28/01/2010, Sydney, Quarantine Bay
We had planned a trip to Pittwater but got away a bit late. At 2pm we were at Sydney Heads and I just thought I would see what the forecast southerly change was doing down the coast. The iphone brought up the observations which showed 45-55knots in Wollongong. Oops. We turned around and headed into Quarantine Bay for shelter. An hour later, bang.
In the "shelter" of the bay we had 36 knots on anchor. The harbour was a maelstrom of white water. The VHF radio was frantic with distress calls. Amazingly, many safely anchored boats chose to up anchor and head for home at the height of the storm. Many of them seemed to make little headway against the ferocious wind and sea.
It all blew through in a few hours and relative calm returned. No lives lost as far as I know but some close calls in Botany Bay and Pittwater.
| 14. In Sydney |
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11/01/2010
Diomedea hosted a party for Hannah and friends, seen here in Sydney Harbour. We then cruised up to Port Stephens via Pittwater, Newcastle, visiting Noakes on the way. We anchored in Salamander Bay in the company of superyachts Slojo and Silent World II. Noice. Gorgeous sailing conditions for the return trip to Sydney. See the pix in photo gallery.
| 14. In Sydney |
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26/12/2009, Pittwater, Sydney
We were delighted to have John and Lyn Martin from ICA join us for a sail on Sydney harbour recently. During the windward leg I noted that the lower shrouds were very loose and eventually we decided to stop sailing for fear of rig damage. This proved to be a fortuitous decision as, firstly, it started raining almost immediately, and secondly, we later found out that the forestay turnbuckle did not have much thread remaining internally. So, after a rig tune, Diomedea is back sailing again. We also have given the hatch seals a workout, bashing into some good seas coming out of Pittwater. No leaks.
| 14. In Sydney |
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14/12/2009, Sydney
After a forgettable breakfast at Hornsby, (don't ask) we caught the train to Newcastle with Jen and Charles. Before we could leave we were required to rebleed the hydraulic steering as it had been making noises. This was done but the noises persisted. Deciding to ignore this we cast off, straight into 27 knots of boisterous NE seabreeze. Diomedea was chased out of Newcastle by a large coal ship. A sharp turn to the right brought the wind around behind us and we took off down the coast doing 8's and 9's all the way to Mona Vale. We celebrated the departure in the traditional way and eventually sailed into Sydney Harbour at 2230hr in the dying remnants of the breeze. 9 hours for the run down the coast.
Diomedea sailed very well indeed. She looks very pretty tied up at the dock at Kirribilli and we have been able to move most of the "stuff" back aboard.
| 14. In Sydney |
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30/11/2009, Newcastle
The rig is in, the sails are bent on, and the vast majority of work is completed. Andrea and I have spent a large amount of time on weekends on the boat doing stuff and we have discussed selling it on numerous occasions. (Just jokingly, I think)Diomedea is looking fabulous now on the outside but is still a bit care-worn internally. Some new photos showing aspects of the work can be seen in the refit album.
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10/11/2009, Newcastle
At 4.30pm Tuesday 10th November we launched the all new and revamped Diomedea into the muddy water of the Hunter river. Amazingly, the engine started first go and the new steering system actually worked. Her new paint shimmered in the Spring sunshine as a classic nor'easter carressed her decks. Did we break a bottle of champagne over her bow? No, but we opened two bottles of Jansz to celebrate the moment with the shipwrights of Noakes. It has been five months of work now and still a few weeks to go. Hopefully the mast will go in later this week. I had a panicked check of the mast electrics in the fading evening light and found that all is working. Phew! As we were about to leave the yard at 9pm, I noticed that Diomedea was "floating" a bit high at the bow. We were bow into the work berth. Yes, aground. Already. So much for the new antifouling. See the pix here
| 17. Maintenance |
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