Aussie Aussie Aussie!

[southace]

Anyone heading up north on the east coast this winter?

[44'cruisingcat]

We will be, but a bit delayed as I have some work rebuilding a boat wrecked in the recent storms. Hope to be able to head north from Brisbane around August.

[gbanker]

oy! oy! oy!

[DtM]

Hopefully in June or July

[Weyalan]

I'll be heading north, up the east coast of Tassie next week. Yay.

[jim_thomsen]

We will be, probably leaving Pittwater area mid May.

Tonight we are anchored in Blackwattle Bay with an incredible view of the city. Visiting Sydney by boat is a highlight of our travels!

[dirkdig]

Originally Posted by jim_thomsen

We will be, probably leaving Pittwater area mid May.

Tonight we are anchored in Blackwattle Bay with an incredible view of the city. Visiting Sydney by boat is a highlight of our travels!

One of our highlight stays was in Blackwattle bay, just very cool to be able to pull up in the middle of Sydney and step off

[peter thomson]

we are heading northat easter.started in jan spent a month up to port macquirie.left boat at the marina kids back to school i had work to do.going to spend the next three school holidays going north maybe a few extra days off school,will have to fly back to sydney but will get a lot of days on the water,hope to do whitsundays wife three kids should be fun.come home in november see you up their.

[ozsailer]

Hi Jim,
on your way north make sure you call into Lake Macquarie which is 36 NM north of Pittwater. The lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere. I know may cruisers have bipassed the lake as they had heard rumours regarding the entrance to the lake. The entrance is relatively easy as long as entered in the last quarter of the rising tide. The channel has been dredged and is suitable for draft up to 3 metres. At this time we hope to be heading north next year and may even get down to Pittwater for Easter.



Greg and Sue
Southerly Miss
Lake Macquarie

[44'cruisingcat]

Second the vote for Lake Macquarie. A very nice cruising ground in it's own right. It's a pity so many people skip it due to fears about their draught.

[jim_thomsen]

Ok, I guess we better give Macquarie a chance. We are one of those cruisers who gave it a pass because of the entrance.
We are still enjoying Blackwattle. The maritime museum is fantastic!

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by jim_thomsen

Ok, I guess we better give Macquarie a chance. We are one of those cruisers who gave it a pass because of the entrance.
We are still enjoying Blackwattle. The maritime museum is fantastic!

Same here!

[DtM]

How wide is the passage into Lke Macquarie?

Draft is not our issue but we are 9 metres wide

[Boracay]

We're heading north to check out Boracay in Mooloolaba Saturday week. By air unfortunately, hopefully a more permanent move in May.

Jim, I walk past along the southern shore of Blackwattle Bay some mornings. If you see some maniac waving give us a wave back.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by DtM

How wide is the passage into Lke Macquarie?

Draft is not our issue but we are 9 metres wide

I don't know exactly how wide it is, if I had to guess, maybe around 14 metres? We are 7 metres wide, and have plenty of clearance. There are quite a few FP cat's in here, certainly 40 footers, and I know of one 45 - 50 footer which is usually moored up at Marmong cove.

I'd suggest if you were concerned, that around 1/2 - 3/4 tide will see less flow through the bridge. Even better would be an early ebb tide, because then what flow there was would be out rather than in, giving plenty of steerage without having to go too fast. That could mean a fairly long wait outside the bridge though. There are 3 public moorings at either side of the bridge for waiting.

You call Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie on VHF to arrange a bridge opening. Give them 1 hour's notice. They don't open the bridge at 4 pm weekdays because of peak-hour traffic.

You'll hear a bell ringing when they turn the traffic lights on the road red, we usually drop the mooring then, which gives us plenty of time to move closer to the bridge as it is being opened.

Boats moving with the tide usually are given priority, so if the tide's ebbing, you might have to wait for other boats to come out. There are traffic lights on the bridge for vessels too. You don't often have to wait, though, boats generally leave in the mornings, and arrive in the afternoons.

If you sail down South past Wangi point, keep an eye out for a west cardinal mark, it's quite a long way out from the eastern shore, and catches a few people out.

Enjoy!