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fastforward · 16-06-2010, 03:13

HI - i am a new member of this excellent site - although I've been periodically looking through the posts.

I have recently upgraded from a 25' to a 33' - which we'll use mainly for club racing; overnighting and the occasional cruise.

Sailed dinghies as a youngster but only had keel boats for the past few years so very much a newbie in terms of cruising and racing larger vessels - meaning I find this site invaluable.

Regards

BL

MarkJ · 16-06-2010, 03:43

Hey BL,

Welcome aboard

I did lots of racing on Sydney Harbour. Now I'm too lazy to race!

Have fun with the new boat and one racing tip: Do NOT lose! Fight! Scream! Protest! Cheat! Do whatever!!!!!!!!!

OK, I'll settle down again

Its a wonderful setting for a nice day out

Mark

Sabbatical II · 16-06-2010, 04:46

Hi BL

Your right, this is an excellent site. You can talk to people on the other side of the world (even Aussies) and some who are just up the road. How about you plan a trip to Lake Macquarie when the weather warms up and give us a call. There's no ferries or commercial traffic to dodge. The channel is now good for deep keel boats and the water is so clean that you can see the cans and plastic bottles on the bottom.

Regards
Greg

MarkJ · 16-06-2010, 05:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleebana

The channel is now good for deep keel boats a

Yeah, good for the locals to have a laugh. They line up their deck chairs and Zimmer Frames and watch the Sydney yachts run aground at the Drop Off. Then they pack up laughing...

Sabbatical II · 16-06-2010, 13:01

Thanks Mark! How are we going to amuse ourselves now on Saturday arvos? Seriously, of late there has been a consistent 7.5 feet in Swansea channel and we're hoping the dredging will be here to stay.

Greg

ajax · 16-06-2010, 13:03

Hi BL,

A lot of good resources in this forum to read. Good luck.

I sailed through the heads yesterday and there appeared to be 3 seperate yacht races going on at the same time. Pretty hectic.

Cheers
Pete

fastforward · 16-06-2010, 15:19

Hi guys thanks for the warm welcome. Greg and Heidi I may well take your advice; I know lake mac well - and have family who live onthe lake at balcolyn.

Will be good to be able to get local advice on the channel though;

I should have been clearer too am on botany bay not the harbour so quiet bar the planes

How difficult Is the bar crossing and entry east of swansea bridge? I presume a two day hop from here? Eg one night pittwater?

Portobello · 16-06-2010, 15:32

Naaaaa! Turn right and head down this way - best cruising grounds in the world!!

**Jim Cate** · 16-06-2010, 19:46

G'Day FF,
I'll add my welcome to the forum, and pass on that as recently as early May we got our 2.2 M draft over the dropoff without touching. Advice from a chap who works on the dredge was to stay centered between the reds and greens to be in the deepest channel. Time may well change that advice, so beware of out of date info!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II now lying Iluka NSW Oz, headed north for the sun

timjf · 18-06-2010, 05:39

Hi BL welcome aboard always nice to meet other äussie sailors My boat is moored in Middle Habour a Beneteau Oceanis 390 Been a couple of times to Lake Maq a couple of times but have concerns about the channel depth and the currents near the Swansea bridge .. you need to get your timeing and tides right for entering ..nice trip from Sydney tho and worth the effort ...sail safe
Cheers Tim & Sheryl