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!