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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