Lovett Bay Boatshed

We had a nice week long stay in Port Macquarie waiting for the south winds to abate. Christmas eve we had some boaties over for drinks and miscellaneous food and drink stuffs. Then we took advantage of the light northerly wind that set in and headed out off the bar a few hours before high tide on Christmas morning. Lots of incoming current, not much in the way of waves. As soon as we got to the deeper water (300ft+) we picked up the East Australian Current again and were making quick time south (often at 10kts+).  After a long day we headed back in toward shore for an anchorage in Broughton Island. As we approached we had some very playful dolphin elves come by the boat to wish us a merry Christmas.
We picked up a mooring ball just before dark. I think it must have been reserved for us as it said Private Keep Off on it. The picture above is sunrise from Emerald Cove, Broughton Island the next morning.

We headed out early the next day to make Pittwater. Pittwater is a busy boating area north of Sydney. On the way we passed a lot of shipping, leaving and approaching the port of Newcastle. They export a lot of coal from here to China and India. There are a lot of freighters (bulk carriers) anchored in the ocean in front of Newcastle. There are also a lot just drifting offshore like this one pictured above. Their AIS status reads NUC (not under command) which used to mean in the old days that the captain and officers were dead or so sick they couldn’t run the ship. The ship is moving at about 1 – 1.5 kts with the wind and current. Odd - must be saving money while they await new orders.

We entered the main entrance to Pittwater Bay and took the finger that goes toward the Hawkesbury River. Pulled into American Bay and grabbed a mooring near friends on Fairwinds just at sunset. This is a picture of Fairwinds in the bay early morning. It looks like the white is washed out in the photo, but that’s just because they have a new, shiny paint job. Nice bay, but lousy cell connection.

Next day we motored over to Pittwater Bay to try and find a paid mooring for a week. Our plan was to spend until after New Years in Pittwater then head to Sydney Harbour when the crowds lighten up a bit. We lucked out and got a mooring from Michael at Lovett Bay Boatshed. The small ‘marina’ is located in the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. Access is by boat or bush trail only.

The boat yard has been here for over 100 years. The current owners have lived in the beautiful house behind the boat shed and rails for the last 14 years or so. It is a really wonderful setting, except perhaps for the non-stop squabbling of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and the harassing laugh of the Kookaburra birds. Check out their famous laugh here (scroll down to the audio clips).
We are leaving the boat on the mooring and taking a ferry, two busses and a train up into the Blue Mountains west of Sydney for a couple of days over New Years.
Paul