Moonraker Skipper's Blog: SAILING LOG: FEB 2011

Moonraker Log Feb 2010

Passage: Sydney Heads to Broken Bay 15 NM

Sun Feb 13^th: Monday Feb 14^th

Left Cammeray and anchored off Quarantine Beach on Sunday so as to get an early start to Broken Bay next morning. Southerlies. Rolly night. Next day sailed to Broken Bay under storm jib and main at second reef for 20 knot southerlies and moderate swell. Un-happy sail (see Turning North at the Heads story for gory details) …but great destination. One of Australia’s best anchorages.

Mucking around in boats

Tuesday 15^th: Tuesday 22^th Feb:

Moonraker at Brooklyn Marina for old times sake...
and to taste JJs fish and chips again.

Anchored or moored around Broken Bay: Refuge Bay, Dangar island and a day on the Marina at Brooklyn. Got to Choice F&A meeting in Sydney, easy by train from Brooklyn. Walked around Dangar island for old times’ sake. A range of tradies at Brooklyn Marina trooped by to fix a few things (electrician to explain how the bilge pumps work again; assessor boat for registration in NSW, finally; TIG welder to repair the hot water tank). Breakfast at Cottage point with Roger and Andy from Sheer Bliss. Dean successfully avoided his birthday.

Passage : Broken Bay to Port Stevens (72 NM)

Wednesday 23^th Feb:

Up at 4 am from anchorage off Barrenjoey Beach so we would be sure to arrive in Port Jackson in daylight. Not enough wind. 5-15 kt southerlies. Motor-sailed all the way with the rigging banging in significant quartering swell. Used second and third backup nav. systems, which was time-consuming but good training. Autopilot stopped working after a rifle-shot noise at half-way mark. Hmmmm??? Avoided two tankers (good!). Made Shoal Bay inside Port Jackson at 7 pm exactly. Nice.

Mucking around in boats

Thursday 24^th to Monday 28^th

Moonraker (just off the breakwater) waiting for
competitors in the giant game fishing competion
to emerge from the Marina

Anchored at Nelson Bay. Swimming in clear water. Became fascinated spectators of the game fishing tournament (see ‘ If you do something wrong, we’ll ping ya’ story: forthcoming). Fixed autopilot: the explosive sound was a big stainless steel bolt sheering. Walked around a charming series of bays. Flew the MPS for the first time. This place is a cross between Cockburn Sound and Peel Inlet. Cute.