SHELLHARBOUR TO SOUTHPORT 06.01.2023

There are two kinds of people who sail in winter, the few who relish its joys and the many who are just passing through headed for warmer climes.

Occasionally you can be both. Within hours of setting sail from Shellharbour and turning north we spotted our first humpback whale. It was love at first splash. Each southern winter, the entire east coast of Australia comes alive as these gentle giants migrate north from their Antarctic feeding grounds in search of warmer waters to mate and calve. We were graced with their presence for the next nine days, enjoying regular displays of breaching, tail flapping, spouting, and other forms of cetacean acrobatics.

For this stage of our voyage, for the first time, there would be just the two of us, Merri and me, so we decided to sail only by day and avoid those tedious night watches. As a bonus we would enjoy all of the beautiful coastal scenery and would not miss a single whale.

Our day of departure arrived and disaster! Arriba’s starboard engine started but would not move out of neutral. Boats don’t like being ignored and Arriba had been sitting unused for two months. If the throttle cable was broken ordering and installing a replacement would cost us days. Instead, I hoped that the cable had merely seized and might be coaxed into submission. I detached the cable from both ends (ie from the throttle controls as well as from the engine), sprayed in copious amounts of WD-40 and proceeded to whack the end with a rubber mallet. Depressingly, it resisted my furious pounding. I continued and after another minute I sensed slight movement. Finally, the cable started moving freely. Hurray! I quickly reattached the cable and we got underway at 10:41. As we bade farewell to Shellharbour I made a mental note to order a spare cable. We dropped anchor at Jibbon Beach at 17:07 just in time to witness a glorious sunset.

For our second day I planned to bypass Sydney and head straight to Pittwater necessitating an early start. Those plans were shattered when the mainsail’s clew blew apart a few miles north of Botany Bay. I called former crew member Liam who recommended a sailmaker, Ian Short Sails. As luck would have it they could collect our sail from the Botany Bay

Yacht Club (BBYC). The only problem was that the BBYC is on the inland side of the Captain Cook Bridge. I calculated the clearance and it would be a very tight fit with our 15.4m mast. We waited for low tide and passed under the bridge, our VHF antenna touching its underside as we went.

Ian Short Sails were marvelous and turned around the sail repair within 12 hours complete with an explanation for the clew failure. When I had re-rigged the mainsail in Hobart (after the previous repair), I had carelessly tied the reefing line too far back on the boom. Sails can tolerate enormous downward forces but not lateral forces. Since Hobart, every time I reefed I was literally pulling the mainsail apart. It was another lesson learned the hard way.

Sea travel has always been dictated by the turning of the tides. Usually a stranded vessel is waiting for high tide to depart but in Arriba’s case we were waiting for the low tide. This time we were not worried about whether or not we would clear the bridge. At 13:16 we aimed for the centre of the bridge and passed under with confidence. An hour later we exited Botany Bay and headed north. The light had faded by the time we entered Pittwater and turned south for Coasters Retreat where we anchored at 17:15. The mooring area is in deep water and finding a spot to anchor in darkness was tricky as most boats were barely visible.

The following day, as we headed for the open ocean, we passed Great Mackerel Beach, a wide sandy beach with a few moorings. Although not marked as an anchorage, it would have been much easier to approach in darkness and equally suitable in south-westerlies or light southerlies.

After eking out barely 80 nautical miles over two days I was keen to cover some distance. Alas the winds never exceeded eight knots so we had no choice but to motorsail if we were to make decent progress. We covered 74 nautical miles before pulling into Port Stephens and, once again, it was dark by the time we anchored. Shoal Bay was an easy anchorage to approach at night though.

Day five, overcast and light winds, meant another day of motoring. Once again, we encountered many whales migrating north. One surfaced within 100m of Arriba but we sensed they always knew our location provided we maintained our speed and heading. At 16:44 we docked at the main wharf of Crowdy Head Harbour which was free to use. It was still light so there was time to enjoy a secluded beach walk. No sooner had we returned when there was a knock on the side of the boat. A friendly local had come down to say “hi” and offered to lend us some fender boards.

Five days of motoring had made a big dent in our fuel reserves so it was time to find a fuel dock. The nearest was at the Port Macquarie Marina, 29 nautical miles away, which we reached at 10:54. We decided to treat ourselves to the luxury of the marina for one night and took advantage of the laundromat, shops, and the nearby Little Turkey Restaurant, recommended to us by the welcoming marina worker.

We set out at 06:50 the following day to make the most of the daylight. In my haste I missed a turn in the channel and briefly ran aground to the amusement of people fishing on a nearby wharf. Twenty minutes later we re-entered the Pacific Ocean and were greeted by overcast skies, light rain and fickle winds. Motoring at least provided us with the opportunity to troll and we soon caught our first fish. At 11:50 a whale surfaced less than 100m directly in front of us. I’m certain that it sensed our position and we maintained our course without colliding. Seventy nautical miles later we arrived at Coffs Harbour, as the last rays of sun vanished over the land. Coffs Harbour which is an official Australian port of entry, is a wide-open anchorage that is easy to approach in all conditions. We anchored for the night but there is also a full-service marina. The following day we made another early start at 06:22. The weather had improved but with just a few clouds lingering on the horizon but the wind remained elusive. An hour later, with a seven-knot breeze, we attempted to sail with the gennaker. Alas, half an hour later we were back in the doldrums and resumed motoring. Shortly after 15:30 we entered the Clarence River and by 15:50 we were anchored at Yamba, a popular northern NSW tourist destination.

Yamba boasts a well-protected anchorage and convenient public docks with easy dinghy access. There was still plenty of daylight left so we went ashore and meandered through the town until we reached the Pacific Hotel with its awesome ocean views. After a drink we returned to Arriba for dinner on board even though Yamba has no shortage of dining options.

We were again greeted by cloudy weather and calm conditions the next day. After exiting the Clarence River at 07:17 we set our course for Ballina, 34 nautical miles away. An hour later we were able to sail at 6.5 knots in eight knot WNW winds. By 10:00 the wind had picked up to 11 knots, boosting our speed to 7.2 knots. The sailing was not to last though as shortly after passed Ballina at 12:30 the wind vanished. At 14:55 we were abeam of Cape Byron, mainland Australia’s easternmost point. Almost six months earlier we had passed South East Cape in Tasmania, Australia’s southernmost point. That made us two for four of Australia’s geographical extremities. We anchored at Byron Bay at 15:50, a rolly anchorage that is only suitable in southeasterly or calm conditions. One look at the menacing shore break on Main Beach dashed any thoughts of going ashore. The easternmost end of the beach closest to the rocks looked like the best bet and I would have aimed for that spot if we had been desperate to go ashore but we were content to remain on board.

Our tenth and final day since leaving Shellharbour brought more rain and bleak skies. We weighed anchor at 06:45 and enjoyed a ten knot south-westerly for a couple of hours. At 11:00 we passed Cook Island and soon after entered Queensland waters. The towers of the Gold Coast, at first protrusions in the distance, loomed into view and eventually dominated our portside view. At 13:56 we entered the Gold Coast Seaway, an impressive entrance that is easy in almost all conditions, then turned south. Thirty minutes later we were docked at the Southport Yacht Club, our home for the next few days.

Next stop, New Caledonia!

Alan Noble

Marina East North Haven

CYCSA Marina East has berthing for 240 vessels up to 22 metres and 150 hardstanding berths up to 12 metres.

(Note: ‘s’ denotes single berth, ‘tw’ denotes twin berth and ‘T’ denotes berth at T Head).

BERTHS FOR SALE - MARINA EAST

8m s: C01 - Reduced $35,000 ONO

8m tw: F01, F02 - from $35,000, C11 - $35,000 all offers considered

C13 - $33,000, C02 - $22,000 all offers considered

C07 - all offers considered

10m tw: A09, A10, A14, A22, A34, A40, F04 - from $30,000

A28, F09, F19, F28 - all offers considered

F18 - $20,000, A20, F26 - reduced to $20,000, A29 $18,000

F34 - reduced to $12,000, F36 - reduced to $10,000

A31, A32 - $10,000 all reasonable offers considered

A27 - reduced to $9,000, A37 - reduced to $9,000 all offers considered

10m s: A03, A12 - from $73,000, A05 $35,000 all offers considered

A25 - all offers considered

11m tw: A42 - $25,000 all offers considered, C16 - $25,000

12m tw: D20, D35, D36, D37- from $29,000, D28 - $35,000 all offers considered, D38 - reduced, all offers considered

E13 - all offers considered

E26 & E27 - $50,000 together or $30,000 each if sold separately

12m s: D08, D17, E07, E10 – from $60,000

D04, D21, E03, E04, E05, E22, E23 - all offers considered

D07, D18 - reduced to $60,000 all offers considered

E01 - reduced to $55,000 all offers considered

D30 - reduced to $50,000 neg, D23 - reduced to $40,000

E11 - reduced to $35,000

13m tw: C23 - $60,000, A44 - reduced to $35,000 all offers considered

13m s: D40 - $60,000

14m s: C24 - $120,000, C27 - $95,000 ono, C25 - all offers considered

15m s: C35 - from $145,000, B32 - $125,000 all offers considered

C34 - $80,000 offers considered, A47 - $80,000 urgent sale, all offers considered, B31, B36 - all offers considered

16m s: B17 - $160,000 ono/all offers considered, B20 - $159,000

B16, B22 - $150,000 all offers considered

B18 - $120,000 all offers considered, B15 all offers considered

18m s: B01 - see below*

20m s: A49 - $120,000 urgent sale, all offers considered

*Unique opportunity to purchase Marina berth B01/Hardstand 108 (10m) and storage locker at an all inclusive price of $255,000

HARDSTANDS FOR SALE

9m: H39, H70 - from $3,500

MARINA WEST NORTH HAVEN

It is the larger berths that make Marina West appealing to many potential buyers. Berths range from 11m to 35m, (Note: all berths in Marina West are single berths).

BERTHS FOR SALE - MARINA WEST

11m: M01 - all offers considered

M03 - reduced to $60,000 all offers considered suitable for a catamaran

14m: M07 - $120,000 all offers considered

15m: N03 - reduced to $100,000 - offers invited

M08 - all offers considered

17m: J19, J20 - from $150,000, J09 - $100,000

J12 - $70,000 - all offers considered

J08, J10 - all offers considered

20m: K04, K07, K08, L02 – from $135,000

K01, K05 - all reasonable offers considered

K10 - all offers considered

25m: M14 - $290,000

27m: M16 - all offers considered

30m: K16 - $475,000

BERTHS FOR SALE AT PORT VINCENT MARINA

10m tw: A01, A02, A05, A18, A22, A23 - from $15,000

12m tw: B33, C53, C63 - from $28,000, B29 $25,000

C60 Reduced to $20,000, B34, B40, C61 all offers considered

12m s: B44, C47 - from $29,000, B25 $25,000 all offers considered, C68 $20,000 all offers considered

B46 Reduced to $15,000

14m s: D70, D78 - from $45,000, D77, D79 - offers invited

15m s: D84 $39,000, D87 all offers considered

20m T: A12, B35 - $200,000

24m T: C58 - all offers considered

All berth sales and leasing enquiries to Sarah Belton: Ph: (08) 8248 4222 | berthing@cycsa.com.au all prices include GST

Information correct at time of printing and is subject to change

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