Shaggy, I see you on Marine traffic just east of Mud. Bad new is wind is dropping, and coming from the NE and you are going to hit the incoming tide after mid night. I am actually just trying to convince myself that I am better off in my warm bed.??
Select to expand quoteJode5 said..
Shaggy, I see you on Marine traffic just east of Mud. Bad new is wind is dropping, and coming from the NE and you are going to hit the incoming tide after mid night. I am actually just trying to convince myself that I am better off in my warm bed.??
Hi Jode,
Yes, you are better off mate. Mind you, your bed on that gorgeous boat of yours would be pretty comfy! 
You soothsayer you, the wind dropped to 3-4 knots and went NE indeed.
Not much chance now of making it in the window of time allowable, the NW channel in light airs with opposing tide isn't much fun . I'll take a lazy option and head for Newport or QCYC methinks
I've managed to get a bit of breeze heading back in, up to a scintillating 9 knots. That's sailing!
I have to take Fusion home today, if any Seabreezers feel like a few hours on the water you are welcome to come along. Leaving SCarborough for Manly , then I can drop people back off at scarborough as my car is at manly.
As long as I have it out today don't really mind on departure time.
Let me know if interested!
Looks like a nice day for it!
Airlie Beach to Sydney. (Well, not in one day – over a month to be precise...) Distance sailed – 1,175 nautical miles, 235 hours at the helm. Sailing solo was “challenging” at times, and I had a few ‘oh bugger!’ moments! A furling headsail would have made things easier, but I have no regrets about using hanked-on sails. (Is this going to re-open the furler v hanked-on debate for short-handed sailing?) The trusty old Jarkan 10.5 was amazing – no problems or breakdowns at all.
(I would like to give some credit where it's due... The service I got at Port Macquarie Marina was amazing – much better than any of the other marinas I stopped at. Highly recommended! I have no affiliation with the marina.)
You lucky bastard Sailplan, I'm jealous, it sounds like a bucket list trip!
Highlights? Scariest moment?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Last week I sailed from Pt Peron to Dawesville. Stayed away four nights. Penguin Island. Mandurah. Mandurah. Long Point. 24 hours actual sailing time. 62 nm all up.
Yesterday was an exciting day, as after 12 months of boat hunting we completed the purchase of an S&S 30 Defiance last week. We had a lovely sunny 12-15 knots on Brisbane Waters as we set off on our first sail. The smiles were wide across all of our faces as the 30 has delightful manners and was happily getting along at 6 knots without being pushed.
A great arvo out.
Select to expand quoteLittleBoris said..
Yesterday was an exciting day, as after 12 months of boat hunting we completed the purchase of an S&S 30 Defiance last week. We had a lovely sunny 12-15 knots on Brisbane Waters as we set off on our first sail. The smiles were wide across all of our faces as the 30 has delightful manners and was happily getting along at 6 knots without being pushed.
A great arvo out.
Excellent choice. Well done.
Congratulations Little Boris.
I'm moored on the other side of the bay
and was out Sat & Sun for my twins birthday parties. Boy/Girl.
I think we passed by each other on Saturday.
Happy sailing.
Select to expand quoteLittleBoris said..
Yesterday was an exciting day, as after 12 months of boat hunting we completed the purchase of an S&S 30 Defiance last week. We had a lovely sunny 12-15 knots on Brisbane Waters as we set off on our first sail. The smiles were wide across all of our faces as the 30 has delightful manners and was happily getting along at 6 knots without being pushed.
A great arvo out.
Ahhh thanks Ramona & Cisco, we defiantly think we got the right boat. Chris we will be sailing again this Sunday give us a wave and say hello if you are around. Cheers HG
Curses.
Had all the crew, hasn't dropped below 25tws, and we were heading out to practice heavy air sailing technique. Lo and behold, we find a perfect L shaped 30cm tear in the gennaker near the luff (which is our go to sail in these conditions)
We had spinnaker tape at the ready, but the wiser part of me decided 30+ knots and a hastily repaired gennaker don't really go together.
Discretion at the better part of valour, we called it off and stayed at the bar..... 
Edit: Packing up the boat, it's blowing solid 26-36 in the pen, would be another 5+ knots outside....sigh...
Planned a family outing to Peel Island today, but planning and children don't go together!
We didn't get off the dock till noon, but still managed to get to Peel Island and anchor up for an hour before beating most of the way back.
This was on the way home round the south of Peel, being lazy under main and headsail.
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..
Planned a family outing to Peel Island today, but planning and children don't go together!
We didn't get off the dock till noon, but still managed to get to Peel Island and anchor up for an hour before beating most of the way back.
This was on the way home round the south of Peel, being lazy under main and headsail.
"This video contains content from SME, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds."
:(
Hi Dr Rog,
Thx for letting me know, it turns out there was a song playing in the background on the radio, and youtube banned the video!
I didn't know you had to remove all the background noise...sigh...
Try again!
Well, there is a lesson in that, make sure you have your radio turned down before filming any video you want to put on Youtube... 
..that seems kinda wrong to me. The corrective process from Youtube removes all audio from the track not just the song, even though they say it doesn't.
I have only just started to master the newer tactical display page on the helm position. There's a lot of data points on the display to take in (17?) and they are all useful, but if I'm honest it has taken me a year to digest the information and actually really use it.
Example: The little blue arrow in the centre gives you real time current direction and speed, so I use this now to help offset any drift or leeway.
Or, the fuzzy area depicted in the top window show the wind shift trends, are the shifts biased to the left or right of the course? This helps me pick the difference between lulls and genuine shifts.
I know that true sailing is eyes out of the boat and sail by feel, which I am now starting to master after a year of learning her mannerisms. The instrument data really is another tool, it gives me a confirmation that what my brain thinks is happening is real.
I enjoy the numbers side of sailing, it's good fun.
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..
Try again!
Well, there is a lesson in that, make sure you have your radio turned down before filming any video you want to put on Youtube... ..that seems kinda wrong to me. The corrective process from Youtube removes all audio from the track not just the song, even though they say it doesn't.
That is unbelievable!! Does that mean that Youtube picks up on what song is playing on the radio and determines if it is under copy right??
Fusion was hoofing along as usual.
Select to expand quotecisco said..shaggybaxter said..
Try again!
Well, there is a lesson in that, make sure you have your radio turned down before filming any video you want to put on Youtube... ..that seems kinda wrong to me. The corrective process from Youtube removes all audio from the track not just the song, even though they say it doesn't.
That is unbelievable!! Does that mean that Youtube picks up on what song is playing on the radio and determines if it is under copy right??
Fusion was hoofing along as usual.
Come on shaggy you can do better than that. Jo-De 7 is only a cruising yacht. 9.3 SOG in 12 TWS. 90deg TWA (no spinnaker and in full cruising mode including dingy)
i am currently in Argentina and about to board a ship to Antartica on Saturday. We are expecting a lumpy trip across the Drake passage but still should be calmer and warmer than in a sailing boat. It looks like Jo-De 7 will be collecting growth for the next month. No internet down there so no Seabreeze,
I shall try next time and see what I can do. Sigh....9.3 in 12kn TWS..
Enjoy your trip Jode, sounds like a lot of fun!
My True numbers are a bit out, the speed log is not reading accurately (sog ok). Seems to happen when I let her get a dirty bum, but the speed log has zero moving parts, go figure.
You might see a few Imocas in your travels.
Was a few miles offshore today heading East into a freshening breeze. Glorious day, dodged the odd amateur fishing boat. I was sitting up alongside the mast planning a few changes to the halyard/reefing line set up when I had occassion to look up under the stackpack and noticed the pivot bolt on the gooseneck had broken. Only half the bolt was there! Might have been like that for awhile but I played safe and turned for home anyway. I was going to test out a thicker rope on my broom brake later in the day too!
Yesterday got back from 6 days in Broken Bay. Dinner at Q Station on 23rd with family. Sailed up to BB on 24th with the missus and we had some really nice dolphins but had to motor sail most of the way. Arrived in Refuge Bay in teaming rain and lots of lightning activity. Lazed around for days there swimming, eating, drinking, sleeping then a night in Little Pittwater then another in Coal and Candle. Wish we'd gone up river sooner but we had kind of fallen over the line on the 23rd and needed to just laze.
It always blows me away sitting on the boat, anchored in 13 metres of water, 10 metres from oyster-covered rocks, watching sea eagles and brahminy kites soar and hunt, swimming in the dark water or the shallow, sandy patches, Aboriginal rock art and middens viewable at water level, a cappuccino / ice boat plying his trade amongst millions of floating dollars. We're inevitably the smelliest and poorest on the daggiest boat but seem to appreciate the surroundings at least as much as those in the multi-story, leather-lined liners. Perhaps it is because we have no TV, no internet, and barely a mobile signal that we got the up-close and personal with the goanna and got to watch for 30 minutes an octopus hunting in the same air-clear rock pool in which we sat.
What a cruising paradise. If only I knew how to catch fish up river.
Select to expand quoteDrRog said..
Yesterday got back from 6 days in Broken Bay. Dinner at Q Station on 23rd with family. Sailed up to BB on 24th with the missus and we had some really nice dolphins but had to motor sail most of the way. Arrived in Refuge Bay in teaming rain and lots of lightning activity. Lazed around for days there swimming, eating, drinking, sleeping then a night in Little Pittwater then another in Coal and Candle. Wish we'd gone up river sooner but we had kind of fallen over the line on the 23rd and needed to just laze.
It always blows me away sitting on the boat, anchored in 13 metres of water, 10 metres from oyster-covered rocks, watching sea eagles and brahminy kites soar and hunt, swimming in the dark water or the shallow, sandy patches, Aboriginal rock art and middens viewable at water level, a cappuccino / ice boat plying his trade amongst millions of floating dollars. We're inevitably the smelliest and poorest on the daggiest boat but seem to appreciate the surroundings at least as much as those in the multi-story, leather-lined liners. Perhaps it is because we have no TV, no internet, and barely a mobile signal that we got the up-close and personal with the goanna and got to watch for 30 minutes an octopus hunting in the same air-clear rock pool in which we sat.
What a cruising paradise. If only I knew how to catch fish up river.
Ask that octopus! But seriously...fresh bait (Hawkesbury River prawns) is the way to go. Get a few witches-hat traps for Blue Swimmer crabs and bait them with a few old fish heads or little fish you already caught. Australian summer holidays on the Hawkesbury (or Jervis Bay)…tell the rest of the world to stay away, we'll see you later!
Select to expand quoteGKandCC said..
Ask that octopus! But seriously...fresh bait (Hawkesbury River prawns) is the way to go. Get a few witches-hat traps for Blue Swimmer crabs and bait them with a few old fish heads or little fish you already caught. Australian summer holidays on the Hawksbury…tell the rest of the world to stay at home, we'll see you later!
Thanks GK - I had meant to buy some bait but forgot in the rush. I have a couple of traps but caught nothing with the vibes to put in them.
And yes, I probably shouldn't tell anyone.
But... obligatory photo (protected shallow anchorage + waterfall + beach = paradise = crowded after xmas)
Best bet is to start using plastic lures for flathead etc. No smelly bait. Get a rig for the Missus as well. Fish off the yacht or take the inflatable and drift along the edges or wade in the shallows.
Watch a few Youtube videos or spy on pensioners for the correct technique!
Went up to Broughton Island, from Lake Macquarie, for a few days.
Hard work going up into a strong Nor-Easter but a nice downwind run home.
Swansea Bridge
Esmeralda Cove - Broughton Island
Newcastle dead ahead
We took Chiquita out into the estuary for fire works last night at Mandurah. Here she is all ready for the night, anchor light in the forestay and nav lights in their boxes. The kind Marine Safetly asked me 'turn off' the nav lights....fair cop guv. Except they don't turn off. I could blow them out....oh well, I unscrewed them and put the in the cockpit until time to go. Re lighting them is a pain. I guess it IS poor seamanship. Every second boat had them on though. I was happy enough to have them as it was a bit crowded and see and be seen helps.
If some kind person could tell me how to rotate the picture I would be grateful, it won't load unless its this way round.
