Sydney: Birkenhead

Balls head bay (where the three yachts are)

Tuesday 16^th May

As we left Balls Head Bay this morning, we passed an oil tanker berthed at the Shell oil terminal. The tanker was surrounded by a string of orange floating booms which apparently is a safety measure against oil spills. This precautionary practice, as we’ve learned, is a direct result of a major oil spill which occurred here in 1999 when the Laura D’Amato mistakenly pumped 250-300 tonnes of crude oil into the harbour. You see many larger vessels berthed in the harbour loading or unloading cargo, surrounded by these booms.

It’s a pity that they are not also more concerned with the pollution from boats into the harbour. When we went to pump out our holding tank the other day the guy at the pump out station told us that most boat owners don’t bother to pump out and just let their waste go straight into the harbour. Considering that there is a hefty fine for allowing even your grey water to empty into the harbour it is apparent that it’s not a law that is adhered to very often. No wonder they recommend that you don’t eat any more than 150grms of seafood per month from Sydney harbour!!!

Any real woman's favourite picture...

If I was a real woman (and Mike says I’m not because I don’t really shop much) but if I was a real woman, today I would think I’d died and gone to shoppers heaven. We’ve come from Balls Head Bay to Iron Cove and the Birkenhead Marina and as you step from the boat you enter Birkenhead Point Factory Outlet and Shopping Complex. The reason I love it here is that you can actually get somewhere without having to trek half way across Sydney - uphill…. It’s great!!!. We’ve already discovered the most important outlet…. Yes you guessed it!! there’s a Whitwoths marine supply shop just up the road (and the second most important one – that sells kids clothes [Mike]).

Now it’s Thursday 18^th, we’ve been here at Birkenhead Marina for 2 days. We’ve stocked the pantry, had the laundry done and had a wander round the shops (I only spent $3.60 on some Maxwell Williams essentials!! (She really IS my kind of woman! [Mike]). This is a very friendly marina and full of massive motor cruisers which dwarf our little 36 footer. We have an outer berth and can sit on deck watching the world go by, there’s never a dull moment, especially as this week was the commencement of an anti terrorism exercise here in the harbour. There are Blackhawk helicopters, navy and police boats buzzing in and around the bay. We are not game to take any photos just incase they mistake us for spies.

Iron Cove bridge from our marina berth

Today we are heading over to Blackwattle Bay, just around the corner, near Darling Harbour, where we will anchor just off from the fish market. The smell might not be too great but we hear that the fish is fantastic.

We’ve booked our flights home and will return to Melbourne on 29^th May. I must say I’m hanging out to see my youngest granddaughter, Indira. She’s learned to crawl since we’ve been away…. and after me telling her she wasn’t allowed to do anything new until I got back!

Despite all this excitement, we are well and truly ready to head off again - and that we will do on Saturday morning when Ben will join us for a short sail up the coast to Brocken Bay. From there Mike and I will sail (weather permitting of course) to Newcastle, where hopefully we will be able to leave the boat for the 4 weeks we are away.

Cherrio from
Me and 'im
and also from
Me and 'er