My OperaHeading North - now in Southport
Sunday, April 17, 2011 9:40:08 PM
We dragged ourselves away from Sydney eventually. We had such a relaxing time there. Always a good safe anchorage either on this side of the harbour or just a mile or two away on the other side if the wind was from the other direction. Found a friendly library there too that allowed us to take out books and dvd's. We read loads during the days and watched heaps of dvd's on the computer in the evenings. Our fill of 'TV' entertainment for some time and now we miss it having got so used to some TV serial or a newish film.
But it was time to move on and see new places. We waited for the southerlies and hoisted sails just before going through the heads. Stopped for a few days at Port Stephens a longish day sail away then on to Coffs harbour. Both really nice places. This leg we had a bit more wind and it was payback time for all our relaxing in Sydney.
Everything broke. Every little bit of string, attachment, slider, etc etc. It was like there had been something in the air in Sydney that was slowly rotting the stuff and soon as we put it under any pressure it gave up. Firstly the spinnaker gave up and that is now totally past it. Then the top of the jib came apart and started coming down then while putting a reef in the main we tore that. Just a little tear but still a tear. The radar reflector hung on with one cable tie. It was too rough to try and rescue it when we saw that it was also trying to join our breakages list and we expected it to crash down from the rigging with every wave or squall but it made it until the next morning.
Spent a good few days at Coffs Harbour catching up on boat work also swimming to clean all the little Sydney coral worms off the hulls. Phew! it was like having white hulls instead of black. They had been growing like crazy. It is amazing how quickly they can take over. probably the cause of our slow speed.
Then it was another day sail to Yamba and this time we made it in daylight hours. Just as well as it was a squally day and there is a nasty bar at the entrance. Fortunately the wind was behind us and we changed our mind at the last minute to come in through the southern gap. At first this looked like the trickier gap but the northern side would have put us on a hard beat between the bar and the northern breakwater. Spent a fews days there and on our way out through the bar the one engine cut. Funny how these things will always pick an awkward time to pack up. You always have to be on your toes. No water pumping through to cool it. A little impellor perished.
Made it into Southport at 10pm so all dark for that bar but it was quite a easy one although still nerve wracking not knowing exactly how things will be. It's all very well studying the charts but they can't tell you how the sea will be behaving at that time and with the conditions. The one engine was okay with the sails helping too. Will be able to get the parts here. We are in a small bay that is nicely protected. Just been ashore for a 5pm Sunday night meeting on the beach with all the other cruisers. Nice to meet a new bunch.
The engine going again. Still waiting on a part but some steel putty holding things together for now. Found a place to get some new trampoline netting so we are getting things crossed of the list.
Oops, not so fast, just learnt that it will not be here for at least a month so the trampoline will have to be another temporary repair for our trip north.
But it was time to move on and see new places. We waited for the southerlies and hoisted sails just before going through the heads. Stopped for a few days at Port Stephens a longish day sail away then on to Coffs harbour. Both really nice places. This leg we had a bit more wind and it was payback time for all our relaxing in Sydney.
Everything broke. Every little bit of string, attachment, slider, etc etc. It was like there had been something in the air in Sydney that was slowly rotting the stuff and soon as we put it under any pressure it gave up. Firstly the spinnaker gave up and that is now totally past it. Then the top of the jib came apart and started coming down then while putting a reef in the main we tore that. Just a little tear but still a tear. The radar reflector hung on with one cable tie. It was too rough to try and rescue it when we saw that it was also trying to join our breakages list and we expected it to crash down from the rigging with every wave or squall but it made it until the next morning.
Spent a good few days at Coffs Harbour catching up on boat work also swimming to clean all the little Sydney coral worms off the hulls. Phew! it was like having white hulls instead of black. They had been growing like crazy. It is amazing how quickly they can take over. probably the cause of our slow speed.
Then it was another day sail to Yamba and this time we made it in daylight hours. Just as well as it was a squally day and there is a nasty bar at the entrance. Fortunately the wind was behind us and we changed our mind at the last minute to come in through the southern gap. At first this looked like the trickier gap but the northern side would have put us on a hard beat between the bar and the northern breakwater. Spent a fews days there and on our way out through the bar the one engine cut. Funny how these things will always pick an awkward time to pack up. You always have to be on your toes. No water pumping through to cool it. A little impellor perished.
Made it into Southport at 10pm so all dark for that bar but it was quite a easy one although still nerve wracking not knowing exactly how things will be. It's all very well studying the charts but they can't tell you how the sea will be behaving at that time and with the conditions. The one engine was okay with the sails helping too. Will be able to get the parts here. We are in a small bay that is nicely protected. Just been ashore for a 5pm Sunday night meeting on the beach with all the other cruisers. Nice to meet a new bunch.
The engine going again. Still waiting on a part but some steel putty holding things together for now. Found a place to get some new trampoline netting so we are getting things crossed of the list.
Oops, not so fast, just learnt that it will not be here for at least a month so the trampoline will have to be another temporary repair for our trip north.
