Newcastle to Jervis Bay

We finally managed to leave Newcastle about 8:30pm. 

 The water pump was installed and a permit to travel port to port (a temporary measure until the boat importation paperwork clears) was obtained by 5:30.  A quick pasta supper then off to the fuel dock. 

We set off in light winds and a bit of chop, which soon settled.  The night was uneventful, well light by an almost full moon, and other than dodging the many ships travelling the coastal route there was nothing much to report.  Friday dawned still and hot and we motored on, aided by a 2kt current that had us flying along at 7.5-8kts. 

At about noon a light southerly arrived and built to 15kts on the nose, bringing with it an unpleasant chop, but we pushed on and, 21.5hrs later, picked up a NSW courtesy mooring at Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay just on dusk at 6pm.

This morning we woke to find the boat surrounded by a huge school of mullet-y looking fish and Alex had to try to catch one (unsuccessfully, of course!). 

When it warmed up, Ann and I had a swim to get a closer look at the fish:

The southerly should die down later today and we hope to do another overnight hop down the coast to Eden, where we’ll wait again for a weather window to cross Bass Strait.