Ep: 1 - BALAMARA JOURNEY BEGINS, CROSSING WIDE BAY BAR

[@sailtime1986]

hey Mick...looks like your having a great time out there...great watching your vids. I used to race against Balamara many years ago when i was with botany bay yacht club. always flogged us!. a local dentist owned it back then Dr Britt. . Anyway, looking forward to watching more of your adventure and good luck.

[@onlytheoceanandme6093]

sailtime Hi there, thanks for watching the vid. Sorry for the late reply. Would love to see any photos of Balamara back then or any stories. I still have the winning plaques of the Botany Bay yacht club on the wall and I wonder how she was In her early years. Thanks

[@IngridCoxLockhart]

I feel seasick just watching the movie, but I love following your journey! You guys look like you know what you're doing, especially Barry. HAVE FUN!!!! xxx Ingrid

[@grahammewburn]

May I ask what your draft is? How much clearance did you have over the bar? Cheers Gray Logan River Gold Coast

[@onlytheoceanandme6093]

Hi Gray, Draft is 1.8m and from memory still had 1.5m under the keel at the shallowest part. Conditions change on the bar with moving sands so it’s worth getting waypoints from the coastguard to give you safe passage. Always aim to cross the bar on the peak of high tide. Hope this helps. Enjoy! Mick

[@grahammewburn]

@@onlytheoceanandme6093 thank you Mick. Yes, it does help! Cheers Gray

[@zacsparks2332]

I'm heading across the bar soon. Any advice for a first timer?

[@onlytheoceanandme6093]

zac sparks Hi Zac, thanks for watching the vid. Couple of things for safe passage. First you want to get the latest condition report from the coastguard and the waypoints. Aim to cross on the top of the tide with wind and tide together to stop the waves from standing up and I’ve always crossed early morning if you can. It depends which way you are going but there is safe anchorage inside the bar at pelican bay the night before if your heading east

[@goonrider92]

Hey mate great vid, how does barry go toilet training? Reason asking weve just bought a weekender boat and wanna take our dogs we were thinking of buying some astro turf for them

[@onlytheoceanandme6093]

ross bob Hi Ross, thanks for the feedback. That’s a good idea but more important they need a scent. What I used was Astro turf 1mx1m and took him to the spot best for the toilet. Once your dogs go once leave what mess they make until they go a second time. Then you can wash the area.They will pick it up fairly quickly of where is the right spot. Goodluck!

[@goonrider92]

Only The Ocean And Me thanks mate safe sailing :)

[@stevenr8606]

🤕 hits his head while still at dock side. 😂

[@NZMuzz]

if the dog could speak .. id say he would rather remain in terra firma...