Hi all, looking for some advice.
I'm hoping to sail from Pittwater to Sydney harbour for the NYE fireworks, I have sailed it before so that's not a problem. I'm more concerned about how busy the harbour will be and how people go about anchoring in deep water in close proximity to other boats.
My plan is to arrive at least 24 hours prior to NYE and pull up a good spot and sleep on board for a couple of nights and then sail back to Pittwater when the weather permits.
Any advice for when, where, how etc.
Cheers
Hi, been there done that. I would suggest that 24 hrs prior arrival is the minimum, check the expected winds to decide where on the harbour to anchor, set the anchor really well and stand by to repel those that want to anchor directly along side, drop their anchor diagonally across your chain etc.
The best method of selecting a spot is to be upwind so the smoke from the fireworks blows the other way, reasonably close inshore helps avoid the late arriving blocks of flats (don't worry about the view being blocked, the fireworks are UP) and hopefully you find a spot that won't suffer too much from the slop created by the ferries and partyboats that run up and down the harbour ALL night, till sun up.
Also, the harbour is absolute madness after midnight so stay the night in the nice safe spot you found yourself by arriving nice and early.
The year that I did it we anchored off the zoo, a noreaster was blowing and we were in a good location to enjoy the show.
Cheers and have a good one.
Great, thanks UncleBob, exactly what I was looking for. Yeah I was planning on staying put until the hordes have moved on.
That western side of Bradleys head looks like a good spot.
This is from the Naval Fleet Review a couple of years ago, which was as big an event as NYE on the harbour. We just went for the day, arriving 7am and following the hoards back up the harbour after the last fireworks. It was a great day, all the boaties were very friendly. Even the police on Jet Skis were taking kids off boats for a joy ride.
Athol Bay is a great spot. Good holding in mud, so you don't need much scope. Best for vantage is closer to the point, but that's worst for boat wash. There's a little beach you can go to for some shore time.
We did it for NYE 2012, and it was a fantastic experience. We stayed W of Bradleys Head as you suggest, and it had a terrific view of the action. We could not get set up before about 2pm as we had passengers to pick up from Rose Bay, but we still managed to get a good spot.
Of course the afternoon was absolute mayhem with literally hundreds of boats jockeying for position, and we had 25kt from the NW until shortly after dark to add to the excitement - boats were dragging continually. We found the best approach was to keep your cool and sense of humour - everyone is in a party mood. If someone tries to anchor too close, a gentle warning was usually all that was necessary. We also found it helped to have several crew ready to man the rails with fenders - although they were never used, it seemed to help warn others to keep their distance!
We stayed put after the action - it was actually a quiet and peaceful night after about 2am.
Can't wait to do it again!
We've done the last 5 NYE.
Our favourite spot is anchor off the park at Hunters Hill. You can see everything equally well but theres no yobs.
In our Seaway 25 we sat inside the point of Athol Bay as well. Had a blast. Had one altercation with some idiots on 3 blocks of flats rafted up dragging their anchor but we had a good story to tell. Left the next morning. No prob's really.
We tend to anchor near the dolphins off Snails Bay, at the northern tip of the Balmain peninsula. The view is good but there seems to be a more laid back crowd, less madness, and less wind.
The only thing I miss about not having the boat in Sydney is NYE with friends. Batemans Bay is a fantastic cruising ground, but not quite the same one day of the year!
Thanks everyone for the tips.. Balmain sounds like a good backup plan if the wind is from the West.
I have to pick-up some additional passengers on NYE, but i'm thinking i'll just row the tender to a beach/wharf to pick them up. Keep the yacht anchored.
Anyone know if the water taxis are available? and if they charge a fortune for that particular day?
Last year the water taxis on NYE wanted a minimum of $450 for the few hundred metres journey from Circular Quay to Farm Cove!
Farm Cove was a nightmare. Didn't matter how early you got there, idiots wanted to anchor on top of you and swing into your boat. I felt a bit left out that they avoided my steel boat with toe rails in obvious need of some paint.
Another American guy who got there two days early had a yacht eager for poll position anchor on top of him and pull his pick. Turned into mayhem with the poor guy bouncing off a catamaran and others in the restricted space. Not a nice way to start a night he had done the right thing preparing for?
Select to expand quoteslothbag said..
Thanks everyone for the tips.. Balmain sounds like a good backup plan if the wind is from the West.
I have to pick-up some additional passengers on NYE, but i'm thinking i'll just row the tender to a beach/wharf to pick them up. Keep the yacht anchored.
Anyone know if the water taxis are available? and if they charge a fortune for that particular day?
Oh yes water taxi's are available, at a price !!
Friends joined me when I did it a couple of years ago, $150 from the man of war steps to Athol bay mid afternoon, if they had wanted to return after midnight $300. And that was a few years ago !
Select to expand quotesurfershaneA said..
Last year the water taxis on NYE wanted a minimum of $450 for the few hundred metres journey from Circular Quay to Farm Cove!
Farm Cove was a nightmare. Didn't matter how early you got there, idiots wanted to anchor on top of you and swing into your boat. I felt a bit left out that they avoided my steel boat with toe rails in obvious need of some paint.
Another American guy who got there two days early had a yacht eager for poll position anchor on top of him and pull his pick. Turned into mayhem with the poor guy bouncing off a catamaran and others in the restricted space. Not a nice way to start a night he had done the right thing preparing for?
I had a similar experience with my previous yacht. It was the only time the 2100 fireworks were cancelled due to wind, about the year 2000. We were in Farm Cove, got there at midday and had two boats drop their picks on mine and the neighbor boat got a high powered rifle out to get rid of the yobbos. He was cheered by many.
Most were great but about 30% of the skippers were the lowest level of marine life. It put me off NYE for life.
There are public pontoons on thr harbour. Why row when you could pull up at the pontoon and pick up your guests?
Especially if you are around Balmain? Or Woolwich?
One is Woolwich marina, thr other one is at the end of King st in Balmain! (Elkington park).
Theres no way I'd do it. Saturdays in summer on harbour is bad enough. Pittwater for us.
It's not a nightmare (or at least, not on the western side) and that's coming from someone who doesn't like crowds of boats at all.
It's also better than seeing NYE in when you're singlehanding off Wollongong, or half way across Storm Bay during a very slow Hobart, with one or two cans to share between six guys. 
Been there, done them!
Farm cove sounds scary.. I figured that would be the case there and have no intention of going anywhere near it.
I can imagine having your anchor pulled whilst amongst that many boats would be kinda hairy.. make sure all fenders are in position just in case I guess.
Not surprised about the water taxis, thanks for the heads up.
Farm coves always washy anyway. Would be hideous with many boats. I'd be going west side of bridge for sure. I dont care for fireworks but if i did it would be from west of bridge.
We have had two NYEs anchored west of Bradleys head, pretty close to the point really and just outside the exclusion zone. There is nothing else like it when the fireworks start to go off, the sound and visuals are truly breathtaking at that distance. There is a pontoon pretty close to where we were anchored.
We usually have arrived around 11AM, but you can get a spot later in the day as well.
We made the mistake of heading back to Black Wattle bay as soon as they cleared the exclusion zone last year and it was a very unpleasant and daunting experience. As we passed under the bridge we were abreast with at least 6 other boats and right behind us were about 3 of the larger harbour cruise boats. The wash was phenomenal.
Yes, more relaxing to have a few drinks and settle in for the night. Much less hectic moving late the next morning.
So I made it down to the Harbour for NYE, I left late (around 12:30pm) on NYE due to southerly winds the previous days. Only took about 3.5 hours running with the seabreeze. Managed to squeeze in between two yachts and drop anchor around 4:30pm near Bradleys Head.
Watched the show, enjoyed watching 1000's of boats motor out into the darkness in the middle of the night.. scary!
Had a few hours sleep and then got up and sailed back to Broken Bay on the 1st. Had to beat against the seabreeze heading north.. a lot of the other boats looked like they were able to sail just a little closer to wind and not need to tack (especially the cats), I had to tack half a dozen times. Took about 8 hours to get back.
Was well and truly exhausted but a great experience.
Thanks everyone for the advice.
