Some info here Steve: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Cape-Hawke-Harbour

If you have good wind, keep going & don't worry with Forster. It's out of the way on the rhumb-line. Even with keeping close to the shore to avoid any current it's a detour.
Although if you have had a bad run against current since re-fueling in Nelson Bay you might need to stop for fuel.
There's no fuel at Crowdy, although you could get a lift to Harrington from Crowdy, off one of the tinnie fisho's no doubt if you need to re-fuel & didn't want to worry with Forster.
There's enough space to anchor just up-stream of the slipway on the Tuncurry side. Lots of care needed if you want to dock, un-dock from the many free wharfs if any tidal flow is running.

Sectorsteve said..

BlueMoon said..
Some info here Steve: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Cape-Hawke-Harbour

If you have good wind, keep going & don't worry with Forster. It's out of the way on the rhumb-line. Even with keeping close to the shore to avoid any current it's a detour.
Although if you have had a bad run against current since re-fueling in Nelson Bay you might need to stop for fuel.
There's no fuel at Crowdy, although you could get a lift to Harrington from Crowdy, off one of the tinnie fisho's no doubt if you need to re-fuel & didn't want to worry with Forster.
There's enough space to anchor just up-stream of the slipway on the Tuncurry side. Lots of care needed if you want to dock, un-dock from the many free wharfs if any tidal flow is running.

Thanks Shaun. It looks like ill be in port stephens monday arvo, have to work a few hours tuesday morn so wont be able to leave port steves stil about 8am. would have loved to stop in at broughton for lunch, but at the same time want to avoid the 4 m swell thats forecasted on wednesday from the south. nor west wind, southerly swell. dunno about that! might have to lay low in port steves a few days to get a good run north, or just go for it tuesday all the way to crowdy. you know the $ of staying at crowdy? its no anchoring isnt it?

Crowdy is free. We just contacted marine rescue.

Sheltered from southerly but open to northerly.

There's a break right along the entrance. You need to go well north to go around the sand bar. Then basically come straight in to the harbour parallel to the coast.

I think you have Lucas's book follow his marks.
Would not like to do it in big seas.
Northerly swell can come into the harbour.

Reasonably sheltered from southerly.
Most bars on the north coast are open to NE .