Zofia - Sailing Adventures: Leg 55

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Leg 55 - Sydney to Pittwater

As much as we dread deadlines, our timing for arrival to Pittwater was prescribed by an invitation from Debbie and Peter, the crew of My Way2. They had most generously offered to mind Zofia on their mooring while we return home to Perth for a couple of weeks of family time. We first met in Tasmania during the summer and they even helped christen the new BBQ. Their delayed arrival for the Tassie season had left a lot of 'unfinished business' in the 'Cruise Tasmania' department and they'd decided that by wintering their boat in Tassie they could enjoy a second go at the delights of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel etc without another strenuous return trip across Bass Strait.

A wee house in Watsons Bay

Debbie is one of the organisers of a monthly dinner for cruisers at her yacht club and asked if we'd be willing to make a presentation to their June, 'First Friday' event. Oh my, a deadline! With that now looming and wishing to have enough time to rehearse and resolve any technical issues, we needed to arrive a couple of days early. The wind lords were compliant, so a near stupid o'clock start had us chasing some of the early morning ferries down the harbour before slipping out of Sydney Heads and sailing northwards to Broken Bay and Pittwater.

Bridgetop flags indicating a favourable wind angle

We had a delightful run up the coast in a loping swell and all too quickly vanishing breeze, close enough to the coast to appreciate some of Sydney's northern beach locations. The Barenjoey lighthouse was on the horizon before we knew it. Having been spared from destruction in a bushfire, it looked strangely naked out on it's headland.

A stampede of Riviera's roaring up behind us as we entered Broken Bay

Once we turned into Broken Bay and southwards into Pittwater we were staggered by the number of yacht masts all along the shores. Some on moorings, others in marinas. This is without question a sailing Mecca.