Terrigal Haven

[Bruce]

Can anyone tell me if Terrigal Haven is suitable to moor or anchor for a night, on the way to Lake Macquarie from Broken Bay? There's an emergency mooring there but I'm not sure if there is anything else, or if it is deep enough for a Top Hat.

Bruce

[storm petrel]

Deep (sand and rock, not mud) enough but would be rough overnight if any swell is running. It is only 35 miles to to Lake M from Broken Bay so it only takes about 6 to 9 hours in a top hat. If you pick a weather window you should not need to stop at Terrigal.

[Bruce]

Thanks. I was thinking of doing this trip in July. I thought it might take longer against a current, making it a little tight to do by daylight, in winter.

Terrigal seems to be the only spot to stop if progress is slow. It doesn't look ideal though.

Bruce

[Ianb]

Don't forget you also need to time your arrival at the bar as well. Better to leave Broken Bay in the night if you have the choice.

[storm petrel]

We did the trip up earlier this year. left the Basin about 6am and wen through Swansea bridge at 2pm after having lunch waiting for the bridge.

[Bruce]

6am from the Basin to 2pm at the bridge is better than I expected. Do you recall the weather conditions? I was planning on waiting for a southerly or south westerly of about 10-15 kts.

[storm petrel]

Yes it was a crappy southerly about 20+ knots. We made similar time on the way home in 12 knot E-NE but that was using a spinnaker ( left on the 10am bridge, and back to Pretty Beach about 5.30-6.00pm).

[Phillip]

Bruce,

Don't forget to radio into MR Lake Macquarie not less than one hour before the schedule bridge opening to book your bridge passage.

Would the Lake Macquarie Top Hatters post the present opening times for Bruce please.

[Dolphin]

G'day Bruce,
There are extensive bridge works being carried out on the Swansea bridge now. At times there are mooring lines across the opening so you will have to just suck it and see on the day. The bridge still opens just not as readily on demand. Contact MR Swansea they will help.
Normally Bridge opening times are;
from 7pm to 7am they need 6 hours notice. Normally wont effect you because you will want to enter the channel in the daylight.
7am to 7pm you need 1 hours notice.
Note if the bridge is already booked by someone else you still have to book it. All you need to do is give MR your Rego number but you don't even need that if you're logged on.
If you are running late the bridge operator will wait up to 10 minutes but no more. The bridge is on VHF 16 but Marine Rescue handle all the coms usually. Allow 20 to 30 minutes at least to get up the channel.

The bridge does not open on weekdays at 0800 and 1600 as this is peak hour.
There are regular bridge openings on Saturday and Sunday where you just show up these are something like, but don't quote me 6, 7, 8am and 3, 4, 5, 6pm.
Also on the good side the council has built you a brand new floating wharf on the south side of the channel just outside the RSL. It is big enough to take about 3 Top Hats. This allows you a short walk to the shops and Caltex petrol station via a walkway under the south side of the bridge.
Be very aware though that if the current changes direction in the channel it can put a lot of force on your rudder. Tide runs in at about 1 to 2 knots.
The bridge will let the first boats go with the flow. ie if its running in the boats going in will be let in first.
The minimum depth on the bar is 1.6m at zero tide. The minimum depth in the channel last time I looked was 2.2m at the drop off.
The flow in the channel changes at half tide. The lake stays at the average level of the ocean. On the top half of the tide it runs in and on the bottom half of the tide it runs out.
Also be very wary passing moon Island there is a reef running SE from the island about 300m out from it. At night the Moon Island light is about as bright as a 6 Volt VW headlight.
The leads are good and easy to find in the dark, the channel is deep and stable. It is actually an easy bar to enter. The only worry is if an established Nor Easter has been blowing for while.

Hope it helps.
Remember take free advise for what its worth and talk to Marine Rescue. They're a top group of people.

[Bruce]

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the detailed advice. I can imagine the current in the channel will be interesting. I scuba dived it a few years ago starting at the bridge and finishing about a kilometre along the channel. Very fast. Hoping for something a little less exciting this time.

Can I push my luck and ask for some tips about where to stay? I plan to be there for about a week. I'd like a casual mooring or marina berth if possible.

Bruce