Sunday, November 28, 2010

Leaving lovely Yamba

28/11/2010
This morning we leave lovely Yamba and it's laid back lifestyle. Everyone here from the kids of all ages in the street are friendly and well mannered the storekeepers are helpful and chatty if you want to strike up a conversation. The general ambiance of the business area is delightfully stress free and the traffic is steady and courteous to pedestrians. I understand that  the population here grows dramatically during holiday seasons increasing from a resident 8000 to somewhere in the order of 30000. Like Noosa I suspect the depreciation of amenity is directly proportional at these times. 

Around mid morning Truansea will slip her lines here at the marina and head out of the Clarence River for the Southport Seaway. We expect to cross into the Broadwater around mid morning tomorrow on the rising tide after an overnite passage. The forecast is reasonable however the wind will head us most of the way and is expected to be slight around dawn when we cross that imaginary line between NSW and QLD. Sea and swell is forecast to be at least 1-1.5m less than Truansea has become used to swimming in but those early lessons were good for her character and gave her an opportunity to show off her rewarding attributes.

This passage will be the first after all teething problems and some poor work quality issues have been rectified so a dream run is expected. My call to Richard Ward, Seawind CEO today will have a different flavour compared to the last three Sunday chats. I appreciate his attention to the rectification works and hope that he can educate his staff in the importance of attention to detail and thus producing a total quality product every time, after all that is the key to success and keeps them employed long term.

Lyn has returned to Noosa and will miss this passage but will be back aboard in a few days. Bevan in the meantime has acquainted himself with Truansea and will share the watches with me tonight. It was a disappointment to miss the Seawind Moreton Bay Regatta and the opportunity to catch up with and get to know the other local Seawind owners. Hope they had great time.

Fair winds,  Brian

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Coffs Harbour to Yamba

23/11/2010

Today we made our passage from Coffs to Yamba through the Solitary Is group to add a little variety to the passage and hopefully by staying closer inshore we might avoid the full strength of the EAC which peaked at 1.7kts adverse but was generally around 0.5kt. The coastal scenery was a little clearer due to old Sol being more obvious than for the past week. Most prominent headlands, beaches and associated landmarks were easily identifiable and this certainly makes the passage more interesting as the information provided by Alan Lucas in 'Cruising the NSW Coast' becomes relevant.

We bowled along at between 8 and 9 knots until 9nm from our last waypoint when the EAC suddenly disappeared and shortly after the wind dropped to 3kts. I shook out the reef in the main and vainly tried to keep sailing for a couple of miles but could achieve no more than 1.5kts so not wanting to enter the Clarence in the dark I started up the iron topsails and motorsailed to within a mile of the entrance and dropped all sail. The sea and swell maintained their presence at up to 3m and that contributed to a fairly boisterous trip.

Arriving off the Clarence River entrance at our estimated ETA of 1730 Marine rescue Iluka/Yamba called us to advise they had eyeballed our approach and to advise that the southern entrance to the river was impassable and that we might like to check out the northern entry before making any attempt at entry. From our perspective the southern entrance looked like a marine incident waiting to happen with quite obvious large breaking swells for at least 0.5nm seaward extending 60 % across the entrance from the south and well inward along the southern sea wall. Motoring along about 1nm offshore to the northern approach we got a pretty good Captain Cook at the whole bar which wasn't all that encouraging but I was confident I had observed a gap in the breaking waves and white water about a third of the distance from the end of the northern sea wall towards the southern wall. Lyn puts a lot of faith in my ability and with her confident and thinking it couldn't be any worse than the seas of the last couple of days we committed to entering. My little darling even had the guts to try and get a couple of photos as we crossed the bar, my concern was that if she gripped the camera as tightly as her hand hold the camera would look like a crumpled chip packet nonetheless   she did it and as always with photos of swell they rarely depict the full glory of the moment. Not wanting to understate the situation if I say that the swell was the biggest I have entered a river in and the one that broke just behind us and stood us up at about 45 degrees as it forced it's way beneath us was an OMG or FARQ moment you'll know why the marine forecasts always say swell may be twice the height indicated. Marine rescue monitored our entry from their post near the entry and called us to say well done after we were safely inside. And that's all I'm saying on the matter.

We've made arrangements through Seawind to allow a local shipwright to do the couple of warranty jobs while we are here in Yamba waiting for the weather to abate and become more favourable for our next leg to Southport. Unfortunately due to the delays we have experienced Lyn will not be able to do this passage and will return to Noosa on Sunday by road. A friend and long time sailing buddy Bevan will bring the car down here on Saturday and sail to Scarborough with me where Lyn will rejoin me for the last passage home.

Yamba is a lovely place and everytime I come here I like it even more. There is that old Noosa pace and atmosphere that we grew up with evident here. The locals are unpretentious and friendly so it might be a case of watch this space. The prawns are sweet and the beer is cold.

Well land lubbers I've got a boat to wash when Lyn finishes her Nanna nap.

Fair winds, Brian and Lyn.

Forster Tuncurry to Coffs Harbour

20/11/2010
Whilst anchored at Tuncurry opposite the Wallis Lake Fishermans Co-op we had a visit from Nick Robertson of Marine Patrol to say hello and welcome us to Tuncurry. Take the opportunity to look him up and say hello if your in Tuncurry he is new there from Sydney and a a really nice chap. We took the dinghy ride over to the Forster side and less than 50m from the public floating mooring is GJ's for a coffee and enough stores for basic victualling. Lots of people fishing from the bank and boats beautiful clear blue water.

Back on Truansea it was time to go to the mast head and tie the wind indicator back on as a temporary measure until we got to Yamba for a more permanent fix. After setting up the bosun's chair on the spinnaker halyard and giving Lyn a run through on how to winch me to the top and ease me back down again I set off in great faith of her ability. The spinnaker halyard exits the mast about 1.5m from the top and unfortunately I hadn't allowed for me sitting in the bosun's chair and not standing so I was unable to affect any repair. Safely back down on deck I reattached the bosun's chair this time to the main halyard which exits at the mast head. The main halyard is a two to one arrangement which means 120m of line for Lyn to winch in to haul me to the top. A big effort for the lovely Lyn as she is no Arnie. Plenty of rest breaks along the way gave me a chance to have a good look around. Finally at the mast head with a metre of VB cord I was able to secure the recalcitrant instrument and as it turns out a better job than the "Tempo Spars tradesman?" did originally as it has lasted longer in tougher conditions. Lyn took a couple of photos of me up the mast, great bum shots. There was also a growing number of observers on shore taking an interest and photos.

21/11/2010
We departed Tuncurry for Port Macquarie with a forecast of East to South Easterly wind 15-20kts seas to 1m from the North East and swell South East at 1.5-2.0m. A bit ordinary but no concerns. We crossed the Port Macquarie bar at 1730 and picked up a courtesy mooring outside the small Port Marina. We went ashore for a nice long hot shower and picked up some fresh bread at the nearby Woolworths then some lovely fresh fish and chips at Scampi's which we ate back on board.

22/11/2010
Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour an interesting day. The infamous East Australia Current (EAC) delayed our trip considerably. The set was exactly opposed to our heading and the rate was at worst 3.8kts and at best 3.4kts. The rhumb line from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour is 67.5nm we endured a further 38.5nm through the water arriving at Coffs Harbour at 2200 grateful for the full moon and a space on the public wharf to tie alongside. The lovely Lyn had a steak on the BBQ and a scotch in the glass by 2210. I rewarded her with a really good long black from the Marina coffee shop just after she came on deck in the morning, life's little pleasures. Along the way off Crescent Head and Killick Beach we saw thousands of shearwaters heading south just a few metres above the water in a long soaring band about 100m wide. This migration continued for more than 5nm. Nothing fishier than that though I suspect the piscatorial crowd are staying well below the confused surface.

Friday, November 19, 2010

According to Mr Beaufort

On the Beaufort wind scale force 6 is described as a strong breeze 22-27 kts. 3.0m waves, larger waves forming, whitecaps everywhere, more spray, and force 7 is a near gale 28-33 kts. 4.0m waves, seas heap up, white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks. We had a bit of both on our run up to Forster/Tuncurry from Port Stephens. Sorry Lyn. That's the type of sailing you probably shouldn't expose your wife to so soon. So apart from the lumpy bits it wasn't all that bad as we had the second reef in and full jib and wind aft mostly and Truansea is really good at keeping her head above water. Not a good idea to get a rope jammed under the hatch when you close it especially on the windward side above a bunk. Noticed it early enough not to cause any real harm. Lyn wasn't feeling hungry along the way so I had some of her delicious fruit cake and an iced coffee.

Another 51 nm on the clock at avg 7.9kn and new top speed of 14.1kn. Tuncurry bar was dead flat (unbelievable) plenty of depth but 4.5kts of ebb tide. Again a dolphin just inside the entry to welcome us in.  Tomorrow's forecast is more of the same so will sit it out here and head up to Port Macquarie on Sunday when the wind abates. Seems it's my shout to dinner. Did I mention that the Raymarine wind indicator parted company with the mast head about two thirds of the way up here. Just swinging on its cable 60 feet in the air. Through the binoculars it looks like the securing screws have fallen out. Bit nervous about finding out for sure as Lyn may decide to get even as she is hauling me up to the top of the stick to see if I can repair it. I'll let you know how the bosun's chair works thanks Bevan. That's a Friday sail for you.

Fair winds friends,  Brian and Lyn.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Bulk Carriers, Dolphins and Fairy Penguins

Signal restored Mr Telstra still has a few gaps in his coverage. Sitting here at beautiful Nelson Bay, Port Stephens about 50m off a nice sandy beach calm, fine but cloudy. We liked it here back in February on our reconnaissance trip and nothing has changed our opinion. Slipped ashore in the tender this morning and did the washing and had a lovely coffee from GJ's. Following a bit of tidy up and check all fittings etc we had lunch and Lyn is resting while I keep you updated.

Yesterday was like sailing in a washing machine with 2m SE swell and 1m NE sea running over it but the wind was fair abaft the beam 12 - 15 kn SE all day so Truansea covered the 75nm in 10.5 hrs. Good little sailing ship. We hugged the rhumb line all the way so my navigation skills are still ok.

Along the way we saw a pod of 5 dolphins who chanced to play around our bows for about 15 mins and passed 9 bulk carriers between Catherine Bay and Newcastle entrance another one overtook us to Port along the northern end of Stockton Beach. We were about 11nm off the coast when we saw 6 of the carriers idling about. We sailed close enough to the Panamanian Kashi Arrow to read their paper (with my beaut Bushnells) but dropped below her stern cause they are REALLY REALLY BIG. The wind dropped to about 8kn as we turned into the entrance to Port Stephens and dropped sail before motoring the last 400m to a courtesy mooring in Shoal Bay. No sooner settled when Lyn saw a dolphin cruise by the galley window to welcome us in.

Following a good sleep we dropped the mooring and motored the 1.5nm around to Nelson Bay and lucked onto this courtesy mooring in front of the beach. On the way around off  Little Bay we saw 10 fairy penguins having breakfast, whitebait??. Cute little fella's look like half drowned ducks when there swimming.

Weather permitting we will head for Forster/Tuncurry or possibly Camden Haven or even Port Macquarie tomorrow.

Fair winds my friends.  

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

First 22 nautical miles under sail

5:40am a surf boat crew out training sounded very close to Truansea so it is not only sailors that are a bit different they needed a torch to maintain a safe distance off the rocky shore. Reason enough to put the kettle on, Lyn loves her cuppa, and have breakfast. 7:15am plenty of light and 8 - 10 knots of SW wind as we weighed anchor and hoisted sail as we approached Sydney Heads one other cat and a mono followed us out but failed to head us all the way to Barrenjoey Headland. Pretty sloppy sea 1.5m - 2m swell from the SE with about a metre of sea from the NE and wind 12 - 18 knots from the south so wobbled about a bit. One little heart racing event as the jib car slid off the track but other than that an uneventful sail up to Pittwater. We are swinging on a mooring at Careel Bay and will get away early tomorrow for the leg up to Port Stephens. (78nm).

Andrew, Warwick if your reading this can you let me know if stoppers were fitted to the end of your jib sheet tracks please.

  

Monday, November 15, 2010

Away at last

It might be raining but that didn't deter us from slipping our mooring lines at Birkenhead Point marina and due to no wind <3 knots NE we motored across the Harbour to snug little Spring Cove just near the old quarantine station at North Head about 2 miles from the Manly ferry terminal. We had been delayed due to a wiring fault (pinched cable at base of targa bar) causing some issues with solar panel that Seawind had to rectify. The run over here was interspersed with ferries going every which way all much bigger and faster than Truansea and they have right of way. The light rain persists and is likely to continue along the coast for most of the week. Ruins the photo opportunities but keeps most others off the water. I'm not able to upload any pics from the camera SD card all of a sudden so if I can't solve the problem will just have to manage with the text, sorry. The lovely Lyn goes from strength to strength with this boating caper, a duck to water. So nice here. Off to Pittwater in the morning.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Commissioning fun


Monday 8 Nov this was our first look at Truansea on the water at Birkenhead Point Marina. We have many people tell us they like the name and especially the little man. Getting orientated around the marina and shopping precinct and the first appreciation of Truansea filled in the day. First impressions were very good pleased with the colour choices and selection of equipment. Some minor dissappointments with the level of presentation and several issues with running rigging, sail set and chart plotter that could should have been attended to before our arrival. Chart plotter had charts for Europe installed and we weren't intending to go that far this early. As of yesterday all had been rectified except the location of the mast cam cleat and waiting on a sparky to check out the Nav light circuits as I suspect there is a slight current leakage (milliamps from compromised insulation??) into the life lines which has shown up as tea staining at some of the staunchion bases.


We have been out sailing several times and will go again today. Lyn took this pic of the spinnaker when we had the sailmaker on board for some adjustments he was impressed also and took his own pics. A number of single hullers were enjoying their afternoon race until distracted by Truansea gliding past.


You know your in Sydney when you have this view over the rail as you sail past. Tuff I know and apologies to those of you still working.

Many many thanks to our friends Jupiter and Mars for getting us here and looking forward to sailing with them when we return to Qld. Plan is to check everything again today and then relax a little before heading to Pittwater on Monday.

Fair winds my friends and thank you all for the texts and calls.

Brian and Lyn   truansea@gmail.com

Monday, November 1, 2010

Take me to the water

Here I am loaded on the trailer where I have to wait all night before I get to go for my first swim. I hear the weather looks good for tomorrow and the water temp is about 19 degrees. I'll enjoy my first splash in Wollongong Harbour and then I'll have my mast, boom and sails fitted so I'll look like all my cousins. Oooh it's exciting.