Hi All

I departed the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club pen on Sunday 20th at 4.30am, New South Wales daylight sailing (Oops … daylight saving time). 

Being morning in daylight saving time it is actually different.  Very, very dark at 4-30 in the morning.

I cleared the Newcastle harbour heads about 1/2 hour later.  13 kts wind … a bit sloppy.

6.30am … east and north east wind favourable, all overcast with fine rain.

It is near 70 nm from Yacht Club Newcastle to Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in Neutral Bay North Sydney.  The Governor General, and the Prime Ministers’ delightful houses are a short distance from RSYS.

I suppose it was mild cruising.  The wind was a bit here and there.  Some head winds. Sea was a bit sloppy.  Rain at times.  Motor sailing at times.  I arrived Sunday evening, near dark.  It was a slower passage than I thought it would be because of a of head winds and no helpful current going my way or anywhere much.  I thought there would be as I was up to 3nm away from the coast but the current wasn’t there.

I was a guest at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.   Beautiful, seriously beautiful.  Lovely staff and management.   I was very pleased to show two very young articulate teenage girls over the yacht. They are keen on sailing around the world. Accompanying the girls was the Captain of RSYS, Karyn Gojnich, a Flag Officer, former Olympian Sailor.  I thought she was the girls’ mum.  Nup.  Met mum later.

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron does not have boat pens for yachts.  Instead, they have lots of moorings serviced by Club Tenders with wonderful young exceedingly good skippers (drivers).  They were excellent. So pleasant.

Whilst I was typing the extract above – Channel 9 came on board and did an extensive interview.

Today is Thursday 24 December.  Tomorrow is Xmas Day.  It is now 10.50am I will leave in an hour.

Got to make coffee now before I leave.

RSYS was seriously nice. High quality.

Best regards

Jon