Sea Miles at last!

Sunday 23rd May 2010

After Saturday's success with the engine,  I got into thework early although I must admit that I wasn't keen to spend more time in the engine bay. Anticpating a quick tweek to further adjust the mounts I discovered, unexpectedly, that in adjusting the engine up a little, the alignment went out again so it took some 6 hrs of further struggle with the occasional curse, to get it right. Finally, a test run sometime after 15:00 confirmed all well. In fact we got 8 kts at full power of about 3100 rpm. Just over limits but acceptable to Yanmar. A good day!

Monday
On Monday we got going early so as to fix up all the bills and get moving. I was keen for some real sea miles!!! After all the effort I must say that both Noaks slipway and Steve from Nelson Bay Marine were obliging with their prices and wished us well. At 10:30 we motored off the dock and out of Port Stephens headed for Broughton Island not far away. Conditions were overcast but calm and pleasant. The trip to Broughton was enjoyable and positive and only took 90mins, motoring all the way so as to ‘prove’ the engine and the wind was light anyway.

We arrived in Coal Shaft Bay and dropped the pick ( the brand new 45lbs manson) in about 8mtrs. After settling and confirming the anchor hold we rowed in to a beach for an explore and what a great place this is. We walked over the hill to Esmeralda Cove and had a chat with some ‘locals’ staying in their mate hut. These hut go back to the 1890s when first ‘settled’ by Italian fishermen, then the Greeks and then the Australians in the 50s. The huts remain on a grandfather rule but Parks and Wildlife are keen to see them gone. I think the historic value will win out as well as the fact they the place is still and important refuge to ‘boaties’ in bad weather. We walked on to see North Cove and some more of the island before returning to PILGRIM and up’ing anchor and motoring around to Esmeralda cove where we saw moorings in a very snug position. After taking up the line we both had a ‘solar’ shower and settled into a cuppa and writing this log/blog. - Tomorrow we set of early and head for Foster.

Tuesday
Got going early again, under motor but with the main set. We expected light Northerlies and got pretty much just that. Seas were small but crossing so all in all a good trip of some 7 hrs ‘sailing’ up to Forster arriving at the bar at about 14:00. We spent some time looking for whales but had to be satisfied with aThe boat went well but for the starboard tank venting fuel. I quickly worked out that this was a function of the Yanmar fuel system whereby excess fuel is delivered to the injectors and then returned to the tank. Griffin had all the return going to the Starboard tank so when running on the Port tank, the starboard tank was ‘making’ fuel. Not a big issue but one they should have mentioned!

As for Forster, I had rung ahead and organised a ‘pile berth’ at which we tied up with some challenges in the fast flowing tidal flow but got it done. Of interest, enroute I called ahead and while on the phone I was told we could have the "Red Gate". I asked what this meant and the woment seemed reluctant to explain. I concluded that it must be some local jargon and forgot about it. Upon arrval , as we negotiated the incredibly narrow channel to the Fish Co-Op, standing out above all else was a pile berth with the featured Red gate. In fact the only such gate within cooee. It now became clear! Anyway, once secured to our red gate we got to the the ubiquitous clean up and then a pleasant night in Forster. Weather tomorrow doesn’t look like supporting a departure so probably will be here Wed and go Thurs.

Wednesday

Stay in Forster, washing and some boat maintenance