The South Coast is Unique!

It's the old saying you don't know what you have got till its gone.(or your gone)

We recently spent a week in the Pittwater region of Sydney. Now don't get me wrong its a great cruising area, and there are so many hidey holes, anchorages and places to visit, its a lovely place. I think that Alan Lucas rates it as the best cruising grounds on the NSW coast.

I may beg to differ with Alan on that point, called me biased, call me a local. On returning to the south coast, Jervis Bay to start with, I couldn't help think that its a far superior cruising location than Pittwater. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

Negatives 1st, there are limited facilities for yachts. In other words, bring everything with you, including fuel. The anchorages (with limited public moorings) are on either side of the bay, and you need to watch weather conditions carefully. With mobile phones and mobile Internet connections this now relatively easy.

Now the positives, ever wonder what its like to anchor in an aquarium? Well you can in Jervis Bay, the water is so clear you can see the bottom and all the fish at The Hole in Wall anchorage, Dolphins are in seen regularly, on most sails. Sailing is something you can do in the Bay without wind shadows(Pittwaters biggest problem) great runs with good clear breeze are the norm. Shopping and provisioning can be done, in Huskison and Vincentia by anchoring off these delightful villages and taking the dinghy. Oh and above all, less crowded, 6 yachts moored at Hole in Wall last week. To our yachting friends in Sydney, Bruuuce & Sue/Lynn & Andrew/Robb & Katrina check Google Earth, look at your charts and take the time to come down and enjoy what Jervis has to offer. Believe me its well worth it.

I also made another south coast discovery yesterday. On the sail from Ulladulla to Batemans Bays, while Jen did some mundane chores at our land home. Winni James Patterson & I had Crazy Lady flying in the 20 - 25 knot North East wind. We found ourselves an hour and a half ahead of schedule. (tide schedule at Batemans Bay that is)

We decided to stop at North Durras, on your nautical charts known as Point Upright. The possibility of a surf was on our minds. We knew this was well protected from a North East wind. No surf, (as usual) but what a great anchorage, its obviously been missed on all cruising guides. The water was very calm and swell free, as we anchored in 4 mts of sand bottom crystal clear water.(see pic above)After a relaxed lunch and swim, we braved the gusty conditions for an hour long sail to Batemans Bay.

Pic: View from the anchorage Upright Point.

Glenn