Sailing around Australia; Sydney, Both Sides of the Coin.

12/5/2015 Sydney; Both sides of the coin.

Our sailing around Australia adventures, aboard Easy Tiger reached a milestone this week as we sailed (or more correctly; motored) under the Sydney Harbour bridge.

We have been in the Sydney harbour for a week. During this week we have made many choices by a virtual toss off a coin. Like any form of gambling this has had mixed results.

The first toss of the coin was just before we entered the Sydney heads. Shall we go to the north head where there are some easy to reach bays with public moorings, or do we brave it and transit up the main harbour, under the bridge and find a “park” somewhere in there.

The coin came down heads, and we headed north towards the middle harbour, shelter from the south westerly and the safety of a free public mooring. That was a 50/50 that went our way.

Next morning we had to decide whether to go further into the middle harbour to one of the many beautiful bays that would offer protection from the winds or to cross sailing under the Sydney harbour bridge off our to do list. We were both looking forward to the bridge adventure, but looking at the forecast winds was making it 50/50.

Again the coin came down heads and we spent a few lovely days at Sugarloaf bay. The only downside to this bay is that to get to civilization, we had to tie the dinghy to a stone wall and climb up a couple of hundred very steep steps, then walk a kilometer further along a road to a small shopping complex.

After spending the weekend in Sugarloaf bay, we had the next decision to make. Is today the day that we go under the bridge. The weather looked like it may be a bit windy, but we both wanted to be in Rozelle bay to prepare for our visitors who would be coming on board in a few days time.

This time the coin came down saying to go. So we set off without really looking closely at the weather forecast.

All went well until we rounded Bradley head. As soon as we rounded the headland we were belted with a gale force wind in our face. How would we see the Sydney harbour bridge if the wind in our eyes had us tearing up?

The engines strained, the boat slopped forward as if trying to float through treacle and the wind howled through the rigging all the way along Sydney harbour. What was supposed to be a highlight of our adventure was in danger of being ignored, as I didn’t want to put my head out for a wind blasting.

Leanne had braved the front deck. Unfortunately though our good camera chose that moment to misbehave, the self timer became jammed on. Leanne lay flat on the front deck to both to get the picture of Easy Tiger’s mast going under the bridge and I think to get out of the wind.

We motored under the Sydney Harbour bridge at about 11.30am on the 11^th May 2015. But probably should have delayed another day to make it a pleasant experience.

Sydney Harbour has many small bays that make it an ideal place to have a boat. The problem is that many people agree that it is an ideal place to have a boat, therefore there are many, many boats. These boats are all moored in the many beautiful bays in many cases making them inaccessible.

I had chosen to try Blackwattle bay as I had been told by several other boaties that it was a good place to anchor for free. It would also be relatively close to the airport for Phil and Leanne who were coming from Paynesville.

As the wind thrashed at us, I had a thought. What if Rozelle and Blackwattle bays were full? I didn’t really have a plan b at that point. It would be a 50/50 as to whether we could get in there.

By now the wind was around 30knots and I didn’t really fancy trying to anchor in close quarters in those conditions.

Under the Anzac bridge we went, through an old bridge that used to turn 90 degrees to let boats or traffic go. Into Black wattle bay.

Unfortunately Blackwattle was full. We had a brief go at fitting Easy Tiger into the boat jigsaw, but the probability for damage was far too great. We motored out and around the point to Rozelle bay, only to see the boats already moored there straining at their ropes and anchor chains as the wind seemed to funnel through with even greater force. Seemed the coin had come down against us this time.

After some “discussion” Leanne and I decided we would head back to the spit. As we motored back under the harbour bridge I saw a large bay that was being protected from the westerly wind by the opera house, buildings and the botanical gardens. There were no boats in there at all, which made me a bit suspicious. A quick look at the chart and then in our guidebook seemed to indicate that you were allowed to anchor in there and that it was certainly deep enough.

So relieved to be out of the wind, we barley noticed the rocking and rolling in Farm Cove. It wasn’t long though before we realised why there were no other boats here. It takes all the wash from all the passing ferries and the rebounds it off the walls along the foreshore of the botanical gardens. But the positive note was the views of the Opera house in the foreground with the Harbour Bridge above it in the background which as the lights came on at night were really spectacular.

Once the ferries stopped going past, it actually turned out to be quite comfortable. This morning we were woken early by the rocking and rolling created by the first commuter ferries starting their trips back and forth.

This morning we had another decision to flip. Do we go to Rozelle bay and try and find a spot early before the wind picks up, or do we go later hoping that one of the other boats may have left.

The coin came down in favour of going early so that if we did find a spot, we wouldn’t have to try to anchor in the wind. Fortunately, the coin was in our favour, we found a spot, anchored quite easily and were back on board from shopping by 10.30am.

So adding this to our tally of wins, I would say that our luck with the 50/50 decisions seems to be in. More wins than losses so far, but we have seen both sides of the coin.