2009 Sailaway

[brendan.lyon]

I (still) cannot make it - so just a short note to say that I hope it's and outstanding success and the first of many!

Make sure you all pack suitable supplies of vitals (rum, wine, beer) and I expect to see loads of photos of all the tophats together!

Look forward to a Sydney/Port Hacking sailaway in the New Year -

Best

Brendan Lyon.

[Curly Tops]

Hello fellow yachties

Hard to guage how many of us will be there on wknd - I'll try to come over on Friday nite so will be looking out for any of you already there to share a toast Sorry to hear about the Northern boats who can't make it....we'll have to try to head up your way in the New Year.

See you all on Saturday ....I'll be towing a rubber ducky if anyone needs a ride to the beach!
Sonia

[Miker]

Wow, too bad the weather isn't looking good for the northerners....

I have no real idea of who's coming, but we'll be there Saturday morning before lunch. It's only a small journey for us, and we'll have a rubberduck as well.

Is the plan to bbq on the beach for dinner, or onboard?

Michael
"Dulcamara" Careel Bay

[Shaun]

G'day,

Not sailing down, but i'll probably drive down & camp in a tent at the basin sat night, if someone would be kind enough to offer me a lift over to the basin, sometime saturday?, that would be fantastic!

Theres a very big shelter on the grass area with about 10 BBQ's at the basin..

I'll pick up my autopilot aswell while im in sydney .

cheers
shaun

[SeaLady]

I have last minute crew problems. So will not be sailing.
Does anyone have a spare bunk?

Otherwise I will drive home and watch the rest of you drinking.

Diana

[storm petrel]

Hi All,

I will sail over Friday afternoon if the weather is not too bad but will have to leave after lunch on Saturday to get the tide back into Brisbane Waters. Probably bring my son and one of my old sailing buddies. If the weather is really crap on Friday we will just come over on Saturday for the day. Keen to meet a some fellow Top Hatters......

Cheers,
Mark
Mk 11 - 'Storm Petrel'

[Dolphin]

Thanks for the kind offer Mark (mmts). I have a lift with Gary (Galini) from Brooklyn. I last spoke to him this afternoon and he was at Kurnell waiting until he could see Brighton before leaving. Vis was less than 1km.
Nothing is definite yet. I hope to see you all. The weather sure has taken its toll so far.
Greg.

[Curly Tops]

Hi all

If anyone needs a ride over to the basin, then please call me. Diana - I also have room o/b as looks as though it's just me at this stage. Give me a call 0410 35 77 55. Shaun, if you also need a ride over (or anyone else for that matter), just give me a bell on Sat am. I can pick you up from Church Point if that's convenient.

Sonia
PS Lets have a bbq on the beach

[storm petrel]

Hi All,

We had a very enjoyable sail over to the Basin on Friday and brisk sail back this afternoon. Alas we were the only Tophat there on Friday night. I would have liked to stay longer but my son is off to Peru in few days and he couldn't spare any more time. It was great to see so many Tophats sailing into Pittwater when we were sailing out. Next time I will bring my camera.

On the way back to Pretty Beach we gave a newish 30ft sloop a run for its money. Storm Petrel just loves to reach in 15 knots and a bit of swell.

Hope the get together on Saturday nght went well.

Cheers,
Mark

[Galini]

I hope that you folks had a good meeting. My apologies for not making it. Yesterday I slogged my way up from Botany Bay to Port Jackson in sloppy seas and very little wind (Galini averaged 2.6 knots). I was too buggered to continue to Pittwater so pulled into the Harbour and spent the night anchored at Stores Beach. There was still the possibility of continuing north today.
As it turned out, if I had changed my mind this morning and decided to continue north I wouldn't have been able to anyway, because last night I found that my fresh water tank had drained empty. Where to? I don't know. There is no excessive wetness in the key areas, so I guess it has drained into the bilge (the hose passes through the bilge on the way to the sink). Another little mystery to be solved.
So back to Botany Bay today, while you folk were partying. I hope you enjoyed it.
The trip back home was much more comfortable than the trip up. I went out a couple of miles and averaged 5 knots in comfortable seas.
Good luck to you all.