Lakes Entrance to Jervis Bay

Saturday 11 April to Wednesday 22 April, 2015
We left Lakes Entrance at first light for the 135nm to Eden. After all the rain in the last week, water was rushing out the entrance at 3 knots into a small swell. This meant we had a small easily handled break, much better than others had experienced the day before. We motored until 1020 then set the spinnaker.

Motor on again at 1500 until 1800 when we stopped it for some peace and quiet during dinner. With a double reef and self tacking jib it was slow going, but we weren't in a hurry so persisted. At 0350 we were abeam of Gabo Island in 20-25 knots, seas were slight and we were making good progress. At 1000 on Sunday we had the anchor down in East Boyd Bay.

San Souci joined us on Monday

We kayaked to Boydtown on Monday as the weather was sunny with light breezes and we dug out the shorts again! Construction of Boydtown, by the industrious Benjamin Boyd began in 1843 with the hotel. Boyd disappeared in the Solomon Islands in 1851, by which time the town was a virtual ghost town and most of the residents had moved to Eden. The hotel was restored in 1957. It certainly looked like a peaceful spot to stay.

Seahorse Inn

We had 2 nights in East Boyd Bay, before a northerly arrived that had all the boats doing the "Eden Shuffle" across to Snug Cove for 2 nights.

Snug Cove

A SW change came through early Thursday morning and so we headed north in company with 4 other yachts. A couple were doing the short leg to Bermagui but San Souci and Phase2 were aiming for Jervis Bay 135nm away.

Pre-dawn start

We had good breeze all day, carrying the spinnaker for about 5 hours and then goosewinging our sails as the wind built. We put in the double reef at dusk and settled in for another night at sea.This turned out to be one of our more uncomfortable sails of the trip. We had a slight to moderate swell but it was confused and we both did not feel well as dark fell. We were happy to pick up a mooring at Hole in the Wall in the southern end of Jervis Bay at 0350 on Friday.

San Souci 

When the northerly came in late Friday, we headed to Hare Bay in the north of Jervis Bay. We had 2 nights here and a good walk around the town of Callala. When the southerly came in on Sunday as predicted we headed back south to the Hole in the Wall. An east coast low had formed and it was clear we were not going anywhere for quite a while. It is now Wednesday, and we haven't left the boat for 4 days! Constant rain and the wind has been 25-30 knots most of the time with gusts up to 40+, but we are lucky we are not further north. We are anchored in 10m of water (as required) as all the moorings are taken. We set the anchor alarm every night but we are well dug in by now I suspect.

No cabin fever......yet

The weather is meant to improve from today but it looks like it will be Saturday before the seas abate and we can continue our journey home. Print this post