Hellooo Coffs Harbour

Hello Coffs Harbour! Our new home life for the next couple of weeks.

I am pinching myself that we are really here at last, after 18 months of boatwork restoration.

I have an amazing husband who I am in awe of every day

Camden Haven to Coffs Harbour

Saturday night we were joined by Rob and Adriana from Coffs Harbour.
We had a meal at the local Services Club then all snugged up on Ocean Piper for a good nights sleep.

Greg dropped Adriana ashore early and the 3 of us got ready to depart at high tide and were underway at 7:30 am.

Variable winds and swells, more whales and sailing with a full moon. Was awesome having Rob aboard to crew and made this last leg far less stressfull for me at least.

We arrived in the harbour at 2:15am and safely anchored 20mins later. We made it!!

Seal rocks to Camden Haven

Friday to Saturday morning leg. Seal Rocks to Camden Haven. We up anchored at 6:30 pm after a light dinner for an over nighter (nerves jiggling)

Beautiful night on the water with nearly a full moon. Frickin freezing by 3am. We got whale snot on our ipad and my phone when we had a very close encounter with a couple of whales that changed their minds about going under us at last minute.

The little one I swear touched us before freaking out like I did scrambling to get my phone going to take a video … alas I missed the record button and they left us with whale mucus everywhere. We heard lots of whale singing and I can only guess, conversations, going on. Awesome but eerie.

Sunrise YAY as we headed into Camden Haven at high tide, grabbed a mooring and hit the sack.

Port Stephens to Seal rocks

Friday Leg One … Nelson Bay to Seal Rocks.

We decided to do a short 6 hour sail and rest up for about 4 hours before a longer overnighter to Camden Haven.

Lovely Sail, dolphins and whales again.

Happy with our average of 5kts just on the Genoa.

Nelson Bay – Port Stephens

Thursday mid morning we moved back to lovely Nelson Bay to give us a head start the following mornings 7am departure.

We found the local Woolies and stocked up on some essentials – lollies, chocolate, wine and tobacco.

The night was bouncy with 30knt winds hammering us out nowhere.

Glad we were on a mooring ball and not on anchor..

Shoal Bay

Tuesday morning we awoke to our surroundings in Shoal Bay. Having anchored at night in pitch black we were treated to this view. We up anchored to Salamander Bay. Day of catching up on sleep as it was a roly night at anchor.

Dolphin escapades

Mondays dolphin escapades. We counted over 20 in one pod. They freaked me out at night coming up beside the boat snorting …. first thought it was a whale breaching beside me ….. cheeky things

Leaving Lake Macquarie

Yesterday (Monday) we left the Lake, woohoo.

Left the Swansea channel behind at 1:30pm and arrived Port Stephens (Shoal Bay) 9:45pm.

Brilliant day on the water though we did get some gusts over 25knts.

Dolphins and whales along the way.

Coming into port and anchoring a bit tricky in the dark and we had a roly night on anchor.

Need a bit more sleep

Leaving Marmong point

Yesterday we said goodbye to Ocean Pipers home for the last 12 months. Marmong Point Marina have been good to us in many ways. Paid up our fees, filled up fuel and water and said goodbye!

Took off to Pulbah for the night and bit my nails as Greg brought our departure forward by a day.

Monday is heading north day!!