LAKES ENTRANCE VICTORIA TO BRISBANE QUEENSLAND

Monday 14th June departed Lakes Entrance at 4.30pm for our final voyage across Bass Strait and on to Eden in NSW. Sailed through the night past Gabo Island to Bittangabee Creek, a small but protected cove, where we stopped for lunch before sailing to Eden. Spent 5 days in Eden because we had a hydraulic pipe burst through corrosion causing a steering problem. This was a first time test of the emergency tiller which had to be fitted on top of the rudder stock inside the boat. So it was back out with the “marriage savers”, (our hands free walkie talkie radios) so that Ron as lookout and throttle operator could give steering instructions to Peta inside the downstairs rear cabin. We managed to have it fixed by the local shipwright after a successful trip to the wharf without mishap.

Set sail from Eden on Saturday 19th June heading to Bermagui, tied up at the local wharf for 2 days and after exploring the town departed for Broulee Island where we anchored the night before heading the next day to Ulladulla, another delightful fishing village. Along the way we were given an amazing display of whales playing off the coast.

Thursday 24th June headed off at 6.30am to Jervis Bay, arriving mid morning. We found a courtesy mooring at the “Hole in the Wall” near the entrance to the bay, had lunch and then motored across the bay to Hare Bay. We encountered a naval vessel doing exercises in the bay and had the distinct feeling that we were being used as a target as this destroyer sized vessel would head almost directly towards us then veer off and approach us from a different direction. Needless to say we maintained a deliberately straight and consistent course keeping our ear out for any radio contact. We spent 4 days in and around Jervis Bay, coming ashore at Huskinsson where we met a couple who lent us a vehicle. This enabled us to drive to HMAS Albatross. This is where Ron’s ex business partner Mike Spahn was based during his time in the navy. Mike was a Search and Rescue Diver (SAR Diver) and spent some of his time jumping out of helicopters into the sea to rescue people from sinking vessels. He also has the wonderful achievement of being towed underneath a helicopter dressed as a witch, smoke flares strapped to his boots and flying over the Sydney Opera House at its opening by the Queen. Mike also has his name proudly displayed for his past services on the Wall of Honour at the HMAS Albatross at Nowra. Well done Mike we are proud of you.
Sailed further north to the Crookhaven River, spent two nights there before departing for Port Hacking. This was our first glimpse of the Sydney skyline and a high concentration of aeroplanes heading to and away from Sydney. After spending 3 days exploring the area and taking the dinghy to Cronulla Sailing Club, to check out the town we then sailed into Botony Bay. We were not able to reach Captain Cook’s Landing place as we were directed to stay away from cable laying boats. We managed to pick up a public mooring in Frenchman’s Bay within Botany Bay.

Monday 5th July at 07.45 hrs set sail for Sydney. We were able to come quite close to the shore at Clovelly (between Coogee Beach and Bondi Beach) to be able to wave to Ron’s sister Helen who had come down to the beach from her new house to see us sail past.

Entered Port Jackson Heads at 10.00am and motored up to Middle Harbour. We had to wait for the Split Bridge to open at 11.15 having rung ahead to inform them that we were coming through. Explored the various bays in the area before making our way up to Bantry Bay (most northern arm) where we were surrounded by national park bushland. It was exciting to have finally reached Sydney. Spent two lovely nights there before venturing out again into the very busy main harbour.

As we sailed towards the Opera House and iconic Harbour Bridge we were amazed at the amount of sea traffic on the harbour including the 6 ferries that seem to be heading towards us as we went under the bridge. Quite an emotional morning as this was Ron’s dream to sail into Sydney Harbour and under the bridge. We headed to Blackwattle Bay under the Anzac Bridge where the Sydney Fish Markets are located, quite an amazing place, had a few fish meals there whilst in Sydney. Here we dropped anchor and went ashore to meet Helen, Ron’s sister. Our first day in this location saw us drag anchor and be towed back to the anchorage area by NSW Maritime (the local maritime safety authority). We had walked over to nearby Darling Harbour only to come back a few hours later to discover our boat had been shifted slightly from where we left it. A telephone call to the number shown on the calling card from NSW Maritime revealed that whilst we had anchored correctly and with plenty of chain out, we had the misfortune to have the anchor drop directly onto a huge piece of plastic which acted as a sled when the wind changed. Spent 2 nights at anchor before heading to the Gladesville Bridge Marina where we had booked in for a month.

Whilst in Sydney we had many friends and family visit us and stay on board. First Roger and Julie from Perth, then Shelley Ron’s daughter and our granddaughter Lillian came to stay for 5 days. We also had good friends Jenny and Cab Butler from Port Vincent South Australia call in and stay for 2 days as they were on their way further north. On our last weekend in Sydney Ron’s daughter Keryn and her partner Brad did a flying visit from Perth.

Also whilst in Sydney we caught up with Steve and Julie Ann who live in Sydney and are long time friends of Peta’s, Ron’s sister Helen, her son Clinton and his wife Sarah and Amos their son. We also flew to Singapore for 4 days to attend Narelle and Dean’s wedding. (Ron’s niece) and we flew back to Tasmania for 2 days to research properties south of Hobart. Many thanks to Lew and Liz in Hobart for putting us up and lending us a vehicle whilst we were there and the chance to sleep overnight on their beautifully maintained Nauticat called Minerva. So all in all Sydney was very busy and we had lots of fun taking family and friends sailing “Under the Bridge” and over to the Opera House and Zoo area. We also did the Bridge Climb which was awesome.

So finally on Friday 6th August we set sail for Broken Bay (Pittwater). We booked for two nights at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Newport as our friend Alan Paul who crossed the Bight with us was in Sydney and arranged to drive up with his son Stephen to join us for dinner.

We then spent the next 12 days in and around the Broken Bay area, visiting all the various bays, heading up to Jerusalem Bay for an overnight anchorage before taking the dinghy further up the creek. We then explored Cowan Creek, to the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park area where the NSW Maritime has numerous public moorings. It was so peaceful in the area. We then headed to the Hawkesbury River off Cowan Creek to the little marina just before the rail bridge. This was as far up the river we could go due to height restriction as we need around 20 metres clearance. Here again we caught up with Alan and his friend Paul and had a delightful day sailing down the Cowan Creek to Cottage point where we stopped for an extremely expensive lunch. This was the first time Alan had seen the Pittwater/Broken Bay area. We also met up with Denis Crowdy, Janet and Peter’s son. Janet was a neighbour and employee of Ron’s back in Darlington days and when Ron first went into practice..

On Sunday 22nd August set sail for Port Stephens, a 12 hour sail. We had good seas but fluky winds between 3-10 kts, so motor sailed all the way. We decided against going into Newcastle which would have broken our journey as there were just so many ships in and coming and going from the commercial harbour. We came into Nelsons Bay (Port Stephens) in the dark but felt pretty confident as we had been in contact the Volunteer Marine Radio (VMR) radio guys who gave us some directions and the navigation lights were fairly straight forward. The VMR people on duty also switched on special orange lights to assist.

The next day we moved into the safety of the harbour/marina area and tied up to the public jetty. We ended up staying for a week there as the winds were up to 35kts even in the bay causing quite a surf to develop. Whilst in Port Stevens we caught up with David and Di Baulch from Tasmania who were on their way back down south from a motoring holiday. We spent a night over at Fame Cove before heading out to sea again and to Cape Hawke Harbour (Tuncurry/Forster).
We tied up to one of the fishing co-op jetties right next to the road bridge between Forster and Tuncurry. We were there for 2 weeks as Peta had to fly to Melbourne to be with Jason who was in intensive care in hospital after being attacked whilst on his way home one evening. It was a most stressful time. Ron spent his time as caretaker and doing maintenance work on Finesse.

Saturday 11th Sept departed Tuncurry for Laurieton on the Camden Haven River. This was a 6.5 hr sail, anchored in the river opposite the town a delightful spot. The next day we headed to Port Macquarie again only a short run up the coast, 3 hrs. Met the marine pilot book writer Alan Lucas and thanked him for his great publications which give tremendous help to non local boaties. We used a marina mooring and explored the town the next few days.

Wednesday 15th Sept we sailed for 35nm to Trial Bay for an overnight anchorage and then sailed to Coff’s Harbour. A very “surgy” harbour, so after one night at anchorage we came into the marina, as the winds and sea were increasing in strength. A good safe harbour. After 3 nights at the marina the seas seemed to settle down so we set sail at 6.30am for Iluka on the Clarence River arriving there at 3.30pm. Here we came across Richard and Wendy on the yacht Charon, who are from Tasmania and we first met in Middle Harbour. We only did an overnighter there as had a good wind forecast so we sent sail initially for Ballina. We hope to get back to the Clarence River as it seemed a delightfully sheltered and interesting area and can be sailed up river to Grafton. The sea conditions were not right to enter the bar at Ballina so we sailed further north to Byron Bay for an overnight sea anchorage.

We spent a most uncomfortable night there so were very pleased to up anchor and head to the Gold Coast Sea Way and Queensland this was a 9 hour trip.

Upon entering the sea way and half surfing in, we headed to a small lagoon just near Sea World. Good to be in calm waters again. We spent two nights there before departing at 6.30am for the Brisbane River following the “Main Channel” inside South Stradbroke Island. We passed many delightful spots that we wish to return to and finally entered the Brisbane River about 3.30pm. For the next 2.5 hours against the tide we slowly moved towards the city of Brisbane. Again another long day and we finally tied up to a pile system in front of the Botanical Gardens.

We explored Brisbane for a few days catching up with Shaun and Johan from Wood & Grieve and also Eric and Sue Muir, a CPA ex board member before our friends Marg and Beres Coley joined us for a week. We spent a few more days in the river in the heart of the city before departing and heading over to Tangalooma Point on Morton Island where we anchored overnight. Beres was in his element taking the wheel and sailing across the bay without motor. The next day it was rain, rain and more rain so we decided to motor across the bay to the Newport Marina.

Whilst at Tangalooma we discovered a new noise coming from the rudder and upon further investigation discovered that the keys in the keyway on the top of the rudder were worn. So whilst here at Newport we had a shipwright look at and fix the problem.

Beres and Marg left us in Newport to return first to Wollongong then Sydney and finally flying home to Perth.

We have caught up with Ann and Cran from Letting Go a “cat” in this marina whom we first met in Adelaide and then twice in Tasmania. They were kind enough to take us food shopping so we have been able to reprovision whilst here and have offered to keep an eye on Finesse for us when we are away. We have been boat bound for most of this week due to the extreme weather with winds and rains Brisbane and South Queensland have been experiencing.

We plan to hopefully set sail again soon and head to Mooloolaba for a couple of weeks before returning to the Brisbane/Morton Bay/Gold Coast area till mid December when we will be returning to Perth for 3 months. We will leave Finesse here at the Newport Marina for the cyclone season then returning to sail Queensland for 4-5 months next year before returning to Tasmania where we have now purchased a property.