Sailing Erica: Gold Coast to Sydney (or bust)

Most east coast cruisers agree that 2010 has been a hard year to sail south and after our great expectations of more northerlies once we got south of Brisbane this just hasn't eventuated. Just assume our 2 weeks from the Gold Coast to Sydney was wet and it was either windy from the south or calm from the north, so sadly we have motored a lot. The up side of this has been we have had to stop and visit more towns along the way which has shown us how green the east coast of Australia is now.

We now feel quite expert at crossing bar entrances which are very common on the North NSW Coast. Thanks to Say No More for a great shot of dear Erica climbing over some big swells to get out of Southport bar. After a final 22 hour leg we arrived in the calm of Pittwater and had a very well deserved sleep before waking up to Thunderstorm warnings. A quick decision to fill up with fuel before the storm was put on hold as Erica and crew were pelted with marble sized hail stones.

After a few days walking and relaxing with family and friends in Pittwater we again headed off quickly in a good weather window to Sydney. After over 1,000 nautical miles sailing from the Whitsundays it was a great feeling to get to Sydney Heads and turn right in to Australia's most beautiful harbour. The camera went made as we dodged Ferries and tried to work out were to go. Say No More had left us up the coast a few days earlier so it was great to catch up with them in Lavender Bay next to Luna Park. We then had some of the Super Maxi's training for the Sydney Hobart go by close and we felt now we are really here! Enjoy and have a safe and Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as team Erica are now in party town Sydney...

Erica not sinking but climbing Waves!