Terrigal Haven

[Dolphin]

No problems Bruce ask any questions you like. I'll try to help.

Are you staying on the boat or leaving it and coming back a week later?

Moorings are available at Lake Macquarie Yacht Club. Miker left his boat there. I don't think you'll get a marina berth there as such but you can tie up along side the wharf. It is open to westerlies there though.
The lake level only varies about 200mm so it is easy to anchor or moor up to a wharf.The next option is Marmong Cove in the top end of the lake. It is protected and has moorings and may have a berth there. Just ring them.

Regarding the current in the channel, if you enter at mid tide the flow is least. It takes about 2 hours for the tide to change along the channel.
There are 3 moorings east of the bridge and 2 moorings west of the bridge that you can hang off as well as the floating wharf near the RSL.
You may not see it on charts but there are now 2 yellow traffic separation marks at Pelican near the MR lake Macquarie base near the airport. Keep right of them.

Relax about the bar.
Most people get worried as its the first Bar they encounter after living in Sydney or Broken Bay. Just stay right on the leads it is a narrow cut in a coal seam that cuts across the channel. You will notice as you come in that the water gets darker instead of getting lighter like most bars. If you hit it its like rock! If you have a look at the maritime roads waterways and everything else website "Live Bar Cameras" at low tide you will see it in the bottom of the picture about half way out on the rock shelf below the MR base. If you get off track Marine Rescue will also warn you by radio.

When are you coming up?

[Shaun]

Negotiating the Swansea bridge deserves more respect than crossing the bar, for the minimum amount of worries inbound, I plan to be crossing the bar 1 & a half to 2 hrs after the advertised High tide, the bridge operator wants you do drop all sail before going thru. Hang back a little from the bridge while jilling around, you don't want to get pressed onto the bridge (theres no rush to get thru it when you get the green light, the cars will wait).

You could try over at Toronto for a cheaper mooring at the Marine place there (Hire Craft??), protected from the westerlies from memory.
cheers

[Bruce]

I have a window of a few days at the end of June. If the weather isn't suitable, I'll look at trying again later in the year.

I plan to spend some time with family, but part of the time would be spent on the boat. I have never sailed on Lake Macquarie, so I'd like to do some exploring.

That's assuming I survive the bar, the bridge, the current and everything else that can go wrong!

Bruce

[Brainless]

If you have not already, take a look at http://www.tophatyachts.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1408 there is fair amount of information compiled by all with some good information on wharfs etc

[Miker]

Lots of good info from Greg and Mark Bruce, as for somewhere to stay, Greg is your best bet again.

Both my trips to the lake were solo, my shortest trip was 7 hours, the longest almost 11, but there was no wind, a swell on the nose and it rained. That's from my mooring in Careel Bay to the guest mooring outside the bridge. From the yacht club to the bridge is at least 30 minutes at full steam, so give yourself plenty of time.

From my personal experience, the Wangi Workers have a great bistro, but there isn't much there. It's only a couple of bucks to stay on their wharf overnight and get a shower during club hours. Similar with Wangi RSL.

Lots of good quiet bays south, watch out for razor clams. Don't get in the mud or sand barefoot. Interesting around the old flying boat base and you can get a swing or a berth at Lake Macqurie Yacht club, where the other hatters from the area will accept free beer from any visiting hatters......

[Bruce]

I've been looking at a run up the coast to Lake Macquarie this Wednesday, but the sea conditions are not looking very favourable.

The wind is fine, Seabreeze.com.au is forecasting a SSE 15kts, but it's also predicting 2.7 m seas. The BOM only goes as far as Monday but has 2-4m sea on a 2-4 swell. I'm not that brave, but I have sailed my boat in 2-3m before, so it's borderline. Thursday looks better, but I may only have a crew available on Wednesday.

Can any of the Lake Macquarie guys tell me how the swansea bar is likely to be in these conditions?

Bruce

[Dolphin]

G'day Bruce,
The best way to tell what the bar conditions are is to contact Marine Rescue Swansea direct.

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/webcams/ ... ansea.html

Conditions aren't favourable this Wednesday with winds peaking at 29kts on Tuesday night. There is a developing trough on the east coast.

Also remember that if for some reason you can't get into Lake Mac, Newcastle is a very viable alternative and is almost an all weather port. Its only 2 to 3 hours sail on past lake mac. Newcastle will be closed in heavy swell to ships as they take it on the beam.

Best of luck
Greg.

[Bruce]

Thanks Greg.

The forecast has deteriorated since my post and I won't be going anywhere on Wednesday or Thursday. I'll have another chance in a week or so, so I'll wait and hope for better conditions then.

Bruce

[storm petrel]

Sensible decision Bruce, cruising should be enjoyable not a ordeal to be endured. Hope a weather window opens for you next week.

Cheers,
Mark

[Bruce]

The sea, weather and crew gods are against me. With only a few days left to play with, I can't get the right combination