Shine a Light: 3rd Time Lucky! Jervis Bay at Last.

Me, sitting on the back of the boat on our arrival at our mooring in Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay.
Tired after a 12 hour sail and so very happy to have a glass of wine in my hand!

Over the past 20 years or so - since we've owned a sailing boat - we've tried to sail down to Jervis Bay.

To explain - Jervis Bay is 100 nautical miles south from Pittwater (where our boat is moored) so going there means having good weather to make the overnight trip of about 16 or more hours. Because it's in a more southern part of the New South Wales coast Jervis Bay is open to bad weather with little shelter so if the forecast isn't good it doesn't seem like a good place to try to get to.

And today we made it. My last blog said we were on our way ... but after I posted that the decision changed a few times - back and forth. The weather was forecast to be wild and the group in a late phone call decided to not make the journey. George was very disappointed. Me, not so much. The forecast told of gale force winds on the south coast which may or may not have developed into a howling east coast low. Not my idea of a good couple of weeks on the boat.

But, after a night of discussion (read talking migrating into some shouting and the usual recriminations - "why do we have a boat!", "you never want to go anywhere" - blah, blah, blah) we woke on Sunday morning with Captain George saying, "We are Going!" So with a huge degree of trepidation I went along for the ride. And here we are! I'm glad. The weather wasn't bad at all. The seas did become very unpleasant towards the end of the journey... but we're here and moored and enjoying the accomplishment.

The first night and day was spent in the little bay of 'Hole in the Wall' with winds on the nose blowing medium to strong gusts. Our little group of 4 boats and 7 people went ashore for a long walk to the spectacular campsite of Greenpatch.

By the time we returned to the boats just getting the dingys launched from the shore with the growing wind strength was challenging and wet. Determined to find a better spot Peter and Sue on "Celay" took off across the bay. George and I had lunch and a bit of a nap but it was clear the 'Hole in the Wall' mooring wasn't going to be a pleasant spot to spend the night. Thankfully they did find a much more sheltered spot and one by one we set out to cross in wild winds blowing up to 35 knots to a great spot at Collingwood Beach. We celebrated - and toasted Peter and Sue - with drinks on the boat 'Hypnotic'. Good evening and he even had a birthday cake for me!

So much to talk about so I think I'll just give you a photo journey of the trip.... Monday we sailed to a place called Jibbon Beach in Port Hacking. Lovely. We had never managed to go south of the Harbour and this beach was a real find. Deserted - although I'm sure it is chock a block over summer - with crystal clear water and a big semi-circle of beach to have a walk around.

Rounding South Head of Sydney Harbour with the city skyline in the distance.
I'm not sure if there is a view anywhere else on this beautiful earth that compares with the vistas of Sydney Harbour. ( I'm sure there are in many places but Sydney is mighty spectacular!)

A view from the ocean of the "world famous" Bondi Beach.

This is the entrance to Botany Bay from the ocean. Just think what James Cook and his crew
must have thought when exploring Australia for the first time and sailing into this inviting
harbour. Now it's a working container port with massive ships, the airport and communities dotted around the foreshore...
But then, just imagine how brave those men must have been to journey to the end of the earth
and see something this beautiful.

Jibbon Beach at the southern end of Port Hacking. This is Southern Belle at a "courtesy mooring"
with her yachting club mate 'Barenjoey Light' owned by the lovely couple John and Ruth.
We spent an afternoon walking on the beach and then up to the little township of Bundeena.