Broken Bay

Once again Cheshire Cat and her valiant crew set off for Broken Bay week. Julie Terina and I were on board. Jenni was following in Mathilde. Can't understand why. The forecast was promising and once we'd loaded a mountain of supplies we motored to the Heads because there was no wind. But no sooner had we turned left than a very nice north easterly filled in and we set the sails and made Barrenjoey in one tack. Very cool!

On the way we were passed by John, Paul and Jenni in Mathilde but unfortunately John managed to delete the pictures he took of us sailing happily north. Behind us were Wayne in Far Out, his new stink boat, and his friend John in a sailboat called Phoenix. Aboard Quest Laine, Neil and Mike plus some others were way ahead of us and already in Coasters Retreat having left too early for the breeze and therefore having to motor the whole way.

We picked up a mooring close to Mathilde and Quest and got ready to go ashore for a BBQ. Wisely we all prepared our beds prior to imbibing. There were twenty or so revelers on shore boosted by a huge contingent on Far Out and Bernie in Xantippe with Zane and Ross. Zane made someone very happy.

Sunday dawned sunny. Jenni had been trying to get the club to go to Lobster Beach for years so with Mathilde at her disposal she and John announced their intentions to go there for lunch. In spite of us keel boats being a little concerned about the depth we decided we would all go too. We sailed north past Lion Island and then switched on the Iron headsail when we were approaching the narrow channel into Brisbane Water. Lobster Beach is just inside the channel so keeping a wary eye on the depth sounder we crept into the bay and dropped anchor. I had never been sure of the setting of the sounder so it was an interesting test. According to the gauge we were in 1.9 metres of water. The bottom of the keel is 5 ft 6 inches from the water level or 1.7 metres. Mike, who was to become my trusty mooring partner, stood on the bottom and put his hand in the air. His fingers just cleared the surface. As a result we knew the depth sounder was pretty accurate and that at 1.9 we were OK and anything less than 1.7 was probably aground.

We had lunch and some of us swam. Being at Lobster Beach was described by someone as sitting in a cafe on Parramatta Road. Because it is right on the edge of the main channel into Brisbane Water, Gosford and all places in between it has a constant flow of boats and ferries motoring past. Jenni has been satisfied and we are unlikely to go there again.

Then it was time to drop Julie and Terina at Palm Beach as they had to go to work on Monday. And then to Refuge Bay for the night. As I pulled into the bay John and Jenni sped up in Mathilde's jet tender and Jenni climbed aboard to pick up the mooring for me.

That night I had dinner with Jenni and John (very nice beef bourguignon) as Jenni was leaving the next day and John was also going home for Monday night.

A lovely glassy morning was followed by a trip to Castle Lagoon via Hallets Beach for lunch. Mike came with me to help with moorings or anchoring depending on our luck. The lunch stop-over provided another test for the depth sounder. After some excitement Laine, Neil, Mike and I had lunch aboard Cheshire Cat featuring smoked trout with horseradish cream. Far Out and Phoenix had gone to Brooklyn for drop offs and pick ups. My plan to patch the hole in the floor of the inflatable was abandoned to a later date.

Motoring in to Castle Lagoon we found empty moorings which made us all happy.
Specially since we were to be there two nights. Dinner was aboard Far Out as Wayne proudly showed off her entertainment potential, not to mention the accommodation including a double cabin with en suite. His attempts to seduce Mike to make use of the currently empty berth fell on deaf ears.

Tuesday's schedule, apart from a work conference call and some light boat maintenance included a trip to nearby Cottage Point for lunch. We all boarded Far Out and moored right at the restaurant feeling very glamourous and important. Mathilde with John, Peter and Michael aboard had arrived when we got back to Castle Lagoon. The obligatory boat hopping included an inspection of Cheshire Cat's emergency steering with Wayne and Phoenix John and an invitation to dinner on Quest for goat tagine. Peter and Michael, still recovering from a trip to Vietnam, declined. John, as my date, collected me in the jet boat bringing a lovely fake hibiscus as a corsage. The tagine accompanied by couscous with cranberries and almonds was delicious. Quest is also a very comfortable boat for entertaining.

Wednesday morning was misty with a river of cloud streaming down the cliff into the lagoon. A great photo opportunity before I went back to sleep.

The forecast was for a very windy afternoon so we all decided to head for the scheduled overnight at Warratah Bay and see how secure it would be. Mike came with me in case we had to anchor. As it turned out the three moorings were empty so Quest, Mathilde and Cheshire Cat were all nice and safe. Far Out and Phoenix had again gone to Brooklyn. A couple of runs in the jet boat saw 7 of us at Bobbin Head for a very nice lunch. On the second return trip John ran out of fuel and had to row from Apple Tree Bay. It didn't seem far at 6 knots but I am told it seems much further when you're rowing. Far Out with new crew appeared late in the afternoon.

After roast pork on Mathilde we all bunkered down for a windy night. In the end it wasn't too bad. In fact it was worse the next morning gusting 15 to 20 knots. Then while we were having our respective breakfasts a rather odd looking work boat chugged into the bay and as I watched nosed up near Quest and had a conversation.
Wouldn't you know it they were there to service the mooring. So Quest rafted up next to Cheshire Cat for an hour or so. In spite of the stiff breeze we sat very nicely together. And then it was time to head for my favourite spot - Smith's Creek. I still remember Wayne, years ago, arriving in his inflatable in the dead of night with Charlie, his faithful dog, wearing nothing but a microscopic leather lap lap and a string tie. Wayne that is not Charlie. He was dressed for the Commodore's cocktail party where the dress code was formal.

This time, as I rounded the corner I saw one empty mooring and a house boat just leaving. Further in, it turned out all the moorings were for us - hooray. Quest on one, Mathilde on one. I was able to pick up my mooring single handed just before John arrived to help. A small moment of accomplishment. We tied Wayne's dinghy to the fourth mooring as he had again gone to Brooklyn for a change of crew. To identify it we also tied a rainbow flag to the outboard. So we ended up owning the bay for the night. And Michael encouraged me to drive the jet boat. That was fun! If a little scary. But I have since discovered it is also against the rules. Just as well, as it could become addictive.

Another roast dinner aboard Mathilde. Laine and Michael have mastered the art of roasting now. Peter was practicing horizontal pole dancing and John tried out a wig.

The morning was for exploring up the creek a bit where there were lots of fish and sting rays in the water. Yet another work conference call and then off to Akuna Bay for the Commodore's Cocktail Party. And a final brush up of my performance piece. Mike came with me again as we knew we would have to anchor, there being no moorings. Once again we had the place to ourselves. Bruce and Bert were already there in their little cruiser Antibes. Bernie reappeared in Xantippe with Zane, Robert and Ross aboard, and Chris Mugden in his little steamboat Aldebaran with a new member, plus Cheshire Cat, Quest, Mathilde and Far Out. I don't know what happened to Phoenix. Afternoon included helping decorate Mathilde as well as an ice run to the shop at Akuna Bay. A messenger run in my dinghy to tell people what time the party would start ended with a slight mishap that meant I got a bit wet.

Commodore Roger with his Davey, Rear Commodore David and, as a special treat, MY HELEN arrived on the 7pm pickup from the jetty.

I had been going to offer bunks to a couple of girls who were said to be going to come but who never arrived or to Roger and Davey, but with Helen as my surprise guest I was glad we could have cheshire Cat to ourselves.

The theme of the party was "Hello Sailor". Bereft of inspiration I went as a sailor in wet weather pants, Gay games t-shirt, gloves, cap etc. Helen dressed as the gorgeous Sunday sailor that she is. Laine was Popeye, Mike a shipwrecked bum, and various other takes on the concept were seen. Michael was resplendent in a rainbow t-shirt, white pants and white cap. Very gay and ultimately the winner of the costume prize. The judges, Helen and Bernie, felt his outfit most expressed the theme of both gay and sailoresque. Neil's costume was apparently too subtle. But he again did a great job as cocktail maker.

The performances were all good. The Quest crew sang "Popeye- the sailor's man" , Chris and his crew did a poem which I am told is well known, but with lots of innuendo in it. Roger reworded the Jamaica song with the line "I had to leave a lovely boy in London town". Given that Davey is now here and not in London it was a bit old news I thought. But sweet and well sung. Bert and Bruce did a very rude poem and friggin' in the riggin' and I did a version of "Friends, Sailors Cuntrywomen lend me your yachts". Chris won based on performance. I felt unjustly discriminated against because Helen was a judge and may have therefore felt compromised, but the verdict that while clever, it wasn't as well performed was true. Note to self - try harder next time.

Lots of fun, dancing, champagne and then bed with my girl. And no dinghy mishaps, thank god.

Next morning Helen and I had a leisurely breakfast and watched Chris give tours on Aldebaran. The boys from Xantippe were skinny dipping and jumping off the rope on shore. Some folk were not on the boats one would expect. Some very big grins were seen! We had a snack aboard Mathilde once the boys were dressed (no dangly bits for us) and then Mike and I dropped Helen back at Akuna Bay. She drove home while we motored back to Coasters Retreat to pick up Terina and Lea from the ferry. On the way we took pictures of Quest and she took pictures of us. Mike was on the helm.

Again plenty of moorings to pick up. Scott and Tony in a rental yacht were there too. Another BBQ ashore, a few drinks on Quest and then to bed. Julie came over on the morning ferry and we prepared to head back to Sydney. A still morning meant we might have to motor home but again the breeze filled in just at a perfect angle to sail down the coast on one tack. So we sailed all the way to Balmain. Jenni had the BBQ ready when we got home which was a lovely way to finish another perfect Broken Bay week full of sun, sea, food, wine and mucking about in boats.
Some of the pictures are Neil's and some are mine.