Ettalong mooring!!!

[danieledelcastillo]

I just got my letter for RMS and we finally had our mooring at Ettalong.
Is anyone in Brisbane water available to show me the tricks or just share all the things I should know when I will move the boat from Pittwater to Ettalong?
Currents, tides, sand bars etc etc?
If someone wants to have me on board while showing me everything... i can definitely provide beers and nibbles :)

Thanks in any case

Daniele

[danieledelcastillo]

By the way... I will need a mooring apparatus, any company in the area you can recommend to do the job? And how much do you reckon I will end up paying for that?

Cheers

D.

[Captain Cranky]

[Captain Cranky]

I always use David Clements from Brisbane Water mooring 0415934093, he can lay a mooring for you, he is very reasonable, every year I send him an sms to service my mooring, he does it normally within the week and sends me a bill, so easy. 

Cheers Craig

On Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 10:36:08 PM UTC+10, danieledelcastillo wrote:

[danieledelcastillo]

Thanks Craig,
just contacted it seemed pretty reasonable price wise :)

thanks for that

D.

[grandpiper]

Daniele

I still haven't  got my scout badge for navigating the Brisbane Water Channel from Booker Bay through to Broken Bay  although I have done it a few times now.  I am pretty confident with the northern part from Booker Bay through Paddy's Channel to Brisbane Water and beyond. 

It's not really that difficult, however, if you have an 8 pony Yanmar, you have to pick your tides or you might end up on the Half Tide Rocks!  I have spoken to more than a few people who have been in the channel against the tide and were basically just marking time and not making weigh.  It's ok if you have a big Chevrolet engine or even a shiny red Beta, but not the old Yanmars!

Ettalong is a good place to have your mooring - if the morning tide is going in, you can sail around Brisbane Water or if the tide is going out, you can mix it with the rest of the zoo at Pittwater.

cheers

Andrew

[danieledelcastillo]

Thanks Andrew :)
just to recap..
When the tide is ebbing that's the moment in which i can think about going to Broken Bay and when is flooding i can think about going to Brisbane Waters? And of course vice versa... if i need to go back from Brisbane waters to my mooring in Ettalong I will have to wait for ebbing tide or i want to come in from Pittwater/ Broken Bay i will have to wait for flooding tide.
Is there any moment between the tides in which there is some slack water?

Thanks to everyone :)

D.



Il giorno mercoledì 29 giugno 2016 22:36:08 UTC+10, danieledelcastillo ha scritto:

[Mulloka - Woodford Bay]

Remember the rule of twelfths  

starting at either High or low tides  

in the first hour the tied will either rise or fall 1 twelfth

in the 2^nd hour 2 twelfths

in the 3rd hour 3 twelfths

in the 4^th hour 3 twelfths

in the 5th hour 2 twelfths

and the last hour 1 twelfth

 

so when going against the tied the best time is the first or last hour the worst the 3^rd and 4^th hours

[danieledelcastillo]

Thanks for that :)

[C30 Stargazer]

The half tide rocks channel is tricky but shouldn't cause you grief if the motor is running ok and the hull cleanish. You will be able to slowly stem the tide unless its a large (King) tide. It is better to come in and out close to slack water but in reality there isn't much 'slack'! The ebb tide will run up to 2 hours later than you think it should if the incoming tide is not a large one. It takes awhile for the flooding tide to build up enough height to overcome the flow out of Brisbane Water. There are some shallow spots in the channel as well. The three that may cause you to bump the sand will only do so at low water usually. The first is close to the exit of the channel into Broken Bay, which can become very rough on an ebb tide against a southerly,  the second as you pass Lobster Beach ( I have stayed on the mud here more than once) and the third just NE of Half Tide Rocks in the channel as you motor up towards Wagstaffe.So if in doubt go in and out close to high tide and preferably with the tide. As you pass Half Tide Rocks take visual bearings of trees and buildings in front and behind yourself to ensure you don't get swept sideways off the line of the channel. I'd advise you head down there and watch what other boats do before you do it yourself unless you have an experienced person on board. Be aware that the fast ferry often cuts corners. I'd advise never do the same. Stay in the buoyed channel running five meters off the red markers. Be aware that the sand bars do move and the markers are often slightly out of position. So take a conservative line. Stay in the channel between Ettalong and the Rip Bridge. Many (including me) have parked their boats for a tide by cutting corners....

The second excitement but not danger usually is the Rip Bridge. You will have trouble stemming the tide here. So heading from Ettalong north into Brisbane Waters is best done with the tide in your favour. If you are stemming the tide under the bridge, be aware that there are often standing waves and it can get rough - but rather fun. You can sometimes sneak up to the bridge at the side (in an eddy) before heading more to the centre to come under the bridge. The Eddies I have used are on the Nor Eastern shores.

When you head up the channel into Brisbane Water itself - it is narrow and shallow. Be careful not to cut the corner out of the channel into Brisbane Water (Gosford Water). There are mud flats and oyster leases ready to stop you. You need to follow the channel until you are very close to Kooliwong. Check the charts!

All the best. It is a wonderful cruising ground.
Bruce

On Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 10:36:08 PM UTC+10, danieledelcastillo wrote:

[danieledelcastillo]

wwoooowww Bruce, when you have a free afternoon? :) I will definitely need some serious guide...

Il giorno mercoledì 29 giugno 2016 22:36:08 UTC+10, danieledelcastillo ha scritto:

[C30 Stargazer]

I used to live up there and sail there every now and then - but sorry, I am not usually anywhere near these days. If I am I'll let you know.

But do not worry! Head over to catch the end of the flooding tide on a nice day - morning is best - without a southerly wind and then just follow the buoys and markers up the channel. If in doubt stay in the centre of the channel. The entrance to the channel when coming from Pittwater is close to 'Box Head' and is well indicated with channel markers. That is the right hand side of the bay as you approach  - under and very close to the cliffs. The channel hugs that Eastern peninsular.

I think Mulloka's 'Rule of twelve' is excellent - hadn't heard it before myself - so if you arrive anywhere near the official top of the tide you'll be fine.

If you have an engine which isn't reliable, it may be a good idea to have your anchor ready to drop.

When you round half tide rocks you can proceed along the Ettalong shore (left or western side of the channel), or do a dog leg to the right and proceed up the main channel towards Wagstaffe. The two channels are separated by a sand bar which is easy to see at low tide but I am sure you have seen that. You can Google the area and look at aerial photos which make it very clear.

The first time I navigated it I followed another boat in. In those days there were only some posts with reflectors on the shore line but my father in law had told me to stay about a 'Chain' off the rocks and follow the land in. I had no idea what a 'chain' was but fortunately someone told me about 60 foot - or 20m. We used to head in and out at night which was slightly challenging. I only ran aground years later when I ran in scared with a 50 knot southerly behind me and misjudged the turn at Lobster Beach ( there were no Port side markers in those days so you had to estimate the curve of the channel). We slide to a stop in the sheltered calm and boiled up the kettle for tea. A volunteer Coastal patrol pulled us off an hour later although I could have stayed there happily out of the storm.

All the best.

[Captain Cranky]

The channel is not that complicated, on a sunny day it's very obvious by the colour variation in the water, mostly sandy bottom, so only a few barnacles or slime are at risk, there is always the coastal patrol if you get into difficulty, go to their website, they are always happy to help and very efficient at what they do. Cheers Craig

vmrcc.org.au | Volunteer Marine Rescue Central Coast,   

[grandpiper]

This pictures gives an indication of what the Channel is actually like.  You can just see the southern side of the Rip Bridge at the bottom of the picture with Booker Bay to the east of the Rip Bridge.

cheers

Andrew 

[Mulloka - Woodford Bay]

we used to teach that rule to Scouts doing a Canoe course it is particularly useful when you are planning to paddle a long way with no motor and expect parents to be waiting at the end :-) though local conditions can alter the flow (floods etc) it is still a useful starting point. it also applies to the length of daylight during the year between the shortest and longest days of the year

[Maeling]

It's not that difficult a channel just watch the tides like others say - from memory it can be 2 hours late.  In bad weather try to time it to go up on the flood tide.
Geoff Raebel

[Maeling]

Your 9hp will cope fine from 1/2 tide rocks to Gosford and you still have an anchor.  1/2 Tide Rocks to Box Head is worth experimenting with against a flood tide, you can always go up river to Hardys Bay.
Geoff Raebel

[Maeling]

A little bit off topic - this is a painting of the channel south towards Lion Island - done before 1960 (could be years before), hasn't changed much. Lynne's family were pre WW2 fishermen from Patonga.  After all the depth charge practice in and around the Hawkesbury area during WW2, the fish never returned in any quantities.
Geoff Raebel