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Toph said..
It was interesting Southace.
Left TI at 1:30 and made 9.5 kts using the current. Was looking promising.
Later that evening, the wind picked up to 25kts which was further south then I expected. At 10pm we lost our autopilot, 2 GPS,s and our wind instruments. Wife was sick for the first 24 hours.

I got the AP and wind instruments working by midday the next day, so much happier in the SV Mikado camp. GPS issue still to be rectified. However that night and the following day was a very plesant sail.

Josusa, I am aiming to be in Fremantle (actually we will be going to Mandurah at this stage) by the last week of October. Maybe just in time for another WA Seabreezers catch up at Rottnest.

I seen your last position of crab island on Marine trafic but after that you must have lost VHF contact with the AIS. We had the first SW in the gulf last night soon we should start getting more Westerlys wish can make things a bit messy.
so your in Gove now heading to Darwin next?

Josusa:
When l dive to clean in wintertime, l put on boots 7mm steamer, hood, gloves and fill up the steamer with warm water before diving. Still come up cold as my mother-in-laws kiss.
I use a bottle fixed aboard and 20m hose. Also, l run the engine while below to scare the nasties away.


Toph!
How do you navigate while no GPS??? Got a sextant?

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sirgallivant said..
Josusa:
When l dive to clean in wintertime, l put on boots 7mm steamer, hood, gloves and fill up the steamer with warm water before diving. Still come up cold as my mother-in-laws kiss.
I use a bottle fixed aboard and 20m hose. Also, l run the engine while below to scare the nasties away.


Toph!
How do you navigate while no GPS??? Got a sextant?

I leave the engine off because that way you can hear the nasties coming.

[html]soundcloud.com/aamandacarp/jaws-theme-song[\html]

It's the sound of the underwater double bass that gives them away.

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Chris 249 said..

sirgallivant said..
Josusa:
When l dive to clean in wintertime, l put on boots 7mm steamer, hood, gloves and fill up the steamer with warm water before diving. Still come up cold as my mother-in-laws kiss.
I use a bottle fixed aboard and 20m hose. Also, l run the engine while below to scare the nasties away.


Toph!
How do you navigate while no GPS??? Got a sextant?

I leave the engine off because that way you can hear the nasties coming.

[html]soundcloud.com/aamandacarp/jaws-theme-song[\html]

It's the sound of the underwater double bass that gives them away.

I sneak around under my hull also with tank and air hose in sandy bottom cleaning my hull only in the middle of summer when the water is nice and warm other than that I pay for a diver that works year round collecting abolone in shark infested waters!

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Toph said..
It was interesting Southace.
Left TI at 1:30 and made 9.5 kts using the current. Was looking promising.
Later that evening, the wind picked up to 25kts which was further south then I expected. At 10pm we lost our autopilot, 2 GPS,s and our wind instruments. Wife was sick for the first 24 hours.

I got the AP and wind instruments working by midday the next day, so much happier in the SV Mikado camp. GPS issue still to be rectified. However that night and the following day was a very plesant sail.

Josusa, I am aiming to be in Fremantle (actually we will be going to Mandurah at this stage) by the last week of October. Maybe just in time for another WA Seabreezers catch up at Rottnest.

You need to start another thread mate. Sailing West. Wild country and I am sure all of us would like to learn from your experiences.

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cisco said..

Toph said..
It was interesting Southace.
Left TI at 1:30 and made 9.5 kts using the current. Was looking promising.
Later that evening, the wind picked up to 25kts which was further south then I expected. At 10pm we lost our autopilot, 2 GPS,s and our wind instruments. Wife was sick for the first 24 hours.

I got the AP and wind instruments working by midday the next day, so much happier in the SV Mikado camp. GPS issue still to be rectified. However that night and the following day was a very plesant sail.

Josusa, I am aiming to be in Fremantle (actually we will be going to Mandurah at this stage) by the last week of October. Maybe just in time for another WA Seabreezers catch up at Rottnest.

You need to start another thread mate. Sailing West. Wild country and I am sure all of us would like to learn from your experiences.

I agree, a separate thread would be brilliant.
Toph, I would definitely be interested in a WA Seabreezers catch up at Rotto.
Sir Gal, I have an old 2 piece dive wetsuit that I bought from gumtree for $20. First time I used it I nearly expired before I got in the water from the effort to put it on. It was even worse getting it off. Was ready to put it back on gumtree and pay more for one with zips in sleeves and ankles. Decided to give it another go recently and used plastic coles bags on hands and feet when putting on and it was so easy I was amazed. Works great getting it off too, just rolls sleeves and ankles up a bit, put bags on hands and feet then roll the sleeves and ankles back over bags and pull off. Fantastic!
Surfing wetsuits are easy enough without bags so I hadn't tried it before.

I have a selection of wetsuits. I also have a two piece winter wet suit that is a nightmare to get on. Don't feel the icy water at all but the thickness of all that neoprene gives enormous flotation. My leadbelt is so heavy I'm soon exhausted when I dive and I still have to pull myself down the mooring riser to the bottom. Going to give the plastic bags a go, never thought of that.

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Ramona said..
I have a selection of wetsuits. I also have a two piece winter wet suit that is a nightmare to get on. Don't feel the icy water at all but the thickness of all that neoprene gives enormous flotation. My leadbelt is so heavy I'm soon exhausted when I dive and I still have to pull myself down the mooring riser to the bottom. Going to give the plastic bags a go, never thought of that.

What size are you?
I Have a dry suit from when I use to scuba dive sinus are shot so no more diving.
It is click I think.

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Ramona said..
I have a selection of wetsuits. I also have a two piece winter wet suit that is a nightmare to get on. Don't feel the icy water at all but the thickness of all that neoprene gives enormous flotation. My leadbelt is so heavy I'm soon exhausted when I dive and I still have to pull myself down the mooring riser to the bottom. Going to give the plastic bags a go, never thought of that.

I use 3 weights that I think are 2kg each and I am still bouyant but as I said I actually found that the amount of bouyancy gave me some pressure against the hull when swimming on my back. I will get some more weights though. What I found also made a big difference was to get everything really organised before I got really clumsy by virtue of being in the wetsuit i.e. fins on the sugar scoop, tools in easy reach there too etc. good straps on the fins, everything adjusted properly. I will use a better mask next time too because constant leaking is another pain I don't need. When in a compromised position like diving or scaling the mast, every bit of forethought and preparation makes it so much easier physically and mentally. You are probably a whole lot better at that than I am by the sound of you and with your navy experience too. All the things that would have been a piece of cake when younger I am now finding more challenging than I expected so I am having to be more efficient than I used to be to make up for my waning physical capacities.

went to broughton island yesterday from port steves. crossed the bar, 8 foot swell. the scare happend at the island though with a real uncomfortable mooring at north bay. seemed logical that it may be sheltered from the sou east swell. we beached the dinghy and walked across to esmeralda at about 4.20pm which faces sou east and was really calm. was really hard to find info on this place, online or from people. alotta conflicting stories. well worth it. amazing place. really blew my mind. will post pics soon. Would have moved to Esmeralda, but due to the conditions and darkness looming had to stay in a rocky mooring. was like a rough night sailing...probably worse.
'BROUGHTON ISLAND. providence bay is a no no - in swell anyway. Esmeralda is calm in this big swell. bommies all around the island. slept(barely) to the sound of reefs/waves everywhere. alot of moorings in esmeralda. amazing place. real jurrasaic like.
now comfortable after a hot shower onboard in forster . dr tomorrow, new phone after killing mine with salt water.

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Sectorsteve said..
went to broughton island yesterday from port steves. crossed the bar, 8 foot swell. the scare happend at the island though with a real uncomfortable mooring at north bay. seemed logical that it may be sheltered from the sou east swell. we beached the dinghy and walked across to esmeralda at about 4.20pm which faces sou east and was really calm. was really hard to find info on this place, online or from people. alotta conflicting stories. well worth it. amazing place. really blew my mind. will post pics soon. Would have moved to Esmeralda, but due to the conditions and darkness looming had to stay in a rocky mooring. was like a rough night sailing...probably worse.
'BROUGHTON ISLAND. providence bay is a no no - in swell anyway. Esmeralda is calm in this big swell. bommies all around the island. slept(barely) to the sound of reefs/waves everywhere. alot of moorings in esmeralda. amazing place. real jurrasaic like.
now comfortable after a hot shower onboard in forster . dr tomorrow, new phone after killing mine with salt water.

Hey Steve was wondering where you got to. We had a similar experience at Broughton early April supposed SE swell, picked up the mooring in north cove and got rolled,(we thort it was the left over mess from ex tc Debbie) must say the fishing was excellent off that mooring ! Likewise we went ashore and esmerelda and coal shaft bays were calm as you like. Another open roadstead we liked was Trial bay. Camden haven is a piece of cake compared to port Macquarie in my opinion, and at Coffs if the two moorings are taken ( between the Ol jetty and the marina ) and the swell is invading the harbour you can drop the anchor sort of midway between the moorings and the wall and have a reasonable ride.

Gday Steve, hope it is fun for you.

We spent a couple of days on the north of Broughton and found it a little swelly but our cat doesn't roll so much to beam swells. You get this problem up the coast where the long period swells will wrap around a headland or island. West Bay at Percy is an excellent example of this. Protected from the wind but the longer waves wrap around and rock everyone around in a soueaster.

Esmerelda scares me a bit. It looks like a venus flytrap, ready to draw you in and then getting you with a nasty southerly. Lots of moorings too for small boats. One is for a dive boat and you could ride out some nasty stuff on that.

Keep going. It only gets easier once you get north of the Gold Coast.

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Kankama said..

Esmerelda scares me a bit. It looks like a venus flytrap, ready to draw you in and then getting you with a nasty southerly. Lots of moorings too for small boats. One is for a dive boat and you could ride out some nasty stuff on that.

Esmeralda is a great spot.


Plenty of room to get in.
I used the charter boats mooring at Xmas

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Kankama said..
Gday Steve, hope it is fun for you.

We spent a couple of days on the north of Broughton and found it a little swelly but our cat doesn't roll so much to beam swells. You get this problem up the coast where the long period swells will wrap around a headland or island. West Bay at Percy is an excellent example of this. Protected from the wind but the longer waves wrap around and rock everyone around in a soueaster.

Esmerelda scares me a bit. It looks like a venus flytrap, ready to draw you in and then getting you with a nasty southerly. Lots of moorings too for small boats. One is for a dive boat and you could ride out some nasty stuff on that.

Keep going. It only gets easier once you get north of the Gold Coast.

I think youre right. Apperantly it can surge like mad and boats get thrown on the beach or end up trapped. Met 2 old sailors in forster today who told me about it.

Currently in Airlie Beach for a few days to get a few odds and sods done, new 2 to 1 halyard for the Code 0, software upgrade to the B and G instruments, motor and generator service. Volvo are currently servicing the motor and generator so that should lighten the wallet considerably.

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Jode5 said..
Currently in Airlie Beach for a few days to get a few odds and sods done, new 2 to 1 halyard for the Code 0, software upgrade to the B and G instruments, motor and generator service. Volvo are currently servicing the motor and generator so that should lighten the wallet considerably.

Good to get done though. Peace of mind jode

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Jode5 said..
Currently in Airlie Beach for a few days to get a few odds and sods done, new 2 to 1 halyard for the Code 0, software upgrade to the B and G instruments, motor and generator service. Volvo are currently servicing the motor and generator so that should lighten the wallet considerably.

Good to get done though. Peace of mind jode

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Jode5 said..
Currently in Airlie Beach for a few days to get a few odds and sods done, new 2 to 1 halyard for the Code 0, software upgrade to the B and G instruments, motor and generator service. Volvo are currently servicing the motor and generator so that should lighten the wallet considerably.

wise decision on the 2 to 1 we also run a 2 to 1 load the 0 puts on is astounding i suppose you don't get all that performance gain for nothing

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southace said

I seen your last position of crab island on Marine trafic but after that you must have lost VHF contact with the AIS. We had the first SW in the gulf last night soon we should start getting more Westerlys wish can make things a bit messy.
so your in Gove now heading to Darwin next?

I'm chuffed you were watching SA. I would've liked to had gone to Weipa and had a beer with you, but you know sailing... I am on my way to Darwin slowly, but it appears I have outstayed my welcome on the Going North thread so I will update on another thread soon

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sirgallivant said..

Toph!
How do you navigate while no GPS??? Got a sextant?

No Sirg, I went old school, but not that old school. I new I had the rest of that night, the next day and night and half the day after that before I had anything to hit. So I just held a compass course and was going to turn left or right once I saw the coast. It wouldn't of taken long with the mapped ground features to determine if I went the wrong way. Besides, if you intentionally sail say north, then it's better then a fifty fifty if you turned south and vice a versa. But we still managed to navigate with better accuracy then dead reckoning. We didn't have Navionics on our phones (but we do now) but the standard google maps on the iPhone gives you a lat and long, so I was able to plot this on a chart. So so as I said, old school... but not that old school

Arriving Rosslyn Bay this afternoon. Great run north, good weather and the occasional spinnaker set for the beam reaches.

Went through The Narrows this morning after spending a night near Black Swan Island north of Gladstone. A mate once told me you haven't been sailing if you haven't run aground. Lucky the Yanmar has some grunt and a couple of buckets swung from the boom helped as well.

Will leave the boat here for a week or so to catch up on some work back in Sydney and organise my next crew to Mackay.

We loved the Rosslyn Bay and Keppel area.. I reckon we might even retire there one day.

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boty said..

Jode5 said..
Currently in Airlie Beach for a few days to get a few odds and sods done, new 2 to 1 halyard for the Code 0, software upgrade to the B and G instruments, motor and generator service. Volvo are currently servicing the motor and generator so that should lighten the wallet considerably.

wise decision on the 2 to 1 we also run a 2 to 1 load the 0 puts on is astounding i suppose you don't get all that performance gain for nothing

Yes, lots of load it's a big sail. I am also fitting a Spinlock XXB jammer with ceramic jaws which hold over 2.5 ton. Gary Saxby made the Code 0 for me and got the design and size spot on. It would be a bit of a handful in over 15 knots if the wind was better than 90deg apparent. Coming north we have only used the jib once. The Code O all the rest of the time. I think they have finally got Code 0s and top down furlers down pat.

Looks like I'm going north too.

We will leave Pittwater on Sunday or thereabouts in my sister's Valiant 40 for a run to Southport. The plan is to go up the coast as quickly as possible with 3 of us keeping watches.

Quite excited to get to sea for a passage after a long time ashore. And as crew I have no Skipper responsibilities, just keep my watches and enjoy my sister's gourmet cooking. And a drink at sundown.

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MorningBird said..
Looks like I'm going north too.

We will leave Pittwater on Sunday or thereabouts in my sister's Valiant 40 for a run to Southport. The plan is to go up the coast as quickly as possible with 3 of us keeping watches.

Quite excited to get to sea for a passage after a long time ashore. And as crew I have no Skipper responsibilities, just keep my watches and enjoy my sister's gourmet cooking. And a drink at sundown.

Sounds great MB, half your luck
regards,
allan

My co-owner sailing our yacht North listened in on channel 16 to the sinking of the yacht "True Blue" off Fraser Island. Does anyone know anything about it?
[He was 100km away so couldn't offer assistance but the inference was that VMR were on top of it]

We are now anchored inside wide bay bar after a 24 hr sail from scarborough marina. Got the new leads from " notice to mariners " and plotted then on the ipad for my first crossing of this bar, a bit aprehensive given its reputation. It was a mill pond thankfully.coming in i had 5 yachts lined up behind me. I was only cruising in slowly in case i had stuffed up my leads.but was reassured when captain ron tore past me at great speed ( to me at least) Gary followed me blindly in " Bella Amica"

Passed Cape Hawke an hour ago motor sailing a few miles out. Might stop at Coffs as my sister has the lurgy.
Had a great run yesterday up till about midnight when the wind died.
This Valiant is a very nice cruising boat, very sturdy, nice motion and enough room for a sailing couple, and older brother when she and Andrew need a 3rd hand.

Just passing byron bay right now

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MorningBird said..
Looks like I'm going north too.

We will leave Pittwater on Sunday or thereabouts in my sister's Valiant 40 for a run to Southport. The plan is to go up the coast as quickly as possible with 3 of us keeping watches.

Quite excited to get to sea for a passage after a long time ashore. And as crew I have no Skipper responsibilities, just keep my watches and enjoy my sister's gourmet cooking. And a drink at sundown.

Arrived Coffs and will stay a day or two. Lost our skipper at South west Tocks with suspected appendicitis. A very efficient transfer to the local MRS team who were outstanding.
Now to go get the skipper and return her to her rightful place.

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MorningBird said..

MorningBird said..
Looks like I'm going north too.

We will leave Pittwater on Sunday or thereabouts in my sister's Valiant 40 for a run to Southport. The plan is to go up the coast as quickly as possible with 3 of us keeping watches.

Quite excited to get to sea for a passage after a long time ashore. And as crew I have no Skipper responsibilities, just keep my watches and enjoy my sister's gourmet cooking. And a drink at sundown.

Arrived Coffs and will stay a day or two. Lost our skipper at South west Tocks with suspected appendicitis. A very efficient transfer to the local MRS team who were outstanding.
Now to go get the skipper and return her to her rightful place.

Wow ! well done to all concerned . Hope she recovers quickly and is able to re-join the cruise .