Six Days in Camden Haven River, Laurieton 14th - 17th September

We spent the last day at Iluka doing all the jobs necessary for a long sail to Camden Haven where we intended to spend a few days while waiting for the next weather window to travel further south. The diesel tank was filled at the Boat Shed. It had good access for us to pull alongside between the ferry visits. We did the shopping, laundry and had showers - long ones including washing hair. Later in the afternoon we had Scooter from Scooter Sails in Yamba come over and measure us up for a new headsail. He had been recommended by Ric and Val as good value. He impressed us and we got him to quote on the headsail, genoa 120% and also a new bimini, dodger and lee cloth which we wanted in good quality fabric. The quote for the headsail in Dacron Offshore 8oz was $3190. Great! We'll have one of those. The quote for the rest came in at dodger $1870 and lee cloth $385. The price for the bimini will come later after we get the solar panels installed. Our Olivia will look pretty special in all her new gear next year.

More Whales

Off To Camden Haven and Laurieton

Cute little painted koala sculpture on the waterfront at Laurieton

We were up at 6am to begin our journey to Coffs Harbour at 6.30am. Peter and Sandy from Distant Drums followed us over a calm, but lumpy bar. It feels like a monster is sleeping under there - sometimes he snores softly, at other times he is restless tossing up waves as he turns and at other times he is just plain grumpy, having a tantrum and sending breakers hurling towards the river mouth. Luckily today he was snoring quietly. We sailed all day and passed Coffs Harbour just after sunset. Sandy rang us and she and Pete had decided that they could make Camden Haven by 11am the next day and as that was a good time to cross the bar there, had decided to go on overnight. Another southerly change was predicted for next the afternoon so we decided to go on with them. It was a good call as that afternoon a strong southerly wind whipped through the anchorage here sending bullets of wind down the river. Coffs would have been awful.

North Brother Mountain looms large over Laurieton which is a picturesque little town perched on the lower slopes and along the river. However, Brother messes around with the wind and sends bullets through the anchorage and with the wind against a strong tide causes problems for anchored boats. Olivia spent the afternoon careering across the river, coming to a full stop at the end of her warp and then spun around to sail off in the other direction. The bullets would stop for a brief break, the boats are then caught by the tide, until the next bullet when because the boat is facing the wrong way, the wind catches her and off she goes again dragging the anchor chain across the hull with a dreadful scraping sound. Some of the gusts were 38kts. Luckily as night approached the wind dropped and we had a quiet night.



North Brother and Laurieton on the banks of the Camden Haven River

We have spent the mornings walking along the river and indulging in morning coffee with Sandy and Peter from Distant Drums. They live in Port Stephens, so are nearly home. We can't believe how much we have in common. They are great company along with their little Aussie Terrier, Skipper. This morning we visited the local market which was huge and offered more than the usual amount of local produce - art and crafts, fruit and veges, cakes, jams chutneys etc. We were impressed as a lot of the markets seem to consist mostly of trinkets and beads and cheap rubbish imported from China.



Camden Haven River anchorage and Laurieton from North Brother Mountain

North Brother Walk Trail

Yesterday afternoon a couple of old fellas in a 30' yacht anchored close to us - too close. We didn't say anything thinking they would realise and shift. No way!! I stayed up reading as I thought we would have problems when the tide changed in the river. We were so close. I could touch the pulpit of their boat with the boat hook. We yelled and flashed the torch. No response! Sound asleep! In the end I banged on the pulpit rail with the boat hook. That got him up. I yelled "You're way too close!" He let out a bit more rope which took him a little further away, but we were still worried about the southerly change predicted for later in the night. This time the wind and tide did not conflict so by some good luck we didn't bump in the night.

We thought he would shift today. Peter from Distant Drum had a good talk to him and said that he was way too close and as the anchorage had plenty of room he should shift in the daylight. Peter Scott had a good talk to him and let him know we were worried at how close he is. The 'grey Tasmanian stick insect' is still there, right on our tail, just about within touching distance. He has not even pulled in his anchor warp a little' as Peter suggested. Imbecile! He also is not showing an anchor light so I'm thinking he is new to sailing and hasn't read the rule book yet. How thick skinned can you get? He has been told, but still will not shift. Olivia has been here for six days, her anchor well dug in and we have right of way here. There is a huge area to anchor in which is absolutely the same as here.

Tomorrow we will be up at 3.30am for a 4am start for the sail to Port Stephens. Distant Drums will sail with us and then we will say goodbye to them and make our way to Lake Macquarie after a couple of southerly wind days pass through. The next northerly wind looks like being Thursday.

Olivia. Picture by Peter and Sandy on Distant Drums

We tied Lily nearby. She parked herself under this and got pooped all over!!!