Year 2 – 13 February 2025 -Still Port Stephens Area
If anyone reading this and is free in June- mid July 2025 to come to Australia then do contact me as I am short of crew for that month fully at present.
We woke to a reasonable morning and it had not rained in the night. We had planned to move on and planned our trip to Port Macquarie with the whole passage according to Predict Wind being about 27 hours which was more than we anticipated. The reason for this was because the wind is from the Northeast and we would have to tack (zig zag – as we cannot sail directly into the wind) regularly up the coast meaning the distance was about 40-45% longer than if we can sail direct. We realised that this would mean we would be beating (sailing close to the wind which would mean we would heal over more etc) and overnight in the dark. This is quite hard going but we thought doable and we planned to go to Broughton Island about 15 nm from the entrance to Port Stephen. We thought we could go there for the night and then head off from there about 4.00am which would get us to Port Macquarie about 7.00am to 8.00am to get over the bar and we planned to go to a marina there although as back up we could anchor.
We therefore upped the dinghy, prepared and upped anchor and decided to head deeper into Port Stephens and round Middle Island and see some of the inner sections. We motored across and the wind was getting up and causing waves this far in. As we were motoring Marine Rescue came on with the forecast and we listened carefully. The forecast for the next two days was winds from the NE of 20-25 kts with gusts of up to 30 with 2m swells from the NE. In two days’, time the wind changes to come from the South so it will be behind us. I thought about it and we would be beating into the wind (going close to it) for about 27 hours and in 2 metre swells and overnight which would be uncomfortable etc. We therefore chatted about this and agreed that we were not in a rush and we did not have to do this passage in an uncomfortable way. We therefore decided to wait until the wind changed. Sailing can be like this and you have to think carefully about when you move on and passages. There is nothing worse than being under a tight schedule and have to get somewhere in not ideal weather.
Once past Middle Island we looked around Farm Cove and North Arm Cove which were well protected but there was nothing there and nowhere to go ashore. We thought about going to try to anchor in Nelson Bay but that looked exposed so we decided to go back to Salamander Bay which has done us well over the last few days and we almost anchored in the same spot.
The wind came on strong and the waves increased to about 0.5m but we held and by then had a light lunch. After lunch we used the opportunity to have a siesta and rest. When I came up we noticed the nearest yacht called Hi Time was quite close to us and her anchor must have dragged but there was no one on board. Luckily the owners came back and realised and upped anchor and left.
Although the wind blew quite strong it was a pleasant afternoon/evening and the sun shone even. The gusts were up to 28 kts and we swung one way and the other but did not move. Not far from where we are anchored there are some Oyster Beds and we have seen some beautiful white tipped eagles flying around and landing on the posts. They are magnificent and looked very healthy which was good. We have also seen lost of Pelicans and they are huge, much larger than I saw in the Panama Area. We have noticed them near the Oyster Beds gobbling up fish. The picture of the day is two of these Pelicans.
We had bought some swordfish steaks from the fish shop in Nelson Bay so Malcolm cooked them with butter which we had with ratatouille and broccoli and sauce left over from our previous fish. It was a lovely supper as the sun went down with the wind howling. We felt safe and sound and quite contented.
We will see how the weather is tomorrow but hoping we can go to Broughton Island for the night and leave about lunchtime on Saturday to get there for Sunday morning.
Need/Opportunity Year Two
I am in need of more crew from late April to Mid-July so if of interest do email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com
In year two I will be going from New Zealand to Sydney and hen up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025.
The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com