Hi all,
it's my first post but I've read the forum a lot in the last year.:)
since I had my compass 29 (7months) I've spent most of the weekends sailing and overnights in the harbour.
now i feel is the time for a little cruise , to Pittwater...
any advices? Is any experienced sailor willing to have some fun and some free beers (on arrival:) )?

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simosail said..
Hi all,
it's my first post but I've read the forum a lot in the last year.:)
since I had my compass 29 (7months) I've spent most of the weekends sailing and overnights in the harbour.
now i feel is the time for a little cruise , to Pittwater...
any advices? Is any experienced sailor willing to have some fun and some free beers (on arrival:) )?

Saturday is looking really good for going north.
Take it very wide around barrenjoey head you will be fine.

G'day Simo,
Welcome! Good on you for asking for help, I hope you find someone to come along for the ride. If you miss Pittwater just keep going, Southport Broadwater is really nice at this time of year .
I myself always breathe a little bit easier when I'm offshore, less things to pop up and run into! Make sure your safety gear is in service and your comms are good, and I hope you get to enjoy the trip,
Cheers,
SB

It's Australia day. Go early

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simosail said..

now i feel is the time for a little cruise , to Pittwater...
any advices?

Give Long Reef a wide berth - it extends out further than it appears and can chop up close in. Don't clip the N end of Barrenjoey Head too close - there are some obstructions there. Otherwise, keep Australia on your port side and stay well outside the breakers and you'll be fine.







I'm sailing up from Sydney Friday night, back Monday. Where are you planning on anchoring in Pittwater?

Well done Simo. Current predicted winds are light, south after about 8am. You should have an easy time of it. The advice about Long Reef and Barrenjoey isn't to be taken lightly. It's called Long Reef for a reason. . You shouldn't be so close in that you go too near Newport Reef, off Newport Beach, but it's worth noting if you're in close. There are plenty of great places to stay overnight, but being Australia Day weekend it will be busier than usual. If you see a light blue Top Hat called Dulcamara, drop by and say hi.

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sydchris said..

simosail said..

now i feel is the time for a little cruise , to Pittwater...
any advices?

Give Long Reef a wide berth - it extends out further than it appears and can chop up close in. Don't clip the N end of Barrenjoey Head too close - there are some obstructions there. Otherwise, keep Australia on your port side and stay well outside the breakers and you'll be fine.







I'm sailing up from Sydney Friday night, back Monday. Where are you planning on anchoring in Pittwater?

Thanks for the great advices Chris!
i dunno yet where to anchor, any advices?
my idea would be to come back Monday as well...
I could have joined you but I already know I'll be too slow:)
and night navigation offshore would bee too much for me.
Was thinking of a 6am Saturday morning thing...

The south side of Barrenjoey Head is a nice place to anchor overnight in a NNE which will probably drop off soon after sunset, and on Australia Day at least there should be space there. Sandy bottom and nice beach to row to (Palm Beach) . Just watch the depth and allow for the tide if you anchor in close. We camp there often Whats the name of your boat?

She's called Crackerjack, blue line on hull... please drop by if you see us:)
Looks like weather would be fine, Now finding anchoring is a bit stressing me... just because I would be already tired after the cruise. I know is an easy simple one for you but would be my first open ocean little passage.:)

If anchoring is going to be stressful the head for one of the bays with the most moorings such as The Basin or Refuge/America Bay.

Everywhere will be busy but search around and you should be able to pick up a vacant mooring. But be warned that the vast majority are private moorings and you will need to stay aboard at all times and be prepared to move on if asked to by the rightful owner. Most people ask nicely the first time - and not so politely the next time.

If you look at the NSW Waterways maps you will see where the public moorings are (such as under Barrenjoey as has been suggested) but on a long weekend your chances of getting one of those are less than winning Lotto.

There are easy places to anchor such as Morning Bay or off Portuguese Beach and a few spots in between The Basin and Currawong Beach can work too.

I would have liked to give you a hand coming up the coast, but we are doing the Australia Day regatta on Saturday. Pittwater will likely be a busy place (as will the harbour no doubt).

The moorings under Barrenjoey are not public, and being a public holiday weekend are not likely to be free (but you never know). I have anchored there a few times but it is a bit tricky. There is a lot of weed / sea grass amongst the sandy bits and it is quite shallow. As the wind is forecast to go south on Saturday afternoon, probably not the pick of the spots.

As Gravy suggested, Morning / Towlers Bay is a great spot in a NE or light southerly. If the Southerly gets up (so perhaps Sunday evening), go up to the Basin and anchor outside the moorings.

Last weekend, all the moorings were taken at the Basin and Patonga, but Americas / Refuge Bay was largely empty (which would be my pick). Also Americas / Refuge has an abundance of places to anchor even if it is full as well as being protected from almost anything.

Don't stress about it, just have a plan B and possibly C and enjoy the trip.

Thanks you very much for the information!!
sounds like from all the advices that if I go Sunday morning would be better as Australia Day will be over and maybe less traffic...

Whatever you do, don't fall into the trap of being forced into sailing back in bad weather on a particular day. You can always leave the boat on a commercial marina mooring for a week or two, until you get a good weather window.

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simosail said..
Thanks you very much for the information!!
sounds like from all the advices that if I go Sunday morning would be better as Australia Day will be over and maybe less traffic...

I don't agree. It wont make much difference as Oz Day is not such a big thing on Pittwater as on Sydney Harbour and anyone who is going to get out will get out early rather than leave it to Sunday.

Yara's advice about the weather is much more relevant. I would plan to go when the forecast looks best. And at present, there is nothing wrong with going north on Saturday provided you are comfortable with having to tack up the coast which can be more comfortable sometimes than rolling with the swell on a beam reach.

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Gravy7 said..

simosail said..
Thanks you very much for the information!!
sounds like from all the advices that if I go Sunday morning would be better as Australia Day will be over and maybe less traffic...

I don't agree. It wont make much difference as Oz Day is not such a big thing on Pittwater as on Sydney Harbour and anyone who is going to get out will get out early rather than leave it to Sunday.

Yara's advice about the weather is much more relevant. I would plan to go when the forecast looks best. And at present, there is nothing wrong with going north on Saturday provided you are comfortable with having to tack up the coast which can be more comfortable sometimes than rolling with the swell on a beam reach.

+1.
Pittwater and Broken Bay are big, you will find a mooring or anchoring spot. Go when the wind is best.

Cut my solo sailing experience on that same trip 10 years ago. As mentioned by others by keeping away from land which will always a danger to boats. give yourself lots of sea room, so if you do have a setback you have time to sought out the kinks. I now sail up and down the East Coast in a Roberts 25. Pre-plan and you'll many years of cruising. PS Refuge Bay is a beut of a spot.