2 May to 6 May

2 May – Port Macquarie

We HATE, HATE, HATE  Port Tacking.  Very true to its name.  The Southerly set hit us and we tacked for a couple of hours before giving up and motor sailing into Port Macquarie.  The swell was quite small so made the entrance no problems and up into Hastings River to anchor just past the ferry, near an oyster farm.

Really lovely quiet anchorage, after the noisy one at Forster. (Just noisy from the cockle shells and tide chuckling all night).   So this was totally quiet other than someone’s dog waiting for its owner and once they were home at about 7 pm, it was bliss.   The dolphins came to visit us, chasing some fish around windChalmer.

3 May – Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour – 70 nm

Yeah, at last we had one great day of sailing.  No tacking, poled out the headsail and sailed at 7 knots most of the day.  Quite smooth and very interesting coast.  Most miles we have done so far.  We decided to leave at 6 am, when we promptly ran out of fresh water.  Tried to get some in Port MacQ but the Iron Man was on the next day and thousands of swimmers were practicing right where we needed to go.  Finally got some at the Fisherman’s Wharf and then left at 8 am.

Consequently we were off Coffs Harbour in the dark, getting in the sails ready to motor sail into the harbor.  We anchored in the harbor.  Next time we would just go into the Marina and tie up somewhere as we rocked and rolled all night even worse than Shoal Bay at Port Stephens.  I ended up sleeping on the lounge as it was more comfortable, than having head up one min and then feet up.  Anyway, Ian and I got up about twice each to check that we weren’t dragging, however we stayed fast.

Popped into the marina next morning and booked a berth for $50, including water,long hot showers and electricity.  Pity we forget to bring the electricity leads or I could have recharged my laptop batteries.  First time that windChalmer has been in a pen.

We said our reluctant goodbyes to our precious third crew member, Warren.  He caught a bus to visit his friend up north.  Pity the winds hadn’t been better so we could have sailed him there.  He had been with us from Wed, ANZAC DAY until Sat 6 May and had only intended coming for a week.

Ian worked most of the morning trying to solve a power problem.  Something wrong with an alternator.  Will get it checked at Iluka.     I cleaned, sorted, read, knitted and sat in the sun.  After lunch and a great long shower, we walked up to town did  some shopping.  Unfortunately my school friend Karrel and her husband Max are away on holidays.   Coffs is a great layover with lots to do.  Ian and I really enjoyed a good long walk.

6 May 2012

Up at 5.15 and gone out the Coffs Heads by 6 am.  Unfortunately we have lost our good winds again.  Very fickle and blowing SE and then SW.  By 11 am we have poled out the headsail twice and taken it down twice.  Motor sailing past the last of the Solitary Islands.

A young hammerhead shark came cruising along at about 11 am.  We have seen at least 4 of them now.

Hopefully, we will get to Iluka tonight and see my cousin Bevan tomorrow.

BEST BEST NEWS - our new Grandson, Euan arrived at 2.56 am this morning.  49 cm and 6 lb 12 oz.  Good, easy labour.  All well and we are overwhelmingly excited.  Wish we were there.