Wednesday 16th July

Destination Forster/Tuncurry some 45 NM north with a stopover for lunch in Sugarloaf Bay at Seal Rocks. Seas were fairly calm and winds 15 to 20 knots from the South so all was calm and peaceful. Lil doing Sudoku and Curvy at the computer.
Boys will be boys though!!!!!..... and they decided to hoist the Spinnaker to gain some extra speed. All was going swimmingly and all the crew had agreed that all the lines were in the right place and through all the correct blocks….so everything had been checked thoroughly or so we thought. The admiral gave the signal to haul the sock up and then all hell broke loose.
Nick yelled, bring it down as the sock down haul line is not attached….then began a half hour of working out how to bring down the spinnaker which was whipping around in the wind, sheets and lines whacking around the boat and all trying to figure out how to bring down this thing without losing hands or heads. Nick went to let the halyard off and of course it had developed its own knot and jammed, so Laurence’s trusty million dollar knife earned its keep and sliced through the rope releasing the halyard and letting the spinnaker fly free. Curvy had a rope wrenched out of her hands and received burns, the Admiral fell onto a winch and has received a broken rib we think, it’s hard to tell it’s a long way in there, Lil and Sparrow survived unscathed after wrestling with this huge yellow beast finally managing to capture it and drag it on board.
The sail was subdued and stowed for another day (perhaps)………we continued in a very conservative manner to anchor in Sugarloaf Bay, Seal Rocks for lunch and dined in lovely surroundings with dolphins cruising leisurely around the boat.
Denied a post prandial torpor we proceeded to Cape Hawke Harbour where we anchored downstream of the bridge. This seemed the wisest move given the height of our mast is greater than that of the bridge. Also just a few metres away lie a fish and chip shop and a Thai restaurant but apparently this has nothing to do with the Admiral’s choice of anchorage. We’ve counted heads and one of us is missing. He grazes in a good pasture.

Thursday 17th July
Left Foster/Tuncurry at a civilized hour heading for Crowdy Head. Pam had proved that Tuncurry was a poor choice of name. Aborigine for ‘place of many fish’ apparently. Her labours with the line came to nought as usual so the catering department set their sights on the fish shop at Crowdy.
Approaching Crowdy we had a conversation with Shirley at the fish shop who revealed they only had cooked prawns and no chips which brought down a great and lasting fog of depression on the Admiral. Still he was persuaded to come alongside the visitors jetty and send a shore party to see what could be salvaged from a disappointing situation.
Prawns were got and we beat a hasty retreat from an unforgiving jetty, a wave surge and a rising breeze which could combine to reduce the vessel of the incautious mariner to pulp. Again the skill and cunning of the skipper along with some pretty smart crew work saw us get away from this menacing structure with arms, legs and boat unscathed.
The ever present whales kept a respectful distance and we rounded Perpendicular Point and crossed the bar into the Camden Haven river.
The Admiral’s depression began to lift as we made our way up the river. For he could see that there was a spare berth at the wharf outside the Laurieton United Serviceman’s Club.
This brings joy not because of any rampant patriotism but because of the close proximity of boat and bar.
Showers were had ashore and the cocktail hour spent on the balcony of the club overlooking the river. A top spot.
Life got even better when news of a Chinese restaurant nearby reached the ears of the now much-less-depressed Admiral. And that’s where we supped
Late start tomorrow as we head for Port Macquarie.

Fishing Notes: Sparrow has lied again for effect and I managed to land 2 whiting and 2 flathead….unfortunately not large enough to keep so were returned to the deep.
So Curvy 4 …fish are still ahead as nothing jumped on the trolling line besides a lump of seaweed.