a mooring became available about 5 weeks ago - 2 days before i was to fly to Europe for 5 weeks! So the window is narrow to get my boat down from the pittwater to woodford bay, not to mention the mooring put in. The mooring contractor seems pretty capable of doing this pronto
and the RMS of choosing the spot. The weather is looking great for the end of the week. Nor, westers, light winds.
Im a bit nervous taking this little thing out in the open ocean, but it must be done! On top of that ive got a broken boom, so today(monday) ill be repairing boom and organising the mooring.
Any Advice anyone can give for such a trip would be most welcome. I have paper charts, VHF radio and Navionics. I do know the coastline pretty well as i surf the whole bit plus have been up and down there numerous times in a big motorboat.
THanks!

Just to clarify a point about distances. The offshore leg is obviously longer but will be an easier sail than the leg from the heads to Lane cove where the probable Westerlies are going to give you trying conditions.

Looking at the current wind charts, Thursday is west all day, however Friday is west, then north later in the day, so that may help (if it eventuates) to get you up the harbour without having to bash into it.

The wave heights are also dropping well, so it should be reasonably comfortable.

I'd love to do the trip with you, but already doing something this week, and can't take any more time off. :-(

Leave at or before daybreak, even if you have to motor out for a bit. Once you round Barrenjoey, and start heading south, you'll be able to see pretty much all the way to North Head. Keep an eye out for Newport Reef, and Long Reef, just give them a wide berth of at least 500 metres and don't go too close in to Manly, or you'll lose the westerly when you get to North Head. As others have said, Bluebirds used to race offshore, and my uncle sailed his to Pittwater often, and Port Stephens once, in one hop. So you should have no worries providing all your gear is fine.

Have a great trip, your first coastal solo!

thanks Michael, and everyone for the encouragement.. i feel a bit rusty, am a bit nervous. ive not sailed a month now having been away.
Ive fixed the broken boom by sleeving it and rivetts. THe only thing im worried about is that i may not have enough sleeve in the boom. Only about 1 foot. the sleeve was a bit too tight, so it was so hard to get in, but once rivetted on its pretty solid... i might just rivett some alluminium strips on each side on the outside, but then again, is that gonna weaken the boom? (too many rivett holes in boom?)

The weather is looking awesome now, and possibly friday should be pretty nice.
Will i just radio marine sydney on channel 16 before departure?

If the sleeve was tight to get in thats a good thing.
Dont rivet on the top or bottom faces of the boom if possible - i.e the side facing the sky and the side facing the deck

great news Yara! Just been out today in the pittwater. shes going well.!

And only rivetted the sides.. seems strong. Was out today doing 5 kn

Well, when l saw you last time - in the middle of the race - you might remember the turquoise Adams and me shouting at you, l thought you are staying up there.
Drop me a line, how is it? Soon back from Briso if you still need a hand.

ducrider said..
Well I'm taking my Bluebird up the other way this weekend.
Traveling up from Abbottsford to my new mooring at St Hubert's island in Brisbane waters.
Thinking of leaving early AM Saturday morning for the trip up the coast and am happy for any advise.

Chris

check the weather...sort out a self steering thingo, take a mate. a beer for entry into closed waters.

Plan your arrival at Box Head and the half tide rocks channel for an incoming tide. The current in the channel there is very strong, so if your engine isn't up to it, you don't want to be pushing against it. Same for the passage under the Rip Bridge, apart from that, it's an easy trip.

Did you find your boats?