Into the Marina

After spending two months bobbing around on a fairly exposed mooring at Square Head, a marina berth finally became available for Tegwen. Far more secure and great for access but sailing outside the river is now subject to the vagaries of the depth over the bar.

Off to Batemans Bay

With Graham Giles and Harry Watson Smith as crew, we set off from near the Spit Bridge at 19:22 on Tuesday 1st April for Batemans Bay with a northerly behind us of about 5 knots. Once through the heads of Port Jackson we picked up the south going current and a stronger breeze. The current varied around 5 knots and the breeze 10 to 12 knots through the night. By 6:00am the next morning the wind was 15 knots then 17 knots later in the morning.

With a forecast of a strong wind change imminent we picked up a public mooring in Jervis Bay just after midday for the night. The first night saw some waves from the long fetch down Jervis Bay as the wind strengthened and started its swing. The front hit from the west with winds over 35 knots, gradually easing later in the day as it swung further south. We stayed on the mooring rather than venture forth. Not that Tegwen couldn't take the conditions but we were cruising and not sailing to a timetable.

During the day we visited John Bowman who was nearby on another public mooring with his large motor yacht. His boat had a most impressive engine room, beautifully laid out with most impressive pipework and a variety of water handling options. As the wind swung on towards the south, we became increasingly sheltered by the surrounding shoreline and had a calm second night on the mooring.

At 07:40 on Friday 4th April we set out for the rest of our trip, escorted by dolphins as we headed out of Jervis Bay. Once out past Bowen Island the wind was light from the south and we had a pleasant beat to windward. As the day went on the wind gradually dropped off and had swung round to the east by the end of our trip. We ended up motor sailing the last six hours to reach Square Head and Tegwen's new home on Harry's mooring by 19:45.

Tegwen had shown herself to be a well founded yacht and it was a delightful first cruise with good company as crew.

Middle Harbour Mooring

After a week or so at the Catalina Anchorage, Tegwen was taken to a mooring in Quakers Hat Bay, Middle Harbour, as a base for a couple of months while we got used to her and her ways before heading south for Batemans Bay.  It was also the start of enhancing Tegwen, commencing with the autopilot. 

Cruising around Middle Harbour was a good way to get to know how to handle Tegwen under power and in close quarters. Christine took the helm early on and to her joy found it to be easy.  We spent time in Bantry Bay and other little corners over this time.

Handover & Early Days

26th January 2008, Australia Day, Tegwen was handed over for sea trials on Sydney Harbour.

January 28th some of Stephen's family came to check Tegwen out.  Here are Christine and Stephen on that day.

Commissioning & Launching

Shipped to Port Kembla from Florida, Tegwen was then trucked to Woolwich Dock for initial commissioning.  Here is Stephen's first sighting of Tegwen at Woolwich 29th December 2007.

With the wiring and rigging in place, the mast was stepped and Tegwen's keel  touched water for the first time on the 8th January 2008.

From there she was motored around to the Catalina Anchorage in Middle Harbour to complete the commissioning process.

The Order

I attended the boat show with a view to seeing what sort of deal could be struck with a successful outcome.

Last day of the Sydney Boat Show, 7th August 2007, and the order for a new Catalina C320 Mk II is signed with the Australian Catalina agent looking as pleased as I was.

The Dream

Many years of Sydney Boat Show visits, much reading and hanging out on the C320 owners email list crystalised the dream into the form of a Catalina C320.  After unsuccessfully scouring the secondhand market for a suitable recent example, the favourable currency exchange rates and the introduction of the Mk II model brought on the decision to possibly getting a brand new boat!