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Old 15-06-2020, 06:00   #46
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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Originally Posted by GILow View Post
So... maybe I should look for crew... maybe some bored people from Tasmania?
G'Day Matt,
I could easily need an adventure by then. Ambler is tucked up for the winter now. Bought a van as a fit out project for something to do while the 1st mate is doing some relief teaching for the rest of the year.
Let me know when you need to leave Adelaide or call into the Tamar and collect me.
The EAC can be taxing but I know it well and the ports along the coast I am very familiar with too.
Cheers
Wayne
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Old 15-06-2020, 06:53   #47
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

Hi GIlow,

I’m actually planning a circumnavigation next year, though in summer via Wa-Tas-NSW-Qld. Some of the research I have done might help, particularly distances between safe / easy ports to get into. Here is an extract below.

- NSW Ports of refuge
- All weather: Eden, Bermagui, Bateman Bay, Ulladulla, Jervis Bay, Kiama, Woollongong, Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour, Broken Bay, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Crowdy Head Harbour, Coffs Harbour.

- NSW Moderate weather: Narooma (to tight and overhead cables to low, probably skip), Moruya River (not many facilities, maybe), Huskisson (Jervis Bay), Crookhaven River, Brisbane Waters (Broken Bay), Lake Macquarie (Swansea Bar), Broughton Islands, Sugerloaf Bay (winds from the SW), Cape Hawke Harbour (Tuncurry-Foster), Camden Haven (Laurieton), Port Macquarie (Hastings River), Korogoro Bay (winds from the south west), Trial Bay (winds from south), Macleay River, Clarence River (Yamba-Iluka), Evans Head, Ballina (Richmond River), Bryon Bay (winds from south), Brunswick Heads, Tweed Heads.



Have more in a spreadsheet, will see if I can format and post.

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Old 15-06-2020, 07:16   #48
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

(hopefully!) attached is a PDF of distances between what I mainly consider “safe” ports, however there are a few that just sound interesting. Distances were plotted on OpenCPN heading north and basically “hugging” the coast to try an avoid the Australian East Coast current. As you can probably guess, I’m trying to daysail as much as possible.

One qualifier; I have never sailed the east coast, so its all based on research. If anyone with experience in whether these ports would be considered “safe / easier entrances”, or the distances look wrong, feel free to comment.

Hope this helps.

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File Type: pdf NSW_QLd Sailing Distances(1).pdf (15.1 KB, 45 views)
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Old 15-06-2020, 15:18   #49
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

I'm going to comment on the "harbours of refuge" list:
Quote:
: Eden, Bermagui, Bateman Bay, Ulladulla, Jervis Bay, Kiama, Woollongong, Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour, Broken Bay, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Crowdy Head Harbour, Coffs Harbour.
Entry to Port Hacking, Sydney Harbour and Broken Bay, and Port Stephens are excellent, all weather entry. Newcastle doable under most conditions for yachts (not always for shipping).

We have not been into Bermagui, inner harbour at Bateman Bay, Ulladulla, nor Kiama (tiny), so not qualified to comment. Sailboats not very welcome in Wollongong or Botany Bay.

I'd certainly not include Cape Hawke Harbour in that list: there are times one could not get in. However, one can get southerly protection outside the harbour, itself, in the open roadstead.

Coff's is also subject to being too difficult to enter, in NE gales.

Crowdy Head's entrance is not good with high surf running. We were in there one time, when a cut off low was scheduled to develop over Coffs, with winds of 50-55. Missed our plane flight, but stayed safe; and with 3-4 m. seas, not even the fishing boats were leaving.

If one is cruising rather than delivering, the barred harbours are nice, just go in once the flood is well established.

Ann
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Old 15-06-2020, 22:19   #50
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

oh, that is a shame...was looking forward to catching up

cheers,
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Old 16-06-2020, 05:15   #51
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East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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oh, that is a shame...was looking forward to catching up



cheers,


I’ll find you... (insert sinister laugh here)

Edit: check your PMs
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Old 16-06-2020, 05:22   #52
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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I'm going to comment on the "harbours of refuge" list:
....

The only one I CAN comment on is Bermagui, and I made that approach in a sea kayak.

From that experience I really wonder if I’d classify Bermagui as all weather. I found it pretty touchy in mild conditions, though I concede a sea kayak is different to a solid old cruising boat.

I’ve also seen some videos on YouTube of some pretty hair raising approaches to Bermagui, filmed from the land, that would make me think twice.

Like this one....


https://youtu.be/mfj5sOTgMpc
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Old 16-06-2020, 05:39   #53
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

A lot of the entrances to ports are covered by web cams,
Just type in the name of the town and the web cam for the entrance,
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Old 16-06-2020, 14:19   #54
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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A lot of the entrances to ports are covered by web cams,
Just type in the name of the town and the web cam for the entrance,
We've found this to be quite useful in NSW. Do they exist for other states?

Some are pretty distant, but with care you can assess conditions... except at night, of course! Or early morning, just when you want to get under way for a long day's run.

Jim
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Old 16-06-2020, 16:17   #55
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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We've found this to be quite useful in NSW. Do they exist for other states?

Some are pretty distant, but with care you can assess conditions... except at night, of course! Or early morning, just when you want to get under way for a long day's run.

Jim
Yes they do, Google Victorian web cams for ports,
Lakes Entrance has a 24/7 coverage,

All the aussie ski fields have 24/7 web cams, Its great to see the conditions before you go,
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Old 17-06-2020, 00:56   #56
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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Yes they do, Google Victorian web cams for ports,
Lakes Entrance has a 24/7 coverage,

All the aussie ski fields have 24/7 web cams, Its great to see the conditions before you go,
Surely someone has a rejoinder for this?
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Old 17-06-2020, 02:51   #57
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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Surely someone has a rejoinder for this?


I was kinda spoiled for choice. Locked up.
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Old 17-06-2020, 02:56   #58
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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Surely someone has a rejoinder for this?
I was on the cusp of suggesting going up the Murray-Darling .. a bit of portage involved but apart from that what not to like... no bar crossings, no heavy seas, tie up to trees each night....
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Old 17-06-2020, 05:31   #59
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

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I was on the cusp of suggesting going up the Murray-Darling .. a bit of portage involved but apart from that what not to like... no bar crossings, no heavy seas, tie up to trees each night....


Did it in the other direction when I was 21.

I found to my (unpleasant) surprise, there ARE bar crossings... well, rapids anyway, and they kinda feel the same when the raft is going to bits under your feet.

No need to tie up to a tree, there are beaches that put Queensland to shame every few miles.
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Old 19-06-2020, 08:44   #60
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Re: East coast of Australia in late winter, early spring

I singled handed in Feb, the other direction, from Bundaberg to Coffs harbour en route to New Zealand in 1990, and the trip was lovely but one thing remained in my memory, there was a strong 4 knot current heading south about 2 or 3 miles offshore, and while it was most welcome for me, it was extremely busy with tankers and container vessels, which added a lot of extra excitement and danger than I cared for...

So you might want to check on that and the time of year you are heading up... good luck, have a fun trip
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