The cruising group at MHYC had a fantastic three-day weekend sailing up to Pittwater. What a way to start this year’s sailing season.
We had a good turn out with 7 yachts ready to depart from Hunters bay at 10am Saturday morning. Including our newest member David on his Folkboat ‘Gana’. Dallas on Eternity did a great job on the radio making sure everyone was all set and ready to go.
We had a crackin sail north with a lovely North-Easterly, each taking their own time and path with Refuge Bay as the goal.
On the trip up Sanctum had a close encounter with a whale near Whale Beach. Evan noticed a whale right in front of us as it dived down. It was about a boat length off our bow, Evan turned Sanctum left, the whale rose up next to us and had a good look at Evan before gently diving down and disappearing. I really wonder what was going through his/her mind? So glad Evan was on the ball and noticed!
Kai Rani, Viking III, Flemingo, Rara and Sanctum made it to Refuge Bay and enjoyed sundowners together while Eternity and Gana stayed the night at the Basin. Dallas and Selina on Eternity stayed back and kept a watchful eye on Gana to make sure David made it to Pittwater safely. He did a great job single handed sailing.
Sunday morning, we all made our way to Morning Bay. The aim was to be there by 11:30 whereby we would all make our way to Sanctum. John on Flemingo would come alongside and pick us all up and ferry us to lunch at RMYC.
In reality, I think we finally made it onto Flemingo by 1:00pm and on to RMYC by 2pm-ish. It was like trying to heard cats LOL. We were met by Cam and Aileen of Hunky Dory and Jeremy and Kristin on Kai Rani who helped us berth Flemingo near the fuel wharf.
A big thank you to Cam and Aileen for helping with organising the lunch at the RMYC. The RMYC is a fantastic venue both location wise, which enabled a few people to meet us by land, and quality of food. A really great time had by all.
After lunch most of us headed back to Morning Bay with John’s help on Flemingo. We enjoyed Sundowners on Flemingo and returned to our boats before a big Southerly front came through at about 9:30pm. Everyone was safely tucked away from the worst of the wind and by morning it was calm and beautiful again.
Monday morning and time to think about heading back to Sydney. Flemingo, Rara and Viking III were first to leave Morning Bay. Evan and Kelly took a hike up to Bairne lookout, after finding a long-lost trail not used by humans for some time and got some great photos. (picked up a few ticks along the way too, but that’s another story!). Sanctum left for Sydney about 2pm while Eternity and Gana, deciding to wait for more favourable wind and seas, returned on Tuesday.
The weather made for good sailing back on Monday with an easterly turning to north easterly in the afternoon. The seas were a little bit lumpy with a swell coming from the south after the southerly that hit the night before, but it was manageable and Sanctum was able to get a spinnaker run in.
The whales were up and playing and some had the privilege of dolphin playing in their bow wake.
Overall, a brilliant long weekend! Can’t wait for the next adventure.
Kelly Clark
SV Sanctum
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