Hi, yesterday I left Gladstone for Pancake Cr. . Gray clouds and wisible rain over land did not looked trethning, then, 3/4 way it come over me. Sails went down, heavy rain with help of the wind was filing up my "normaly" safe space under dodger. On arrival in Pancake I did found my forward sonar got no display and when droping hook my chain counter was mute. First thing in the morning went back home. Leson lerned: asumption that your instruments readouts are protected by dodger is ilusion, they need to be as water proff as there was no dodger. Back home after spliting sonar readout apart several droplets of fresh water were found. Cotton buds and air blow treatment was enough to dry it. Assembled, conected back to power, all good, work as nothing happen. Tommorow chain counter.
Pinta Bay, Cowan Creek,
we travelled down from Lake Macquarie on Wednesday. There was not much wind so had to motor and motor sail the whole way.
We are in Cowan Creek / Pittwater until late next week, but will be looking for a break in the forecast big Southerlies to get back home.
Pinta Bay is a great place to be in a southerly and it looks like you might be waiting a while on the current forecasts. Its such a magic little bay that I even named my yacht after it. 
My favourite Broken Bay bay is Castle Lagoon. The sun sets over the water stretching out to the west and it is just magical.
Select to expand quoteGravy7 said..
Pinta Bay is a great place to be in a southerly and it looks like you might be waiting a while on the current forecasts. Its such a magic little bay that I even named my yacht after it.
Yep, the Southerlies stretch out forever. the wave height forecast on sea breeze has me beat though, why the differece between Newcastle and Sydney?
At at this stage we are considering a very early start on Sunday, to be at Swansea bar by around 11am. On the current forecast that may beat the southerly. we will have another look at the forecast tomorrow. Otherwise we may need to find somewhere to park the boat at the end of next week Until we can find the time to get her home. Work is a curse!
Well today we sailed the Canaipa Passage. I never really thought that I would but if you have no propulsion then you have no option. We left Jumpinpin this morning and between working the tide and usi ng sail when we could we were limited by not having wind and therefore steerage. We kedged off one sandbar and just waited for the tide to lift us off another.
We are almost into Moreton Bay, had dinner (and an ale) and will hopefully sail into the bay tomorrow morning.
We will enjoy sailing on the bay over the weekend and then move into Manly Marina on Monday and hopefully sort our gearbox problem out.
So, today we have been out sailing with our Oceanis 48 Jackpot in Greece! From Alimos marina in Athens, to Lavrio!
So, yesterday i was out sailing with our 8' Sabot "Dozen" at Indented heads on port phillip bay! From White Womans Rock , to Grassy Point on the Prince George Bank!
Select to expand quotemadmission said..
So, yesterday i was out sailing with our 8' Sabot "Dozen" at Indented heads on port phillip bay! From White Womans Rock , to Grassy Point on the Prince George Bank!
I used to dump my self in the water first with a heavy woolen jumper on so I had enough weight years ago Madmission, both of us do not need to do that these days 
used to be 14 sabots in our club great fun
Select to expand quoteyachtsailingGR said..
So, today we have been out sailing with our Oceanis 48 Jackpot in Greece! From Alimos marina in Athens, to Lavrio!
Wow.. spectacular boat... and spectacular water!!
I slept onboard last night, the second half of it in the cockpit inside two sleeping bags. Stars were great.
Then I had a magic sail on my own out the heads in 25-ish knots. After all this crap weather I was beginning to despair - today's sail made up for it. Sun was out and some nice little swell to make it a bit more fun and no one around but birds. Found that the heady does reef quite well actually; think I've worked it out now that I've installed an inner forestay! Reef in the main also on the way out and full sail on the way back in.
Beat right up to the mooring (with engine on just in case). Then caught 4 flathead while the sun set and brought 2 home.
Bloody hell, what a cracker of a day! Definitely going to leave the wife at home more often. 
Just arrived at Garry's Anchorage, bit windy even in here, bad weather for next few days so will stay here but I must go by Saturday midday as 150 trailer yachts and their crews are going to descend onto this beautiful place for Saturday night.
PS The crab pot been set and I'm dinning on fresh tuna.
Hi NSW,
We will be all sorted out by the weekend and hopefully try and find where north is on the compass again.
I haven't checked the tides for Wide Bay yet but we will probably go straight from Moreton Bay to Wide Bay with the idea of being there at the right time for the bar. Westerlies are predicted so it just could be a bit flatter than normal. Will have to get onto VMR Tin Can Bay to check the co-ordinates haven't changed since we crossed late last year.
I like Garry's Anchorage, I hope all the TS's are gone by the time we get there. Not against TS's, theres just not a lot of room at Garry's.
Are you going up the coast from Harvey Bay or out to Lady Musgrave, we havent made our minds up yet. I have never been to 1770 or Pancake Creek so it's decision time. Might have to let the weather decide for us.
It will be a change to get back into the shorter seas after some months in NSW waters.
Cheers, Rick
Select to expand quoteDrRog said..
I slept onboard last night, the second half of it in the cockpit inside two sleeping bags. Stars were great.
Then I had a magic sail on my own out the heads in 25-ish knots. After all this crap weather I was beginning to despair - today's sail made up for it. Sun was out and some nice little swell to make it a bit more fun and no one around but birds. Found that the heady does reef quite well actually; think I've worked it out now that I've installed an inner forestay! Reef in the main also on the way out and full sail on the way back in.
Beat right up to the mooring (with engine on just in case). Then caught 4 flathead while the sun set and brought 2 home.
Bloody hell, what a cracker of a day! Definitely going to leave the wife at home more often.
Some people have all the fun!... But what's with leaving the wife at home!!!...
Rick,
The TS are only here for Saturday night.
When crossing the Wide Bay bar be very careful at the turn at waypoint B.
We, that's another yacht and I, found that when we got there, 100m north of the B waypoint as advised to avoid a developing shoal area, we both found we were approaching steep breaking waves [this 1 hour before High tide]
So we both cut the corner. We only found 4.5 m in that area.
It will be different when you come in but be aware there are problems with waypoint B.
Can anybody else advise Rick?
Select to expand quoteMcNaughtical said..DrRog said..
I slept onboard last night, the second half of it in the cockpit inside two sleeping bags. Stars were great.
Then I had a magic sail on my own out the heads in 25-ish knots. After all this crap weather I was beginning to despair - today's sail made up for it. Sun was out and some nice little swell to make it a bit more fun and no one around but birds. Found that the heady does reef quite well actually; think I've worked it out now that I've installed an inner forestay! Reef in the main also on the way out and full sail on the way back in.
Beat right up to the mooring (with engine on just in case). Then caught 4 flathead while the sun set and brought 2 home.
Bloody hell, what a cracker of a day! Definitely going to leave the wife at home more often.
Some people have all the fun!... But what's with leaving the wife at home!!!...
McNaughtical,
I would rather my wife sailed with me. At times she does. She did the trip south to Sydney with me.
Unfortunately my wife also likes her work, she is a nurse, and has no immediate plans of retiring in spite of my repeated requests.
She joins me when she can and I tease her about all the Scandinavian backpackers I manage to squeeze on board (in my dreams, lol) but we also enjoy every minute we spend together on the water.
I worked over seas for many decades so we are used to living apart for periods of time.
Having said all that, I would love to have her with me every minute of every day but we both understand the allure of the water and the adventure of finding another place to share when time permits.
Hi Phillip,
VMR Tin Can Bay gave us similar advise in October last year. As it turns out I only just this morning set the waypoints again in my plotter with that in mind and made waypoint two two hundred meteres north of where it is advised to be.
No problem anyway as the water is always a bit deeper to the north of waypoint two.
After a bit of a replan we expect to cross the Wide Bay Bar on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning according to the tides. We will have an overnight break at Garrys and then keep moving north.
I will consult with the crew but from my point of view would prefer to just keep to the coast and do Lady Musgrave when I come back down in the summer.
Keep you posted, Rick.
First night at anchor on the new boat since I brought her in January, at least the sun is shining! I will stay here for a couple of nights to check my battery life.
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
I could still have her but I spend my money on my boat! Ahuuu a wise man amongst us
Select to expand quoteMcNaughtical said..
But what's with leaving the wife at home!!!...
Naughty, generally I prefer to sail with my partner - she makes most things more enjoyable. However, she doesn't like to take many 'risks' and in her eyes many things are risky. She doesn't much enjoy heeling, sailing to windward, going too far offshore, rain, cold, etc. So sometimes it's good to just get out alone or with a better sailor and fun with it.
She does make nice meals and a damn fine cup of tea though.
By my calculation your boot stripe is one slab of beer higher this morning south ace
Select to expand quote
HG02 said..
By my calculation your boot stripe is one slab of beer higher this morning south ace
Too cold for beer!
14 degrees in the cabin this morning and the reverse cycle won't run of the genset!
so I resorted to the liquor cabinet !
No where, there is still a dozen of us waiting at Garry's Anchorage for the East Coast Low to strike.
