Night Time Contemplations!

We enjoyed our time in Coffs Harbour. The sun shone, the swell of the ocean lessened and the waves stopped hammering at the break water. It was a quaint little town frequented by holiday makers and with an active fishing fleet. We spent two nights here before deciding to set sail for Southport on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane. Lots of coffees, chatting with some other cruisers from Mornington and generally relaxing.

Setting sail on a gloriously sunny day we prepared for the 24 hours it would take us until our next destination. At night we usually sleep and maintain a watch for 3 hours on 3 hours off. It has worked well so far although it's always hard to get out of bed from a deep sleep. It does however give you long periods of contemplation time whilst sitting up on deck!

I tend to go through a routine every few minuets with Georgina the auto pilot doing most of the hard work. She's much better than I am at holding a true course which is a great relief. Firstly I look at all the instruments. What's the wind up to? Has it changed since my last look at the sails ? I hope it isn't increasing too much, I might have to wake Roger if it does. Equally I hope it's not lessening too much otherwise it might be on with the engine again. What next? Where are the fishermen? There are always usually a few to be seen and sometimes it's hard to distinguish them from low stars or other lights. I dread missing one! Once reassured I glance at the sails, are they filling and working well or do I need to adjust them slightly? When all is done out in the cockpit I look down into the cabin at the chart plotter. Are we following the course? Have I seen something out in front that I'm not happy about? Reassured that all is well I sit back for a while listening to the sounds around the boat. The noise as she's pushed forward through the waves with the sea touching the sides, the sounds of the sails and the reassuring turning of the wheels as Georgina does her stuff!

It can at times be cold and often before sun up the moisture can condense and settle on the seats. I usually have my wet gear on just to avoid getting a damp. I'm tethered to the boat with a life line and have my life jacket on. Mind you I'm not planning on going anywhere, the cockpit is as far as I venture on my own at night! Though if the worse should happen my life tag alarm will hopefully wake Roger so that he comes back to get me!!!

The stars are dramatically bright, reflecting their silver light onto the sea with an incredible intensity. So many stars and planets I can't contemplate the thought that there is nothing else out there. The early rise of Venus and the accompanying morning star is a welcome sight at about 4.30am but this is soon washed out as the sun begins to lift and lightens the eastern sky, long before sunrise. Then with an amazing rush of orange, red and gold the sun rises above the horizon, the ocean changes from black to blue and the next day begins. The World is a larger place once more as the dark night receeds. The start of another beautiful day and the end to contemplation!

Anne

Soldier's Point and onto Coffs Harbour

Entering Port Stephens at night had been an INTERESTING experience and the prospect of a well deserved nights sleep was overwhelming. Our location was Shoal Bay described by Alan Lucus the navigating guru of these parts as a little rolley with the swell entering the heads! It was clearly that! I lay in my bed wondering at what point in our development we loose the desire to be rocked to sleep. Do babies really find it a comfort? My other thoughts concerned the word swell. How different the two meanings! "He's a swell kind of guy." " We had a swell night out" All positive and pleasant. The swell of the sea is something quite different and that night it was certainly not a warm and fussy experience going through my head!

With strong winds the next morning and rain I wasn't too keen to go back out through the heads and so we moved up the bay to Soldiers Point Marina where a comfortable night was spent with no rocking or motion under Dreamweavers hull!

On Thursday the World was a different place with light winds and blue skies. We cast off the warps early and set off for an overnighter to Coffs Harbour. At the time of writing we have no wind at all the seas are flat and gently undulating. The dolphins have joined us again frollicking in the wash of the boat and Roger is pursuing his new polishing fettish!
Anne

Leaving Pittwater

Well we finally left Pittwater on Tuesday early morning. A reasonable forecast and clearing rain! We left our flat and tranquil inlet of the Hawkesbury and sailed out into the ocean. Seas of 4m plus and winds up to 25 knots meant speedy progress if a little reluctance on my part to go below and risk sea sickness. The yacht handled the conditions well with an average of 9 knots with very conservative sailing, but by the early evening we decided rest was required and decided headed for Port Stephens for the night. Not as straight forward as we thought with a significant shoal just inside the entrance. A bar we thought! A daunting passage in the dark with our new friends the VMR [volunteer marine radio] guiding us in. The white water coming over the stern was followed by Anne calling out to put on the accelerator to avoid the next wave taking us! Then it was over, and in the dark we sought out a mooring in shoal bay. Anne's attempt at catching the mooring floating rope failed! Not a good omen for future fishing!

Motoring around the Hawkesbury

Well we're thinking of applying for long term residency of the Hawkesbury Region as rain and strong southerly winds keep us in the area. We did attempt to venture to Newcastle on Friday night but lets say, large swells and strong gusts encouraged us to return to the safety of the Hawkesbury! As Roger said " He didn't fancy being the headline news report on channel 9 news!"

Jason from Dufour had encouraged us to explore the creeks and beauty of the Hawkesbury and the surrounding Kuring Gai Chase National Park so fate has kept us here doing just this. I guess we have to accept that you can't create deadlines when cruising because the weather determines so much. Hard for Roger to reconcile.

It is really very beautiful with deep fjord like flooded valleys, their sandstone cliffs covered in large gums clinging to the vertical sides. The first night we took refuge in a bay of the same name and subsequently have explored Cowan Creek and Smiths Creek where we have anchored for the past 2 nights. It's very peaceful with some sun and the sounds of rain on the deck of Dreamweaver, whilst we are cocooned safely inside.

So when do we head off again? Looks like it may be Tuesday morning still going north in search of the warmth and sun. The winds will hopefully subside and the swells drop and we can set off, Maloolaba here we come! Fingers crossed!!!
Anne

Pittwater

Although we haven't posted a blog for a few days we have safely arrived in Pittwater on Sydney's northern beaches. Why here you may wonder? Well it's the home base for Dufour Yachts and as I write various jobs are being completed. The navigation lights which failed as we left Melbourne are now fully functioning and some recalibration of instruments is taking place. A hive of activity for all except Roger and I who sit and watch others at work! We hope that all will be completed by Friday so that we can set sail again on Saturday morning.

The sail from Eden was very easy with light winds and sunshine during the day. We called into Ulladulla for some fuel on route worrying that we may run out, should we have to motor all the way. This was need less really, although it was a huge ordeal! We approached the designated jetty as directed by the harbour master only to find it full of fisherman who were very reluctant to pull in their lines. The boat became entangled with muliple threads! They were pretty unhappy with us though not our fault. They continued to fish!

Roger climbed the jetty side. No mean feet and set off in search of fuel! I was left to guard the boat from hostile fisher folk! The fuel turned out to be 1km away! Roger carried 40 litres all the way back to the boat. He now has really long arms!

We high tailed it out vowing never to return!

We spent the night at Wreck Bay with my navigating Dreamweaver into a small area using the GPS to guide us with Roger at the helm, awaking in the morning to an idealic anchorage. You can actually find these places on Goggle Earth.

One of the worst jobs on a yacht is the blockage of a head. Otherwise a toilet! They say nothing should go into them that has not passed through you! Any how one was blocked. Without a clue Roger and I set out as marine plumbers! Let's say we hope never to have to repeat the experience but the problem and affending item was removed!!!!

Setting off at night for Sydney we dodged the large ships making for Botany Bay and finally got into Pittwater in time for lunch!

So where next? Still in the planning but probably Seal Rocks north of Port Stephens then Byron Bay and probably Maloolabar north of Brisbane! We'll keep you posted. Anne

Leaving Eden

We've set off again up the New South Wales coastline leaving Eden and it's calm waters last night at 8pm. We'd arrived after midnight having slugged it out, tacking back and forwards against some northerly winds, it seemed to take forever covering small amounts of the coastline with each tack. Roger did most of the helming though Andrews help relieved him at times. I just readied myself for each tack and dreamed of sleep!
The weather has set and is warm and sunny. As a consequence we were unsure that we would make Sydney to meet Andrew's deadline for a return to work! Poor thing! So we have said farewell and it's just Roger myself and the accompany of frolicking dolphins in our bow wave.
Anne

Point Hicks

We are getting there, mostly motoring at the moment with only 5 knots and on the nose as well.
just passed Point Hicks and on the way to Gabo Island.
Just a note to say the programme is putting in the wrong date, though the computer date is correct, something to mull over!
A few technical problems so far - navigation lights gone, using spare ones, thankfully bought just before we left! the automatic identification system was working perfectly until just out of the heads, but not till 5 seconds ago, now it is working again!!! and there are no ships around!! also the autopilot won't talk to the chart plotter!
Otherwise we seem to have conquered the sea sickness, though of course Anne never had any!!
The sun is out and the coastline looks fantastic, not seen a soul for a while.

Better get back to work and stop this blogging! You all work hard, and enjoy my absence!
Roger

Thursday Morning

Well on our way towards Eden with very light winds and the engine doing most of the work! Just completed our second night at sea with us both managing a little sleep in between watches. The night was incredibly clear with an enormous yellow moon shimmering accross the ripples on the sea. I could hear sounds throughout the night but was unable to see any dolphins though thought them near by. As the moon dropped down to the west and the morning sun came up, playing in the wake of our bow were at least 15 dolphins. They must have been there most of the night playing in the turbulance of the sea. Magnificent and beautiful! Anne

We've left!!!

Tears on the marina as we left at 0728! this morning!! A send off from the Jonathan, Nicholas, Grandad, Grandma, and Kal. I hope we will be returning,, or do they know something I don't? 

We have recruited Andrew to share the dramas of the first leg to Sydney, poor Andrew!

We were keen to get the favourable w/nw wind before it swung round to the south at 30 knots. And we did, 15-20 knots down the bay and sailed through the West Channel and arrived at the Queenscliff Marina at 1130. The marina is very modern, nearly empty. 

No doubt we will spend the afternoon de stressing and repacking. Many items were thrown in at the at the last moment: there goes the plan for an ordered ship.

I must go and do the washing up! Did I hear your jaws drop!!

Last day at work

Fortunately the Friday before leaving was a quiet day at the coalface. Which made up for the day before! The send off from work was great though I was becoming a little paranoid, and thought there might not be a job to come back to!!

Hopefully anyone who is interested will be able to follow our journey reading the blog, adding their comments, and following the destinations on Google Earth!

For some of us this blog business is very new, so be prepared for a few hickups!

Last minute preperations are in hand, including fixing the navigation lights!!

The weather for the weekend looks very ordinary but hopefully the high behind the front will provide agreable conditions in Bass Strait.

Well better get back to the never reducing list