends up in Bear's pie).
Are there any points to consider when exiting the lake?
or simply reverse the process?
cheers
Shaun