Year 2 –22 January 2024 -Exploring Sydney

I woke quite early as I was picking up the electrician, Angus, at the sailing club pontoon at 8.15am. Malcolm and I had a cup of tea first and then we headed ashore and picked up Angus.  

When he came on board he checked the power at the switch and the wardrobe to ensure that the power was getting through to the anchor light and tricolour. It was, so the next step was for him to go up the mast. Trevor and I gradually winched him up and to all our astonishment the anchor light and tricolour had gone. There was nothing there!! How can this have happened as we had not noticed anything falling down. This does explain why neither was working.

In addition, the speed log had not been working even though it was a new one so we got that out and it was very stiff and faulty. I will need a new one as well. Unfortunately, these three items will all need to be replaced. He said he can do this but it will need to be next week so we will be here a few more days in Sydney.

Once we dropped the electrician off again we headed ashore and took the ferry to Circular Quay and then a ferry to Manly Cove. Manly is a popular place to live and I can see why with the beaches and coastline. We decided to do the Manly Walk to North Head (we came in between the heads when we came into Sydney) and back via Shelley Beach/ Manly Beach – some 3 hours in duration. We decided to have some lunch first and went to the Skiff Sailing Club which was very good. It was right on the water and clearly a popular and busy place. The HLR of the CA came to see us -Paul Hardcastle and who had been helping us with finding fuel, water and electricians.

After lunch we headed off on our walk and came round to Collins Beach which was full of youngsters swimming and enjoying themselves. There seemed to be no concern of sharks. We continued our walk which went through a forest and bush really and then we headed out on to the head. This was full of shrub and low bush so there were not many sea views except where there were lookouts.

We walked on and saw the odd lizard and also birds which looked like small turkeys. They had set the path out well and quite often you were walking along metal pathways just above the ground which I assume was to protect it from what we may bring on our shoes. We eventually came to the old fort on the top of North Head and we could see the sea with its white horses far out at sea. We then went along the Memorial Walk which essentially commemorates and thanks all Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen for the sacrifices they have made through many wars and conflicts. It was quite moving and thought provoking.

We walked along and came to the cliffs and round to Shelley Beach and Cabbage Tree Bay. It was a good walk along the coast and by the water with some good views of the sea, rock formation and beaches. We came across some surfers and lots of swimmers and snorkelers.

We eventually came round to Manly Beach and then walked over to Manly Wharf where we caught the ferry back to Circular Wharf and then we had a beer. It had been a good long walk and we had seen a lot of the area. Manly was called that as the Governor thought when he visited Manly that the Aboriginals looked manly and so the name stuck.

We caught the ferry back to Rose Bay and once on board Stormbird had some cheese and biscuits. We all felt like we had some exercise and were ready to read and relax.

Malcolm Davidson joins us tomorrow.

The picture of the day is of Manly Cove.

Need/Opportunity Year Two

I am in need of more crew from April to September 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