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DrRog said...

By the way, I haven't yet tested motoring this 31-footer (with a 25hp and about 6 kts max) in a blow. How many knots do you think I should wait for it to drop to before I attempt to motor upwind to the Spit Bridge then through the lifting bridge in a cross wind, then back through the harbour?


Keensailor said... It's lucky we were in close to the shore at black wattle bay (between the yellow bouys). Even then we were getting seriously buffered around in a 27 foot 2200kg boat. I was really surprised we didn't drag, although I had a lot of anchor out. We are in castle cove Middle harbour tonight after an 8:30pm bridge. Are you heading back to the harbour the fireworks.
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I'm back home now. Wind dropped off a bit. I'm not surprised, KS, there were some very big boats being moved around, covers pulling off, etc. Maritime came by, said they'd pulled some boats off the rocks- mostly broken moorings.

Anyway, yes, first NYE on boat this year. We have guests from UK. Might avoid main harbour and view from upriver a bit. What about you?

Any recommendations for a newbie first-timer? Considering Clark's Point Reserve area near Cockatoo Is. with pickup from a Balmain wharf. Rose Bay / Neilson Park looks promising but further away for me.

Thanks FR. Good info. I like Athol Bay generally. What do you call 'early'? And what is 'too late'?

Would like to second the Athol bay advice. We did that a couple of years ago and had a great night and left the next morning.
I would suggest that an arrival around lunch time would get a good spot not too exposed. The only downside is that the party boats (barges) ply thier trade ALL night, up and down the harbour. Have a good one!!
Rob

Thanks for the great advice guys!

Anchored at Athol, near to zoo wharf. Had to reset anchor after wind shifted and, being next to a cat and a powerboat, kept coming close. Most people friendly, just a powerboat of bogans a bit aggro. Weather fab. UK visitors happy.

Yes, great tip about Athol Bay

We anchored just off the Bradley's Head amphitheatre at about 10 in the morning. We were only about 30 metres from the exclusion zone. The view of the fireworks was mind blowing!

We teased the anchor in a little too much at midday and dragged, but reset and sat happily there for rest of the night. People were friendly and generally very careful.

It was a study in anchoring, watching people try to drop their anchor in the right spot but finding they did'nt sit well with the other boats.