Monday, July 30, 2007

yamba wharf, hiking up to the Pacific hotel, great food and wine at the end




Monday 30th July Yamba marina to Bi-Lo and pub and back to marina

Several new experiences today. Catching a bus to Bi-Lo and back. The bus here stops anywhere and everywhere. Stopped outside one old lady’s house. A route march to the pub for lunch. Bloody steep hill. Something Mirvac should think about, building pubs on the top of hills. Creates a terrible thirst walking up that hill. Whales frolicked off the beach and the beefburgers are bigger than your average bowler hat. For the benefit of the Harrisons Luke and Amy came down to the boat for a visit and looks like we’re borrowing their car on Wednesday. Daughter flying up which means we’ll probably be here for another week. Good excuse to explore the Clarence. Don’t imagine she’d appreciate 48 hours of rock and rolling at sea.
Dear Admiral Lovepants,
We filled up with diesel (93 litres just 4 litres above my calc of 2 litres per hour. Of course that was mostly motorsailing with the Perkins at about 1600 RPM. Hugo.) The bloke on the wharf used the word ‘diesel’ 5 times before we started the pump. They had apparently experienced a problem with some tired and dopey yachtie who put diesel into the water tank. Imagine that. Discovered it when they were up to 200 litres and the fuel tank only took 120. I suppose you’d get used to the taste eventually, but showering in it?
On other Hugo type matters…pure sine wave inverter working superbly, as is the CTEK Multi CX 25000 charger. I’m especially fond of its reconditioning capacity.
Over and ou

Pam’s fishing notes: nothing…things must improve

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Left Coffs at sparrers and spent a few hours with a southerly up our jacksie. She wallows in a following sea and so does the boat. However we led the Sydney to Southport race until North Solitary Island when we were overtaken by something large with an ‘O’ on its sail. Next came another smart looking boat with a red spinnaker and finally Yendys, a Sydney 36. Then the wind dropped and we held our own for a while. It helps not being bound by the rules regarding the use of mechanical propulsion. So at the point of crossing the bar into the Clarence river we were running fourth. Notwithstanding the 6 day start I reckon we did ok. I understand that they don’t stop each night for dinner which I regard
as poor sportsmanship.

Pams fishing notes: none ..not even with an enticement of fresh prawnheads on the hook, no whales no dolphins no nothing.. was tempted to pull up one of the lobster buoys but going by too quickly…it will happen

Saturday, July 28, 2007

28th Trial Bay to Coffs Harbour.
No whales, no dolphins and certainly no fish. The wind was from the West, South West, South and ended up Easterly. Big Blue went up, came down, went up, down, up, down. Bit like the Hokey Pokey.
Sod all else to report except that we’re intending to stay a few days in Yamba on account of the pub and a few repairs that have to be attended to. The most serious of these being the teak drinks rack. Yes, yes she fell against it again………and no photos..

Friday, July 27, 2007

departing C Haven river 6.30am


Camden Haven to Trial Bay 27th

Friday 27th log of the etc etc……Left Camden Haven at first light. Champagne sailing for a few hours and then motoring for rest of day. Plenty whales and a few dolphins. Whales too big and too close. Could be that the Japanese have a point.
Fussed around in Trial Bay chickening out of crossing the bar into the Macleay river. Tide all wrong. Baled out just in time and are now anchored in Trial Bay.
Discovered the peculiar behaviour of the crew has nothing to do with scurvy. I didn’t realize the rum was O.P. Sailed past Big Knobby’s, Little Knobby’s and Delicate Knobby’s. Look it up. Not sure about the apostrophe.
Look what happens to the share price when I leave Mirvac.

Fishing Notes: Lost hook off lure as I was dropping it over to troll, changed lure still no fish. Two flying ones flew over the line …..fish all gone. Lots of whales and dolphins so that’s pretty cool.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

big blue-baconnex-ooily calm-WHAALLEESS





26th July Esmerelda Cove to Camden Haven

Extra rum rations today for a 3am start from Broughton Island. Went well with poached eggs for breakfast. Bit of a dance with a trawler at 5am. We out ran the bastard. Sun came up as we rounded Seal Rocks with whales doing whaley stuff. First serious disagreement. Photographer wanted to get closer, navigator wanted to get further away. Big bastards whales. I’m more your fairy penguin aficionado. Nice mashed with a knob of butter.
Currently moored alongside the Serviceman’s Club at Camden Haven. Seems the big event tonight is topless carpet bowls. No TV reception here so we’ll see.
.
Fishing notes; a bit flat, in fact nothing. Found out why. Hook on back to front. She said it just swiveled around but I think she’s just an incompetent fisherperson with a hacking cough.

Tomorrow towards Coffs for a couple of days while the other members of the Wristwatch Club are out of town.

Water was so clear in Esmeralda Cove that I could see the Admiral’s mobile without diving for it. I can confirm it is deceased, it has shuffled off, not pining etc etc. Grieve and get over it.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

day 3 Newcastle Harbour

So we got away on Monday with a certain amount of chaos on board which is gradually getting sorted out. Take away coffees from Pier One and then left turn out the Heads. Always good to get that bit right.. Spent Monday night at the Basin in Pittwater and then bypassed Lake Macquarie in favour of Newcastle due to the fact that the Marina is opposite a pub. Well worth having the fridge serviced. Beer very cold.
New binoculars show that AHS not doing great job of window cleaning at Magenta.
The East Coast Current might have helped Nemo but it’s a pain in the transom if you’re going the other way.
Next stop Broughton Island and then possibly Camden Haven.

Friday, July 20, 2007

pretty photos



Just thought I would add a few photos and see how it all works and it works fine. Pam

Saturday

Attempting to get the house in order and the last of the bits and pieces ready to take to the boat tomorrow. Monday do last of provisioning and top up tanks and leave Sydney turning left on Tuesday. Depending on dinner invitations in Pittwater we'll either put in there or head on up to Broughton Island. Thence to Camden Haven, and a few days in Coffs.