Pittwater

Scott-Free’s blog
Steve & Chris
Sun 6 Dec 2015 07:27

33:36.445S 151:19.086E

 

Sunday 6th December 2015

 

We eventually had to wait until yesterday for the forecast wind to change to east then north east, and at 0600 yesterday morning we slipped the lines and left Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club which has been our home for the last three weeks.  The passage to Pittwater is about 50 nmiles and we wanted to make it before dark, hence the early start.  Conditions were very benign and the river entrance was very calm, but the wind, such as it was, seemed to be from the southeast. 

 

We continued to motor into a headwind until late morning, when the wind eventually came round to the east and we were able to sail.  We had the current with us and so were making reasonable speed even though the wind was light.  After a couple of hours the wind backed some more until it was right behind us, and we put up the other headsail and ran downwind, right into Broken Bay.

 

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Entering Broken Bay, with the lighthouse on Barrenjoey Head.

 

We arrived in Pittwater, off Broken Bay, late afternoon, and after holding our breath as the depth in the entrance went down to 2.8 metres at one point, we found a mooring buoy and tied up in a very pleasant spot in Careel Bay.  It was lovely to be surrounded again by green hills and open water. 

 

This morning we took the dinghy ashore and went for a walk along the beach.  The place is buzzing with locals out on the beaches or the water enjoying their sunny summer weekend.  I am reminded a little of Cornwall with houses on the hillsides and small boats bobbing off the beaches, and also of the Solent with lots of sailing boats taking part in races around the cans.  I can see why this is a popular place at Christmas time when the Aussies take their long summer break.

 

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Lovely beaches and beautiful surroundings – very different from the urban setting at Newcastle and a welcome change.

 

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Looking out towards Pittwater entrance.                                                              Scott-Free on a buoy centre right.

 

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Small yachts racing around the cans.