After a day spent in Refuge Bay organising all our gear and finding spots for dive gear, books and the all-important espresso machine, we got cracking at 0500, set up and motored out to Barrenjoey. We set full main and genoa, galloping North at 7 knots before a strong SE breeze and reached Newcastle Harbour at 1600 (we left early to observe the third rule of staying happy and alive while cruising - don't enter an unfamiliar harbour after dark). The Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club has a new, secure marina which is not too expensive for casuals. The bathroom and other facilities are fresh, clean and bright. Tomorrow we're off for a shorter sail to Nelson Bay in Port Stephens where we'll meet up with Louise and Stephen Dews for a couple of days, or until the weather is OK to head North again.