Reliance was provisioned and ready for a Boxing Day departure, weather permitting. Plan A was to 
head south to join the Sydney Hobart fleet at the Heads and then to continue south. Plan B was to head north to Port Stephens and beyond. The unequivocal weather resulted in us sticking with Plan A. After a somewhat tardy start, we headed out past Bangalley Head and found ourselves in a 1.5 knot north flowing eddy from the strong EAC!! Not a good start – after all, the current is supposed to run south isn’t it? This persisted all the way to Sydney, resulting in a late arrival at the heads, but we picked up the tail-end of the fleet and continued to Port Hacking, anchoring at Jibbon Beach (35 miles passage).
Jibbon Beach is a great anchorage in southerlies and is reasonable for moderate northerlies (lay plenty of chain). There are three public moorings and three RMYC (Port Hacking) moorings in the most protected eastern corner, which are often vacated by day visitors around sunset. These moorings could be considered more secure than anchoring, but the boat tends to ride up on the buoy and bang in the night if the wind stops. We prefer to anchor.
There are some interesting walks around the headland at Jibbon Beach. Bundeena is a quiet, isolated little village that hasn’t changed much over many decades. The shopping centre is adequate for most provisions. On our return trip we ventured into Port Hacking proper – see later.
Day 3. Fully assimilated to life on the boat, we headed south to Jervis Bay. This was a good day sail 
(75 miles) with a developing NE breeze, except that an intermittent problem with the autopilot became a permanent problem. So we had to hand steer for the remainder of the trip. We headed straight for Hole in the Wall near Darling Road on the inside of Bowen Island. This area is a marine park within the Bouderee National Park and anchoring in water less that 10 meters deep at LAT is forbidden, as we and several others found out when the rangers did there morning rounds of the area. The rangers issue a first time warning – be warned. There are several public moorings closer to shore, which can be convenient, but will also bang in the night in calm conditions.
Day 4. Our second lay day, enjoying the sapphire blue water and white sandy beaches. There are 
some nice walks around the rocks towards Bowen Island. Met up with Diomedia and Armedeus.
Day 5. Time to continue south to Batemans Bay in light winds and overcast skies. Batemans Bay is not a great cruising destination and offers few comfortable anchorages (by Pittwater standards!!), but it is a pit-stop along the coast. We ventured in past the Tollgate Islands seeking an anchorage for the night, inspected the lee of Snapper Island and decided on a small open bay to the north of the barred entrance to the Clyde River. Batemans Bay offers only marginal protection from the incoming swell and the entrance to the small boat harbour is tide and draft dependent. (passage 45 miles).
Day 6. The long leg to Eden. This was a dream run with 18 t0 25 knot NE plus 2 knots of current. We 
raced straight down the rhumb on the inside of Montague Island and reached Eden on NYE in the daylight, anchoring near the moored yachts in Snug Cove. This was a good time to be in Eden because it is the one time of the year that the fishing boats don’t go out. Eden has restaurants cafes and a service station near the wharf area and plenty of shops in the main shopping area. The historic whale museum at the top of the hill on the way to the shops is well worth a visit. Refueling is straight forward if you have your own jerry cans. The service station will lend you a trolley to get the cans back to the wharf. (passage 85 miles in 9 hours)
Day 7. New Years Day. Diomedia arrives in Eden, pre announced by the very caring Eden Coastal 
Patrol who extend their friendly welcome and offer of assistance to visiting boats. After a very pleasant New Years Day dinner at the Wheelhouse restaurant that overlooks the harbour, we set off for our homebound trip, very much aware of the few days remaining to get back to Pittwater and the forecast of predominantly NE winds. We set out at 2030 hrs on a calm moon lit night, but by 0230 hours conditions had become rather ugly.
Day 8. Trip from hell, fighting 2 knots of current, head winds and squalls all the way to Batemans bay – 16 hours back vs 9 hours down – you pay the price for a dream run south. There was no escaping the current and the NE wind-swell was competing with the established SE swell, turning the seas into a moving slalom course. The last 15 miles into Batemans Bay seemed to last forever, but we finally reached a calm anchorage in the lee of Chain Bay on the north side, keeping clear of Acheron Ledge. Some medicinal drinks were called for followed by a quick meal and 12 hours sleep.
Day 9. North to Jervis Bay (45 miles) or Crookhaven (an extra 20 miles) if we were up to it. After 
the 16 hour, 85 mile passage of the previous day, 65 miles to the Crookhaven River seemed easy. We had some great sailing in moderate NE winds and low seas, particularly around Jervis Bay, followed by a reach across Crookhaven Bight. The entrance to Crookhaven river is quite wide and deep, so entry is not tide dependent, in fact, a low tide entry makes it easier to identify the shallows, which can be helpful! We found a quiet anchorage up near the moored boats off Aplle Orchard Isle and enjoyed the peace of the rural setting with a beautiful sunset and sunrise.
Day10. Made an early morning escape to get as many miles under the keel before the NE winds strengthened. This part of the South Coast from Shoalhaven Bight, past Kiama and up to The Royal National Park is very pretty and it is worthwhile staying in close to shore if the sea permits. We anchored at Jibbon with a NE wind that persisted most of the night in the 10-20 knot range. I had 35m chain in 4-5m depth so we stayed put.
Day 11. We took advantage of a 1.8 m high tide to venture into Port Hacking up as far as South 
West Arm. There are some rather tricky shallows to negotiate and good Polaroid glasses make navigating a little easier. I used both Lucas’ Cruising Guide as well as the Port Hacking Cruising Division Guide to Port Hacking, which you need to follow carefully. South West Arm is just like a mini Jerusalem Bay, but unless you get in and out on the same tide you are locked in till the next high tide.
Day 12. Gentlemen never sail to windward, except when they have run out of time, so we had another motor sail against wind and current up to Pittwater (35 miles). Dropped anchor in the lee of Longnose Point, to spend one last night before returning to that other world. Already planning the next adventure!!
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