On the sea at last

And so it came to pass that on the warm morning of the 7th February in the first year of the reign of King Tony, 2014, the fair vessel Arjuna departed Port Jackson. It twas the season of NSW nor'easters. A particularly fine time to be riding the breezes and the East Australian Current South from Queensland. Alas, we reached the heads of Sydney Harbour and turned left to battle the conditions the wrong way round.

The day started early, as it does on the sea. But not on the land. The day actually started late at 9:30am after we had to run last minute errands like picking up all the seat cushions and other such critical nautical tasks. We pulled out of Woolwich marina, waving at the Rear Admiral's good wife and nodding our repects to the carnage of broken and bent seacraft bowed by the extremes of marina life.

The old tram terminus

On board Arjuna were the Captain, the Rear Admiral and the Second Mate, lately promoted to acting First Mate for acts of valour and also because the Land Team: the First Mate, Third Mate and Ship's Monkey were all going to rejoin the boat in Brisbane. The Land Team retired to the safety of the mountains and somewhat chilly 10.5 degree conditions in Katoomba to gather nuts and lay down fat reserves for the coming winter and also to start distance education.

At Lavender Bay, we pulled into the wharf to pick up another crew member fresh from dropping the kids off at school. Able Seaman JJ awaited us carrying his sea trunk and bearing a warm cup of joe for the Captain. While we pulled back into the Harbour, the Acting First Mate gave Able Seaman JJ a full run down on the safety and operational equipment on the vessel including a tour of his state room and details of the turn down service.

At 1100, in light winds we radioed in to Marine Rescue at Port Jackson to say our farewells then put the blinker on and turned North out from the heads. Our planned destination for the day was Newcastle at a distance of some 68 nautical miles as the mackeral moves. The crew busied themselves about the boat. The Acting First Mate secured our jackstays and issued life harnesses.

Sails were put up after lunch. There was a lot of head scratching and debate about sail trim, luffing and cleating with some obvious problems with the set of our topping lift. Ultimately, there wasn't that much wind.

The first scheduled radio check in with Marine Rescue was off Broken Bay. The Marine Rescue system is very good. In the morning, one radios in to report the plan for the day. If a vessel fails to check back in by the scheduled time then something happens - which we are yet to find out - but hopefully it involves scrambling jets and helicopters. We radioed in and confidently confirmed our plan for Newcastle before recalculating and realising that Newcastle was completely out of touch with such a late start. We dialled back in to Marine Rescue and it was almost possible to hear the face palming over the radio as we indicated that we would pull in to Broken Bay instead.

Lion Island, Pittwater. Mainly added to break up all this text

Broken Bay / Pittwater is a fine place to stay. Arjuna had already made the trip down from Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River which runs out at Broken Bay. The Rear Admiral had brought the boat down to Sydney for us with the help of the Chief of the Watch. The journey was apparently quite harrowing and the delivery team were harrassed repeatedly by an aggressive dolphin who later made threatening advances to surfers at Coogee.

We initially pulled in just under the lighthouse at Barrenjoey to try and grab a mooring but our healthy draught of 1.9 metres and the rapidly decreasing water depth put paid to that. Instead we motored down to Sandy Point and borrowed a rather large looking mooring outside the House of Wind. It was from this very beach that the Captain spent many a formative day being blown down Pittwater while windsurfing. It is character building stuff indeed to be picked up by police launch as one drifts out the heads.

Able Seaman JJ displayed the stuff he was made of by stripping down to the bare minimum permissable level of nylon, diving off the boat and swimming ashore. The rest of the team boarded the zodiac and the Acting First Mate rowed us to the beach for a swim.

The alarms rang at 0600 the next morning in preparation for an early start of 0630. The day starts early on the sea. In this case, actually at 0710 since it took some time to cook bacon and eggs for a hungry crew itching to put to sea. Our failure to make plan the day before was paid little attention - we checked in with Marine Rescue advising of our bold intention to make Port Stephens at a cool 75 nautical miles off and it was almost possible to hear the bets been taken over the radio.

By 1100 hours we were making good progress and approaching our waypoint at Norah Head. A pod of dolphins headed out on a interception course and spent a few minutes riding alongside before heading off to greener pastures.

As the afternoon progressed, the North East sea and wind picked up and making headway became difficult. A nice looking fish was hooked and almost landed before it got loose. The crew cursed their rotten luck at losing the opportunity at their first good meal for two hours.

By 1700 the weather was somewhat unfavourable to pleasure cruising with water over the bow giving the deck a much needed wash down. We found ourselves in a field of fish traps which litter the coast line in certain areas. Conveniently, they are unmarked and particular difficult to see once the sea gets rough or dark or both. Just to help out, some traps were fitted with black floats for better contrast against crystal clear tropical sands but completely invisible in 100 metre deep choppy water.

As the light ran out, we made our turn around Mount Stephens and watched the lighthouse light up and then rolled in the swell through the heads of Port Stephens between Mount Yacaaba and Tomarree. Marine Rescue Port Stephens was beginning to get alert but not alarmed at our non-appearance when we pulled into their view. Sails were down but the engine was blazing and the mighty red and green beams of our navigation lights cut through the darkness alerting all in front of us of our triumphant arrival.

Able Seaman JJ. Looking wistfully norwest

We navigated the varying channel around to Nelsons Bay where we had confirmed that a visitors berth was available in the marina. The marina area however was awash with activity, lights and people everywhere out for Saturday night. The location of the visitors berth was a complete mystery and after 13 hours upwind the Captain threw a handbreak turn within the marina seawall and we pulled out to the public moorings off Nelson Bay beach.

The day had not yet ended however - a decision was made to make a zodiac assault on the marina and attempt to get a quick dinner. So the tender was deployed and we motored in. We were too tired to remember to kiss the sweet sweet earth. The Acting First Mate, only 11, had put in a fine innings for the day and was falling asleep in his spring rolls by the time we found someone with a kitchen still open. We returned to the boat and pulled up stumps.

Arjuna at rest in Nelsons Bay. Looking wistfully noreast

The following day saw the departure of Able Seaman JJ. A fine sailor, resplendent in magnificent technical fabrics. We made a zodiac assault on the marina and delivered him to the bus at Nelsons Bay.