Coffs Harbour to Camden Haven (Laurieton)

Wed 15 to Fri 17 Sept 2010

Not so tropical now

The wind and sea conditions  looked good for the trip south to Port Macquarie and after lunch out with Anne's 'old' but younger friend Janet (sins of youth will not be mentioned here) it was decided that we'll be up at 0400 to leave by 0500 and first light on Thursday morning. However Michael's brainwave at midnight after sleeping for 2 hours and then laying awake for a half hour contemplating getting up at 0400 was, why not go now. What a, good idea, but as it turned out not the best.

Seabirds feeding frenzy

The cap says it all

We left the berth, entered the outer harbour and raised the main with 2nd reef already set in the pitch darkness managing to avoid hitting rocks or the anchored yacht then crossed out of the harbour using the lead lights at 0130. The sea was a bit swelly 2-3m from the south with a light SW breeze but by 0400 the wind was building and the swell had increased to over 3m, Saaremaa was taking white water over the bow, Anne was down below laying down to avoid nausea. By 0500 wind was 25-30 knot from the SW and the chop was making the sea quite uncomfortable and we were making 3.5 knots heading for Trial Bay to anchor up and await a favourable bar crossing into the Macleay River. As Anne has said 'whatever does not kill you makes you strong', however Michael was not game to speak these words about the conditions, valuing his manhood.

Not a knackered  sailor

As the sun came up things were looking a bit better but the wind and chop were still knocking the boat around until 0700 when things calmed down, Anne surfaced and we decided to press on to Port Macquarie.

Perpendicular Point

The whales and bird life entertained us as the miles passed when we decided, as it was still only 1300, to bypass Pt Macquarie and head for Camden Haven 12nm south. Crossing a flat bar on a flooding tide just on HT gave a smooth passage as we motored up the river to the Laurieton United Services Club Jetty. With fenders all set for a starboard tie up Michael managed to stuff it up even though Kerrie and Martin from a Victorian Yacht 'Jannali' were there to help tie up. Going around and approaching against the tide made life so much easier with a port side tie up. (This tide business can be so tiresome at times)!! We were all tied up safe and sound by 1600.

LUSC jetty Saaremaa & Jannali

The LUSC jetty is described in Alan Lucas guide 'Cruising the NSW Coast' as rickety but it has since been refurbished and will fit two 45 ft vessels along it. The jetty is a free service to visiting boaties for 5 days with a key to the amenities having a $50 refundable deposit, a definite bargain for any boaties! Pelicans hang around the pontoon jetty near the fish cleaning table hoping to catch the odd mouthful.

Los Saaremaates at North Brother

Provisioning is well catered for with the shopping district a short walk away. Meals at the club are pretty good and reasonably priced, the town itself has a great location and the people are very friendly. A highly recommended port of call. BY 1930 Anne had already gone to bed and Michael clocked off at 2030, 2 knackered sailors, (Anne has the hat to prove it)!

Anne & Alan Willows

On Friday morning we walked up to town to get some bread and Anne's SMH calling in at the Historical Society Museum where the gentleman overseeing the place invited us to come along in his car to the top of North Brother for the views. His name is Alan Willows and he is a retired horticulturist with an encyclopedic knowledge of plants. He has lived in the area since the early 1950's and generously showed us around and invited us back to his home where he has more species of orchids growing around the wilderness garden, of which he knew all the names, than we have seen before.

Camden Haven entrance

Martin & Kerrie on 'Jannali'

Martin & Kerrie from 'Jannali' ,a Victorian yacht, were taken up to North Brother by another local who was delivery skipper and into his latter years. Laurieton is a very friendly and scenic place with a surprising number of eateries for a relatively small town.




On Saturday we went to the local cinema that is showing 'The Girl Who Played With Fire' an adaptation of Stieg Larsson's book. It's unusual to see first run movies in little country towns especially when it is not released nationally until 23Sept. The cinema is a real gem, a sort of mini State Theatre, that has an extremely varied program.

Wiggly Pig

The 'Wiggly Tail Butchery' and the 'Pied Piper' children's clothing store are a couple of interestingly named shops in town!!

The local Dragon boat crew

Dragon boat racing is a popular sport and we saw the crew of the local boat out for a regular morning paddle. the crew appeared to be varied in age from 30's to 60's hence there is some hope for Michael yet.

Only 102nm to Swansea and its off to Foster/Tuncurry in the morning on a fairly flat sea with light winds. Soon be home but a pity about the bridge, maybe we are not wanted back in the lake?? Oh well!

Laurieton Sunrise