SV SEAKA: CRUISING AUSTRALIA IN 2019.

Well after swanning around Lake Macquarie for a few days Shaun arrived last Sunday from Sydney. On Monday we completed a few shopping jobs and we hosted Greg and Bear to a thankyou BBQ. Without these two blokes I would not have achieved what I did in Lake Macquarie.

On Tuesday Shaun got me over to the Wangi RSL Sub-Branch for a shower and lunch. On leaving the Wangi RSL Wharf Shaun then had me sailing to windward, i.e. tacking, then running down to the south side of Pulbah Island where we rafted up on a public mooring. Later that evening we were struck by a westerly storm, but only received the wind and a little rain. What we didn't realize was that the southerly, unpredicted by the Weather Bureau , was about to hit. This resulted in a very sleepless and bouncy night.


We had booked for the 0700 Swansea Bridge opening but cancelled that at daylight and after relooking at the weather decided to go for it, booking the 0900 bridge opening. We both just made it to the bridge in time for the opening and after successfully getting through proceeded for the bar and the predicted light southerly winds.


I had a Jib on and two reefs in the main sail. After clearing the very smooth bar I got the Jib up and was forced to hang on! It was very obvious that the auto helm was not going to do the job so I was hand steering with only the Jib up. I was never to get the reefed main up! Nor was I able to do anything but steer. I eventually struggled into my sailing gear and gather some comfort food and water to last the day. So much for the light winds and slight sea.


So here I was, once again, stretching the envelope of what I thought I could do and getting that bunny off my back after the bridge incident. During the next 8 hours I covered the 48 nautical miles to Port Stephens at the average speed of 6 knots! Needless to say I was totally done in after starting the day with a lack of sleep. In fact I had several jibes during the day which I called sleep jibes as I had no idea what was happening until my brain caught up with the jibe. Finally in Shoal Bay I got the anchor down and prepared a meal. Eventually Shaun arrived about an hour later. Now this was not all the excitement for the day. We were sheltering from the southerly wind in Shoal Bay but at midnight a easterly storm stuck and the short story is that I was forced to re-anchor so that I was not inline with the catamaran behind me in case I dragged my anchor.


Today we moved around to Nelson Bay to do the washing and buy a few goods. Tomorrow we will move over to Fame Cove or North Arm Cove in preparation for the coming weather on Saturday and Sunday. We are expecting heavy rain and the swell out to sea here, where we won't be, will reach 6 meters on Monday morning.

Looking at the weather we may get home on Wednesday, but cannot confirm that as yet. We will have to wait and see what transpires.

Phillip.