Barry And Lyn Cruise

Last Sunday left Tambourine Bay about 0930 with Barry,Lyn and Steffi for a cruise to Sydney harbor.
The wind was from the South 5/10 Knots forecasting to swing to the east freshing to 15/20 Knots.
We motored to the Sydney Opera house and Judith pulled up the Sails. We had a very fresh sail to Watson Bay with only 2 tacks, where we stopped for morning tea. The sun which had been trying to make an appearance all morning decided to give it away and go and hide behind some very black clouds,along with some light rain and the forecast increase in wind strength it made for a very fast sail back down the harbor for lunch.
Berrys bay is well protected form most winds and we anchored in 6 meters of water and had a very impressive lunch.
Barry had to be back early to go to work and as promised we had him back at Tambourine bay at 1530

Orion After the Antifoul

Orion was antifouled last week and what a difference it has made to the speed.
Last Sunday 17/02/2008 we had a 10-15 knot SE wind and sailing on a broad reach my GPS recorded over 7 knots and we where towing the tender.

Australia Day Weekend Cruise

We left Tambourine Bay with friends Ben and Val about 10.00am with a light NE wind, forecast to reach 15 to 20 Knots.
Our destination - somewhere out of the wind to have lunch.
Passed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge about 1045, sailed past Fort Denison and out into the main harbour.

Our first call was Chowder Bay, renowned for clear water, good diving and home to a colony of Seahorses. Unfortunately, not enough room for "ORION".
Next bay was Obelisk bay, known as a "nude" beach, also full, but not giving up yet.
On our way around Middle Head our new tender (now named Wanderer) became adrift.
So, as in a man overboard drill, around we went and Judith managed to get a boat hook on it and, with Ben's help, saved the day. Well done!
Around Middle Head there is a nice area called Castle Rock, crystal clear water and we moored in about 2.5 meters.
Ben was unable to wait till lunch and was first in for a swim, water temp about 23c, perfect.
For lunch we had BBQ snags (what else on Australia day), however Val found that eating in the cabin a bit rocky and rolly, so we ate out on the deck.
After lunch I took a dive under the boat to look at the barnacles and the anchor, good job the boat is have an anti-foul tomorrow.
Ben also went in after lunch to retrieve a water bottle and found it hard to swim back to the boat against the current.
On the way back down the harbour, the by now strong NE wind blew us home very nicely.
Just near the Sydney opera house we passed, going out on her maiden voyage, the P&O cruiser "Pacific Dawn".
It takes us about 30 minutes from the "Bridge" to Tambourine Bay and, with the sun going down in the west, 4 happy and sun tanned people have had a very nice Australia Day Weekend.

Please look at the videos,
David.