hello all!
Im planning to finally Sail outside the Sydney heads, heading north out of port Jackson and 'around the corner' to Manly.
We'll be in a Santana 28 which the previous owner would sail up to pittwater fairly regularly. This will be my first time actually leaving the port though.. any advice??
we have all of the required safety equipment according to NSW Maritime.
Any tips or or advice welcomed!
Thanks
By going outside to Manly, I will hazard a guess that you mean Shelly Beach?
Never been in there in a boat, so cant really give you any anchoring advice, but perhaps others have. Have a depth sounder, a map and a good set of eyes. And pick your weather window.
Not many yachts go in there, more a bolt hole in a southerly if required. Give the headland a wide berth, the surfers on the breakers there will give you an indication of where not to be.
Personally, there are better places to go. There is a reason the previous owner travelled up to Pittwater. Or half the time to go down to Port Botany and/or to Port Hacking.
If you do go, don't forget to take photos and give us a report. Might be a great spot to avoid ferries......
Yep, pick your day and be very prepared to switch to just an inshore sail if the weather looks dodgy.
Consider seasickness tablets as a precaution. The swell and chop hits the cliffs off Sydney Heads and forms a notoriously sloppy, choppy area. To get upwind through the chop you'll normally need to ease sheets a couple of inches more than usual and to sail a few degrees lower, otherwise you can just stop and bounce around.
Are you set up with harnesses and a means of getting someone who has fallen overboard back aboard? These things are overkill in some ways but if you are not experienced offshore the boat's movements and your own nimbleness and reactions when in an unfamiliar environment can be very different. At the very least you should have harnesses available, which are much more valuable than lifejackets IMHO.
Make sure you use enough anchor line scope if it's a north-easter.
It can either be scary just out there or just delightful. Enjoy it, but be prepared.
Shelly Beach maritime reserve is very popular with divers and diving schools (guess how I know) so watch out for them. I second the seasickness precautions - last time I went out the heads (to dive) I had taken the tablets but it still got to me. Not fun trying to suit up while throwing up.
Tim
I have a Santana 28, solid beast and quick too, so the boat won't be a problem. Enjoy the experience.
It is going to be rolly there. If its your first venture outside the heads why don't you just sail out to sea and come back.
You can go for as long or far as you and more importantly your crew feel comfortable. Then after a few times out and your comfortable outside depending on weather reports head north or south for an over night at either Pittwater or botany bay.
If your wife is with you advise never push to hard so many guys would love to have their partners sail but don't due to being pushed and got scared.
I may be wrong but was under the impression that Shelley beach was closed for anchoring due to the marine reserve status?
it was closed many years ago, has the restriction been lifted?
i echo TwoWoofers recommendation to start by doing some open-ended trips in and out the heads. the sea state can vary a lot depending on the prevailing swell and wind, and becoming familiar with some of the different conditions wouldn't be a bad idea. inside the harbour is very flat in comparison.
one of my favourite things is to head out there, heave to, and have lunch.
btw, heaving to is a good skill to learn if you haven't already...
We spent a night at Shelly Beach in Winter. There is a no anchoring area but it is pretty close to the beach. There were lots of swimmers even at 6pm though. The biggest issue was about 200 swimmers in pink caps that don't look where they are going at 6am in the morning. I thought we would be all good because we arrived late and planned to leave early, but not that early. It was a ripper sail back to Pittwater in the SWesterly that came up overnight. Flat and windy. Pick your forecast otherwise very rolly.
Shelley Beach is a great short sail in the right Weather. Good anchoring, good swimming and a pleasant little sail. Having said that waves off the cliffs add to seasickness big time. My daughter got sick out there 15 years ago and it put her off boats.
if you have a radio check into Marine Rescue, just for the experience and a bit of a back up confidence wise.
