Lake Macquarie sailaway/driveaway Sept 2011

[Miker]

OK, I just spoke to Maree at Marine Rescue Swansea. She was very helpful and gave me a bit more information about the depths and tides.

She said the current information was "1.6 metres, plus the tide" at the bar. The only other caveat is the swell and wind direction. Obviously going in on the incoming and out on the outgoing was preferable, but not imperative.

She mentioned booking the bridge, taking care on the drop off at very low tides and making sure you round moon island well to the east to get a good line on the leads.

She also said, if you encounter a problem, call them and they'll come tow you out of trouble.

She was really, really helpful and said she hoped we enjoyed our sailaway

Michael

[Dolphin]

Oh Shaun, the channel is wide enough, you don't have to reverse out!

Mike, I'm glad you got the good oil from Marine Rescue. They deal with this all the time.

Greg.

[Dolphin]

I went to Wangi Wangi Workers (so good they named it twice) last night (Sat). Lots of big cruising boats on the wharf. It was an Acka Dacka tribute night, bewdy! The place was packed.

Mooring costs are $10 per night with power and water. $50 deposit on the key. Showers are available inside the club during club hours only. That's a huge price rise, in 2000 it was only $5 a night. There are toilets accessable from outside the club with the key at all hours. There is also a pump out on the wharf. Club membership is $5 per annum.
There is no security on the wharf, anyone can walk around there, so keep your boat locked, then again most people are from Sydney anyway so you'll know that.

If the weather is good, who is coming, who is sailing and who is driving?

Greg.
I'm not organising it, just interested.

For more information see Bear McNally.

[storm petrel]

Michael,

Storm Petrel and her motley crew are considering sailing up from Pittwater, but it would depend on a suitable weather window and tides (call us chicken, but we prefer wide ocean spaces(nothing to hit) and are nervous about puddles with skinny tidal entrances protected by draw bridges). We could probably only manage the Friday or Monday off, so the weather would need to be 'right'.

Cheers,
Mark

[Miker]

Michael,

Storm Petrel and her motley crew are considering sailing up from Pittwater, but it would depend on a suitable weather window and tides (call us chicken, but we prefer wide ocean spaces(nothing to hit) and are nervous about puddles with skinny tidal entrances protected by draw bridges). We could probably only manage the Friday or Monday off, so the weather would need to be 'right'.

Cheers,
Mark

Cheers Mark, I'm in the same boat, so to speak.....

I can only really get the Friday off, so will be looking at the weather window and checking the tide heights and times closer to the day. IF the weather is anything West or South, I'll probably go. I'll also need to check to see what happens if you miss the last bridge, as in whether you can stay on the courtesy bouy overnight?

Michael

[storm petrel]

Rubber ducky, Looks like we got us a convoy!

It would be fun to sail up together Michael, lets hope the wind is somewhere from E - S - W and not from the bloody North for the trip up. I am not too worried about the trip back because we can get into Broken Bay at any time and on any tide. I should warn you that Storm Petrel has a track record of attracting strong to very strong winds during coastal passages - ask Shaun about our 'cruise in company' with Nighcap to Sydney last year.

Lets keep an eye on things closer to the event and make a definite decision to go or stay a day or two before. We can meet off Killcare and sail north together. I should also warn you that my motley crew are very traditional and insist on sailing. They will definitely not go, or could mutiny during the passage if we have to motor-sail up.

Cheers,
Mark

[Shaun]

Weather permitting & all else being good, Blue Moon is hoping to leave at first light on 1st sept & sail overnight to meet the 1128 High tide fri at Swansea bar, it would be a very pleasant coincidence to meet up with other Top Hats.
cheers

[Shaun]

Greg,
So I dont need to reverse out the channel??
Thats a shame I was hoping to try this... http://www.youtube.com/v/uSP6B9N7ikE&hl=en

cheers

[Dolphin]

I like the You Tube, that's great.
I did a similar thing, i hoisted a spinnaker with one tack on the halyard the other tack on the pole and the head on the spinnaker sheet. ie rotated one set of holes. I did that in front of the cronulla committee boat. I did have an excuse, my son was born the day before. Lack of sleep! Oh btw it doesn't work
Greg.

[Dolphin]

BTW don't forget to wear a life jacket when crossing any coastal bar, its now law.

Mark, and Mike, I might be able to swing it to sail back with you if possible weather permitting and I'll have a few days in Broken Bay. I've been looking forward to that for quite a while.
Betwen 6pm and 6am the bridge needs 6 hours notice in answer to your query Mike. You could stay overnight on the moorings. A lot of boats do.
There is no bridge opening at 8am or 4pm on weekdays as that is peak hour for +/- 5 minutes. We only open the draw bridge to nice people.
I hope you can make it.
Greg.