We were allowed to get down to the boat for the first time in 6.22 donkey's ears last week. It howled from the west for two days and then Sunday was perfect - a lovely sail down Port Stephens while eating brekkie, out to Fingal Spit, a walk to the lighthouse, followed by a dinghy
ride to some snorkelling spots, a lovely sail back inside the Port, a gentle windsurf, and then G & T followed by bubbly and a lovely meal.

Why more people don't do local cruising is a mystery.

Today it was the first post-lockdown day at the sailing club. A dozen boats out (a big fleet by inland country town standards) and some great racing in a fleet that ranged from a current world champ/former Olympic medallist down to kids. A lovely westerly breeze, some of the veterans returning and teaming up with newbies, the fleet still growing with people looking for boats to buy..... all great, apart from the fact that I moved into high-point mode (max vang) and didn't duck low enough through a tack. Ouch.

Craig66 said..
Trinity Point Marina. Lake Macquarie
Wanted to fill up with fuel, have heard others say its the place to go. Southerly blowing so motored all the way from Toronto.
I rang ahead to see what we needed to do re tie up.
"Mate, we have full length dock fenders and pass our dock lines to you, have remote atm, you dont need to get off your boat."
Easy as.
Plus the price was pretty good and the service was friendly and helpful.

Then, as said it was blowing southerly so the ride back was pretty sweet.

Always good to hear the positives, seems that they are few and far between in the marine services arena.

Very pleasant day out on Melville Water East. The wing surfers and surfcats were absolutely blasting along. This is the last photo my brother's drone ever took as he crashed into the shrouds a few minutes later.

Here is a round up of my sailing (in Japan) in 2021/
gary

Andrew68 said..
Ramona, just for you, kelp catcher Carmen is just on the edge of your stomping ground at Shellharbour marina.

Carmen has had a stop over here sometime back. I have heard Shellharbour marina is a bit expensive!

Ramona said..

Andrew68 said..

Carmen has had a stop over here sometime back. I have heard Shellharbour marina is a bit expensive!

Hasn't stop it filling up, I understand they are almost fully subscribed!

Thats a great photo.
Where did you sail from?
How long are you staying in Nelson Bay?
Will you do the trip to Broughton Island?
They say the fishing good there.

Andrew68 said..
Ramona, just for you, kelp catcher Carmen is just on the edge of your stomping ground at Shellharbour marina.

Serious step up from Currawong, Andrew, congratulations! Although the companionway entrance looks even smaller...

K.

Bundeenabuoy said..
Thats a great photo.
Where did you sail from?
How long are you staying in Nelson Bay?
Will you do the trip to Broughton Island?
They say the fishing good there.

Hi Bundee and thanks re the photo, was having a "sundowner" and took pic, just lucky with the timing.
Sailed / motored from Lake Macquarie early Sunday morning, light southerly so the run was pretty much downhill all the way, just used spinnaker or motored when speed dropped under 3.5knots.

Not heading to Broughton this time, yes the fishing is good, I can show you a photo, 98cm snapper I caught up there about 3 years ago, I grew up here in the bay.
Boat is getting lifted out at Cove Marina next Monday, hence the trip.

Hi Lazzz
Yes first big run for me, glad I left a reasonable trail (you must have cropped the twisty turns from the map, we had 90deg wind shift south of Bruibi Point.

Great day on the Broadwater today. Breeze was perfect for a solo blast for a few hours.

Around the corner in Corlette / Salamander Bay.
learnt to water ski here last century

bit of trivia. the bow of the Sygna was anchored out here for a while.
It was in Nelson Bay but it took out the end of the town wharf.

That is history that should be kept alive, Lazzz

Lazzz said..

Craig66 said..

Around the corner in Corlette / Salamander Bay.
learnt to water ski here last century

Funny thing - I used to ski at Duchies, Baggies & Fly Point in the late 60's behind my dad's boat & then early 70's in mine!! Oldies had a week-ender at The Bay. I remember the Sigma - used to ski around it!! Also remember stumbling home from the night club upstairs at the Sea Breeze!!
I had a 454 Chev jet boat & used to do Fly Pt to Tea Gardens bridge in something like 7 minutes - scare the crap out of my mum!!

My dad used to have a 28'6" Chris Craft with a Chrysler straight 8 in the early 50's and he used to take passengers, at two bob each, for joy rides around the bay from Nelson Bay wharf.

Still love the place!!

My boat (one of a long list) taken at Fly Point back in the day.




My dad's boat way back in the day - before a marina was there!!

Nice to hear that story.
Happy sailing in 2022

Not my boat but I had the pleasure of sailing back Crux from Hobart to Sydney. An SS34 built in 2008. The last one built and built with modern methods. Stunning boat. Great fun to sail. Wind was a bit low but had many fun spinnaker runs through the day and night. and amazingly the tiller pilot (Pelagic) would malfunction if it had to cross 0 degrees and do a tack/Jibe. Very inconvenient when sailing north for five days. Seems like the software has a bug.

She ain't no dog mate. That is one of the prettiest cats I have seen.