Moorings, Sydney, Australia - and haul outs

[hoppy]

The mooring prices sound good, but how hard is it to actually get a mooring? No problem and you can shop around or do you have get on a queue?

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by impi

Thank You SV Willow and Ozskipper - this is really great information.

I wonder if it would be better to haul out there - we intend to be in SA for 3 months? I believe moorings are very reasonable and our insurance company immediately said they were happy with the location

Any idea of cyclone risks?

No cyclone risks anywhere in NSW. The nasty stuff are Southerly Busters which normally last an hour or two late afternoons in summer. Generally, only 30 -40 at worst. Once a year there may be a biggie of 50. But rare.
As the name suggests they are from the south. Basically, they are just a big fat cumulonimbus blowing off a bit of steam.

Other destructives of 50+ are quite rare. Yes, they happen as they do anywhere, but rarely.

[ozskipper]

Today is officially egg on face day. Our last "destructives" were in 2007. Since my post yesterday we have had up to 73knots on Lake Mac. Go figure !

This is a horrid image of a lady on the rocks at gosford (south of Lake Mac) this morning.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...5467377&type=1.

Hopefully, it will be another 8 years before we get the next one.

[savoir]

Originally Posted by hoppy

The mooring prices sound good, but how hard is it to actually get a mooring? No problem and you can shop around or do you have get on a queue?

There is no queue for commercial moorings, only the government ones which are dirt cheap. You might wait 5 years for one of those and longer in a popular bay.

[Wanderlust]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

This is a horrid image of a lady on the rocks at gosford (south of Lake Mac) this morning.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...5467377&type=1.

Sad to see. I would not like to be out there today - quite a storm.

I see in the news that the Port Authority has closed Sydney Harbour to all commercial shipping. The Carnival Spirit cruise ship with 2,500 passengers can't get in the heads because the pilot can't board.

For such a localised system the swell certainly came up fast.

[clownfishsydney]

Yes, blowing a category 1 cyclone the past 2 days, will continue till at least tomorrow. Will be a lot of damaged boats around, I keep checking my boat via AIS to make sure it has not dragged its mooring. It is fully open to the southerly which also has hit 73 knots near us.

As to moorings, there are plenty of commercial ones available in Port Hacking. We were on one in Yowie Bay till we got our own, $275 a month.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by savoir

There is no queue for commercial moorings, only the government ones which are dirt cheap. You might wait 5 years for one of those and longer in a popular bay.

$375 or $300 with d’Albora Marinas and no queue sounds pretty good. I guess that's expensive for a bouy but still it's much better than not being able to get a mooring at all.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Today is officially egg on face day. Our last "destructives" were in 2007. Since my post yesterday we have had up to 73knots on Lake Mac. Go figure !

This is a horrid image of a lady on the rocks at gosford (south of Lake Mac) this morning.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...5467377&type=1.

Hopefully, it will be another 8 years before we get the next one.

Yes you really did blow it. Less than a day and no posts since your comment

So bad that the port is closed and a cruise ship is stuck out at sea waiting and the Manley ferry is cancelled.

Sydney weather: Carnival Spirit cruise ship stuck outside the Heads as giant swell closes Harbour - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[clownfishsydney]

It is actually a category 2 cyclone based on the ratings on Australian Bureau of Meteorology web site. Trouble is it is not moving.

We just went and checked on Catlypso, could just make it out from the boat ramp, appears okay and is certainly still in the correct spot based on our AIS.

[impi]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Today is officially egg on face day. Our last "destructives" were in 2007. Since my post yesterday we have had up to 73knots on Lake Mac. Go figure !

This is a horrid image of a lady on the rocks at gosford (south of Lake Mac) this morning.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...5467377&type=1.

Hopefully, it will be another 8 years before we get the next one.

Oz skipper - not to worry - been there, done that - had egg on my face a few times and appreciate all the input so far.

I have been monitoring weather through the earth.nullschool site as well as keeping an eye on windity, and it seemed to me that systems were building there which is why I asked ... I did not realize it was going to be this serious!

So, the next question then is that if winds get up like this - are the moorings safe enough to hold a vessel, given chafe guards and all the rest - speaking purely of the sea screws and tackle installed in Australia as a rule?

Also, in this blow, where would be the best shelter in the bay?

By the way, I see so many great posts since I last looked ... We are seriously grateful to all of you ... Thank you!


http://cat-impi.blogspot.com

In our own time and our own style

[dirkdig]

We have learnt to avoid the harbour when leaving our cat for periods of time.
Sail 60nm north and the berthing at Newcastle yacht club is excellent.
Reasonable on price and protected in the harbour.
The marina manager is a great guy if its the same one and looks after things like it his own.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[impi]

Would I be correct in assuming the weather was mostly out of the SE?

Which bays would have been the most protected here in Lake Mac?

[clownfishsydney]

Yes, worst winds are always from south or south-east. Not sure about Lake Macquarie as I have not sailed there yet.

[rootsey333]

Cape Hawk Harbor or commonly known as Forster/Tuncurry NSW mid north coast, jetty with power and water $350 a month no amenities.
Slipway $500 in and out plus $100 a day

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by clownfishsydney

Yes, worst winds are always from south or south-east. Not sure about Lake Macquarie as I have not sailed there yet.

I am not so sure about that one for Sydney. Remember very well when my jib unfurled first week I purchased my previous cat. Luckily just dragged mooring - thanks to intervention of neighbour sailor. Lots of damaged boats around. It was westerly and I think up to 140 km per hour.

Was also on ferry and serious waves coming from west direction in harbour.

Great time to go out on ocean and practice storm sailing technique