Coffs Harbour to Eden

Thursday, 17 January to Tuesday 29, January 2019

We left Coffs at 0620 and motored into a very light southerly until 0820 when the wind had gone to the north and we were able to set our spinnaker. 

Colourful Coffs Harbour Rock Wall

At 1040 we were back motoring as the wind had eased to 7 knots from directly behind us. For the rest of the day and the night we motored and motorsailed with only a brief period around midnight when the motor got a rest. It was frustrating but as the seas were very slight it was comfortable passage making. At 0820 the spinnaker went up and we had a good sail to Broken Bay in a strengthening northerly. We dropped the spinnaker as we approached Lion Island after 232nm in 37 hours. We motored to America Bay where we picked up a courtesy mooring just on dark.

America Bay

On Wednesday, we got the kayaks in the water for the first time this trip and paddled around America and Refuge Bays. It wasn’t as crowded as we had expected in the school holidays. We visited the waterfall (barely running in the dry conditions) and climbed part way up the hill for a photo. 

There is a plaque here to Z Force, the commando group that trained in this bay for Operation Jaywick. In September 1943 they sailed the MV Krait, disguised as a fishing boat, to Singapore where they sank 6 Japanese ships.

On Thursday, we motored around to Castle Lagoon, one of our favourite spots in Broken Bay. We again found a vacant mooring and decided to kayak to Cottage Point for a look around and to buy some fresh bread. The Kuring-gai Motor Yacht Club has the prime position on the point but we enjoyed a walk and got some bread at the kiosk.

Cottage Point

On Friday we headed off for Jervis Bay. Again, there was no wind early so we motored until 0930 when we could set the spinnaker. 

Sunrise over Barrenjoey Light

As it was very hazy/foggy, we missed seeing much of the spectacular coastal cliffs in this area.  It was good sailing and at 1730 about 15 nm from Jervis Bay, we dropped the spinnaker and put in the second reef. The breeze was a steady 20-25 knots and as we approached Point Perpendicular it started to increase as it funneled through the entrance. 

Sunset at Point Perdendicular, Jervis Bay

We had 30 -35 knots for half an hour and were glad when it finally eased enough to drop the sails and head north to Hare Bay. We dropped anchor just before 2200 after covering 113 nm in the day.

On Saturday we celebrated Australia Day by sailing in the Seawind Cup organised by the Jervis Bay Cruising Yacht Club. 

Briefing at the JBCYC

There were 5 Seawinds, one 1260, three 1160’s (like Phase2) and one 1000. The racing was close but the well sailed local Seawind 1000 Tranquillity was the winner while we took out second place. A BBQ at Long Beach after the race finished off a good day.

On Sunday morning we moved to the southerly anchorage at Hole in the Wall and did a couple of the many walks here. 

Our friends on Aurielle were anchored nearby and as Taswegians on their way home, we discussed our next leg south with them. We decided to head off Monday evening for an overnight sail to Eden. Joining Aurielle and us when we left at 1900 on Monday was the classic Queensland wooden ketch Laurabada. Laurabada last year sailed in her 51st Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, the most of any yacht.

It was a quieter night than we expected so we had to motor several times during the evening. As dawn approached, the wind picked up and we set the spinnaker for several hours. By 1500 we were back motoring and anchored in Snug Cove, Eden at 1830 after 134 nm. Time now to get ready for our Bass Strait crossing.

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