Left Lake Mac on to Gold Coast

Welcome to Saaremaa's weblog.
As blog virgins it may be a bit bland to start with but here goes.

'Saaremaa'
Anne & Michael are currently headed up to the warmer weather of Queensland, destination indeterminate, on their Adams 35, shoal draft, cruising yacht, 'Saaremaa'.
Provisioning went well with the grog stowed first and the necessities of life such as food and clothing packed in after wards.

Lake Macquarie
We started with a wet and misery 2 nights in Lake Macquarie tied up at the LMYC then headed up the Swansea channel over a lumpy bar for Port Stephens on Wed 23 June 2010.

Port Stephens
Arriving in Pt Stephens at 1500 we headed for Salamander Bay where we picked up a vacant buoy close to shore near Jennifer and Paul's. We spent several days on this very useful mooring in between trips up to Nelson Bay for shopping. Finally the weather looked good so we headed for Shoal Bay for an early start on the trip north to Forster. After the misery weather of the lake Salamander Bay put on a spectacular sunset not long before we left Pt Stephens.

Cape hawke Harbour (Forster/Tuncurry)
Monday 28 June we left Shoal bay at 0530 in the dark with 20kts from the SW and a following sea of 3m which made things a bit boisterous. We managed to avoid hitting Boughton Island and surrounding rocks then set course for Forster/Tuncurry which I had never heard of being called Cape Hawke Harbour before (you live and you learn). Arriving on low tide we anchored in the river opposite the Fishing Co-op just next to the low sand island that is under water at HT.
We were a bit nervous about the tide change when anchoring in the river as 200m upstream is the low bridge we did not want to attempt limbo-ing under. All was well and we did not make the news. Anne is enjoying the ocean on the way to Trial Bay and she even had whales waving their 'army' flipper things at her in the photo above.

Port Macquarie
Tues 29 June saw a beautiful day with dolphins, whales and calm sea conditions where Raylene our autopilot had a wonderful steer most of the day. On arrival at Pt Macquarie we entered the Port Marina where Michael managed to enter and then leave a berth without mishap.

Trial Bay
Wed 30 June, 0730 and we crossed the bar for another round of Saaremaa and the sea towards Trial Bay. More work for Raylene and and calm conditions saw us anchoring in Trial Bay just below the old gaol. Here we came across the only stroppy VMR radio operator on the coast fortunately his morning colleague had a better manner. Absolutely no swell was encountered in the bay and we had a clean anchor to haul in, beautiful. Notice our Trial Bay prison garb airing in the breeze in the photo above left.

Coffs Harbour
Thurs 1 July on to Coffs Harbour with arrival a 1300 sea conditions OK but weather deteriorating. Tied up to a wharf and stayed for 5 nights. An easy tie up for Michael on the outside of the finger wharf next to 'Infini' a Westsail 32 owned & skippered by Shair (danger woman) an adventurous Sydneysider. (Anne, Shair & 'Infini' discuss the merits of sailing)
Friday 2nd brought a rainy cold and misery day with the only saviour being our fan heater plugged into the mains supply at dock. A cab out to the airport to give a part of Benny Boy the windvane to a welder provided our outing for the day.
Saturday we spent the night at Safety Beach with Janet and Dave (See photo topleft Dave Janet & Anne). Anne was missing the rolling motion of the V-berth and did not sleep as well as Michael who was snoring for Australia's first division.
After a couple of more lazy days in Coffs we finally decided to head for Yamba/Iluka but Anne had the brilliant idea of doing an overnighter straight through to the Gold Coast. (this is true - more fool me! Anne)
The course was plotted using Graeme's ('Spirit 7') charts for the shortest route to Southport.
Yes I did see the Military Exclusion Zone off Evans Head and naturally ignored it in my plotting!!!
When logging on to VMR Coffs Hbr Anne was asked about being aware of the zone and said, " Of course we know all about it. Michael!!!" We replotted. Bugger its much further!
We finally left Coffs at 0930 Tues 6 July. 30 hrs later after much motor sailing (27hrs) a few hand steering when Raylene went to bed with Michael.
It was back to helming again for Anne until 0300 saw a change of watch with Annie freezing and hallucinating it was Michael's turn for joy. With only one involuntary gibe both ways around 0500 I was glad that the main was on the 2nd reef and the wind light.we arrived at the Gold Coast Seaway entrance on an ingoing tide at 1400 hrs Wed 7 July safe and sound. We were 2 stuffed little sailors, a brilliant idea Anne!!
Thanks to all for their emails and texts. Much appreciated.


Gold Coast
On entering the Seaway we received a message mentioning that a car was available at Runaway Bay Marina. With absolutely no hesitation whatsoever we looked up the Marina, rang about a berth and headed for it. Thanks Harry & Penny.
Luckily the pen was huge and there was no wind so Michael almost managed to get into it without going too far sideways, although the Davidson 57 in the pen over the way was very useful in pushing off from the bow. Many hands are required for our berthing!!!
What a TOP SPOT Runaway Bay turned out to be: excellent amenities, great cafe, laundromat, walking distance to a large shopping centre and local trendy shops, on a bus route to Southport and all this for only $30/night plus a set of steak knives (well maybe not the knives).

We have been days doing this first blog and now its Monday 12 July, a month since we set out, so its time to post.