Oz question

Hi,
Could it be Alice Springs!
Perhaps not. Just a silly thought.

<hr width=100% size=1>I have nothing to declare, except my genius
(Sorry Oscar)
 
it sure as hell ain't port philip bay (melbourne). landlocked harbout of around 300 sq miles, right by a city of umpteen million people and a total of about 6 boats.

i don't think 'solent' is an australian concept!

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Certainly Sydney Harbour is very similar. The only difference is the Australians have got it right!!. It seems there's no long working hours for them - at 5pm every evening, the harbour comes alive with thousands of sailing and power boats (the latter no doubt getting right up the raggies noses, as in the Solent). We've just got back from a three week visit to Eastern Australia - we just loved Sydney and it's laid back way of life. (and 25 degrees every day etc etc)

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Not sure if your post was a troll or not - but here is my response suitable for whichever.

As a NZ'r any good comment I manage to make about Oz has to be well founded, given our natural desire to knock them.

There are plenty of boats for the 20 million population but unlike the UK they do not have to live on top of each other and have masses more water to sail in. Snowleopards comment about Melbourne says it all, except there are many more than 6 boats - just seems that way when you have a city of 4 odd million with a harbour half the size of England (exaggerating of course, but is a big lump of harbour the likes of which does not exist in most places). They have no need to seek moorings on mud or up rivers, nor have to dinghy miles to their boats - and if you fall in, in most places the water is comparatively warm or better. Most places, even Tasmania (Hobart is one of the driest, second driest I think, state capitals in Oz) have nice weather and the choice exists between clammy tropical to temperate according to taste.

There is a very strong inshore fishing fleet as well as the pleasure vessels so they are well served by yards - they just have alot more space to spread them around in. And their larger yards put the likes of the Solent "Vee Tea-break" place to shame in terms of quality, knowledge and speed of build (in my opinion).

Then there is the weather, and the beaches. Could say the only probs are the Australians but there again I have found them to be a nice enough bunch myself.

So got that off my chest, will go and hang my head in shame now.

John (soon to be forced into exile by my fellow countrymen I suspect)

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Chris,

One of the nicest Bays in OZ is Pt Phillip.. would you like a photo of the 300+ yachts that startrd in the Geelong race not so long ago.... suggest you need a new pair of glasses and a new adding machine...

Mainly Steam ( John . a KIWI) summed the situatuiion up well.. but I dont think we have an " Solent" .. here, all major cities on the coast have a wealth of marine facilities, and " boats" .

We sail all year round ( yes even in Melbourne) and are pleased to welcome visiting yachties.. so next time you are here , make sure you contact me and I will introduce you to and of the dozens of Yacht Clubs on the Bay, plus arrang for you to go sailing ...

Gotta go now as I am driving the rescue boat today ( 36'), to look after about 100 yachts just from our club.. bit chilly though, only expect 21*C

BrianJ

<hr width=100% size=1>BrianJ
 
Not sure if your post was a troll or not - but here is my response suitable for whichever.

Post not a troll - let me explain...

Mrs Yanita (she of the high flying career in business) has been offered to run the Oz branch of her company. I will retire from the navy August next year, so nothing stands in the way of a move down under.
A colleague, due to retire at about the same time, and myself will sail Yanita down under at a leisurely pace (4-6 months). So I was just wondering where the Oz "sailing-Mecca" is - that's all. Was thinking of offering my services as an instructor at an Oz sailing school - to keep me from getting into mischief.

That's all.


<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.
 
Hi Yanita

Did not mean to imply anything, just covering my butt /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

If one is into the British things of little cosy old pubs, overcast days, etc (not being frivilous, I have personally heard UK immigrants in Oz say that they are going home 'cause, among other things, they are sick of the clear skies all the time) then Oz may be a trial. Otherwise I have to shamefacedly say it is a very nice place (all the eucalyptus trees and brown grass can get boring though) - although all countries have their good points of course.

Just one thing though, if you are sailing out to Australia then if you are going to reside there permanently then you will have to pay the Australian Goods and Services Tax on your boat of 10% (well was certainly so, even for immigrants, recently - no taxes are levied on boats of immigrants to NZ) plus I believe there is still a small duty (5%??? but an Oz forumite may know that). If not intending to immigrate then you used to be able to, with their agreement, post it as a refundable on departure bond. If your boat is flagged elsewhere, however, then it can be avoided (well could until recently) if the boat is taken foreign (annually I think) which is not much problem if right up north as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are just a hop away, but a very long drag if in the south. Just a warning to check that out if you have not done so already - the customs people at the planned port of entry are worth talking to before you sail.

John

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I lived and worked in Perth for 18 months a few years ago. The ratio of boats to houses was about 1:3. I raced round the cans each saturday afternoon with some of the guys I worked with. None of this foul weather gear, just shorts and t-shirts.

There was even a multi-storey boat park thingy all worked with hydraulics for the mo-bo people. Just phone them up and your boat was in the water by the time you got there.

My personal advice would be to go for it. I'm only sorry my contract finished and I had to come back. You're not looking for another crew member/passenger/stowaway are you? I'd jump at the chance to go back - and so would SWMBO!

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no brian, if this...

PortPhilip.jpg


were the solent, there would be at least 1000 boats visible on an early summer sunday! the water would be stirred up like a washing machine by the wakes of stinkies and you wouldn't be able to leave the helm for a couple of minutes without risk of collision. enjoy it and don't wish our crowds on yourself!

anyone got a picture of the solent on a sunday to show him guys??

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You're not looking for another crew member/passenger/stowaway are you? I'd jump at the chance to go back - and so would SWMBO!

Thanks for the offer - might even take you up on that. It would be faisable with two - but much more relaxed with four.

At the moment plans are still in a very embryonic stage. The good lady was only offered the job last week. Everything going according to plan, we would move over there summer of next year. I would like to get Yanita to the Canaries before we leave, do the milk run Nov/Dec 2005, then through Panama Canal & onwards.

Slight detail holding us back - money. At the moment Yanita's well kitted out for offshore sailing, but lacks some bits for serious blue water sailing. Would want to add a windgenerator, watermaker, larger fuel tank, extra batteries, get an SSB, and replace the "temperamental" autopilot. All adds up, just at a time when we will probably need the money for other things.
So, it may well be 2006 before we manage our semi-circumnavigation.


<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.
 
G'day Yanita,

After much deliberation and apprehension I have decide to add my two bobs worth.

Having sailed in the UK and Oz, let me assure you there is no comparison, as stated already, sailing here is year round, no winterising required, up here on the mid east coast most yachts are lifted during the cyclone season as weather is a bit unpredictable, but not unpleasant.

This area of Oz has the highest number of boat registrations per head of population for the whole of Oz, not a surprise to anyone who has sailed through the Whitsunday Islands and on up the coast to the hundreds of other islands, beaches, great diving sites and fantastic fishing. This area would have to our Solent without cold rain, fog, and freezing winds.

During summer [3 months] it can be 33*c most days and mid to high 20's overnight, with the humidity around 75 to 95%, the rest of the year is beautiful one day and perfect the next, we also have a wet season, when it can rain for 3 weeks non stop, but we have not seen this for over 15 years now, most of the rain falls after dark, very considerate.

The prevailing wind is a South Easter for 75% of the time, with the odd Northerly, more northerly during the cyclone season.

Marinas are everywhere and most are full, many are expanding at the moment and 2 more are planned. I know some of our forumites have visited this area, so perhaps they would like to post their opinions, because I may be just a tad biased (shaking head as I type).

You should avoid sailing south from Perth to head east, as the waters are not the best and ports are far apart, distance between ports is also high on parts of the West coast, so you need to do some planning; a trip around the top is great and will acclimatise the crew as well providing some top sailing conditions.

Avagoodweekend......

and don't mind the Kiwi's we don't.



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.
 
i lived in sydney and nz for six months each and learned to sail in sydney. simply fantastic. loads of marinas, sailing schools, racing etc.

i just turned up at middle harbour yacht club and offered to crew - 10 mins and a slab of beer into the communal pot and i was off. raced twice a week for the rest of the season.

weather is great, loads of great places to sail up and down the east coast (pittwater just a couple of hours north and beautiful). go for it.


<hr width=100% size=1>You can't blame the water for finding a hole in the boat.
 
Anywhere at all is great for sailing really, I'm an expat pom and have lived in Melbourne and Sydney sailing in both. No tides, weather great, can sail 12 months of the year and free to anchor everywhere.

Solent equivalent has to be Sydney Harbour, ie too many boats and too expensive, if you want relaxing sailing in Sydney area go for Pittwater. Just brought our boat back down to Sydney for a pre cruise refit, arrived in the Harbour at 3pm on Saturday afternoon and hated it!! Decided to anchor up have a swim and some lunch and wait for the boat soup to clear and almost couldn't cross the race traffic to get to the shore. However two hours later we sailed down under spinnaker past the Opera House and under the bridge as the sun set and it was magic.

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Even as a Melbournian , I have to admit Sydney Harbour has fantastic sailing , especially the sail past the Opers House and under the Bridge...

But Oldsalt and others also sum it up well. There is just so much coastline in which to play.. different " windows " open at different tuimes of the year... Tassie is fantastic along that west coast... down below and up the east coast.. the north coast also has so much to offer.

Yep we welcome Poms here as well .. we are proud of our country and want you to share it with us.. and enjoy....might even buy you a beer if you pop into Pt Phillip Bay

BrianJ

<hr width=100% size=1>BrianJ
 
I've just completed a voyage around Australia from my home port of Fremantle in WA. Did a charity cruise to Darwin; cruised "over the top" to Brisbane; delivered south to Sydney to do the sydney-hobart; cruised to Adelaide; and then delivered her home to WA. So what? So I can truthfully say most states (and one territory) have great sailing!

Brisbane's Moreton Bay provides wonderful day/weekend sailing with the delights of the Barrier Reef not far away.

Sydney Harbour and other waterways nearby are fantastic. To my mind the closest match to the Solent, but do you REALLY want all that traffic?

Hobart and the nearby D'Entrecasteaux Channel are wonderful. Much better climate than you might expect.

Despite not having visited Victoria, I can confirm there are more than 6 yachts there!

Adelaide has great sailing and the area around Port Lincoln (100nm west) is a top cruising ground.

Perth/Fremantle have great sailing too. Flat water sailing on the river and bumpy stuff for the real men. Pity they put two low bridges between the two (where's a terrorist when you need one).

Disagree with the poster cautioning against tackling the Bight. In summer the weather can be kind. We did the 1000nm in a week, against the "prevailing" winds. There are actually quite a few great places to explore along the way, unless you want a slap up meal in every anchorage. If so don't go over the top either!

Whatever kind of sailing you're after, most major cities in Australia offer it. Cruising, twilighting, round the cans, offshore etc. Great weather in general. You can even get some decent beer nowadays!


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As I sit here outside it's overcast and pouring down with rain.

Guess where I'd rather be, thank you all for all the marvellous descriptions of sailing in your country, maybe one day

A green eyed pommie sailor

<hr width=100% size=1>JaneK
 
We visited Oz in December/ January as both our sons now permanently live there, one in Sydney and the other near Melbourne. Saw very few boats out in Port Phillip Bay. There were quite a lot of boats out on Sydney Harbour during the first week of January but nothing like as crowded as the Solent. For my Christmas pressie my son paid for us both to sail an ex- Americas Cup boat "Spirit of Australia", you can book to sail on it Fridays and Saturdays. They take about 25 people and you can crew as much or as little as you want. We both had a go on the coffee grinders and I helmed for about 20 minutes. We had a steady F3-4 under a clear blue sky - absolutely fantastic! They also provide soft drinks and masses of sandwiches. Thoroughly recommend it to anyone visiting Sydney. I could post a picture of it if anyone can tell me how!
We are now in the first stages of applying to emigrate. Have just found out that a 40' Hi-cube container would transport our 23' boat and all our furniture etc.

Sailorbaz

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