Is Crowdy Head, NSW a viable stop?

[svseachange]

We are moving North from Port Stephens after the current front moves through. I am wondering whether Crowdy Head is a viable stop. Lucas says it is fine, but I cannot seem to find any current information about it.

Has anyone stopped at Crowdy Head recently and can provide some feedback? Our boat is 13m (43') with 1.5m (5') draft.

We will probably aim for Camden Haven but it is always good to have lots of options. If you have thoughts about other options on this part of the coast, I am interested in hearing them.

[JPA Cate]

G'day svseachange,

We've been in there to sit out some 50 kn winds in our first Insatiable, a 36' (11.25m) which drew 7'2" (2.2m). The harbor is surgey when there are big seas outside, but all the monos on the lee side of the pier swung in unison, none had any contact with their neighbors, despite everyone having all their fenders out and ready to slip them in if needed in the middle of the night.

There is a large bombora outside the entrance. It is a tiny place. When there is surf running, the fishing boats don't go out, and when we were there, the yachts were encouraged to take stern lines across to their piles. It took about 3 days before the seas got down enough to leave.

At the time we were there, there were no services, although it did have a fuel dock.

Ann

[JPA Cate]

By comparison with Camden Haven (where there are two new public moorings, now), Crowdy Head is very small. Camden Haven has a friendly RSL with a pier you can tie up to, and arrange for showers and meals. There are also most services available. The view from the South Brother is wonderful on a sunny day, you can see all the sandbars in the entry.

Part of it depends if you want to stop and explore the potential stops along the way, or take advantage of the winds, or a combination.

We often stop in the open roadstead anchorages for the night, if we're just trying to get north on the southerlies, of which we have a nice bit, coming up. As long as the southerlies don't drop out at night, your stern lies to the swell and they're comfortable; however, if they do drop out, it will be rolly, and we have left quite early if sleeping is difficult. There's a little cove outside Camden Haven's entrance where we have overnighted, too. We generally stop at Coff's, anchoring out, and at Iluka, and then go clear on into the Southport area.

At Port Macquarie, we turn right and go anchor in the river. Have also anchored in Sugarloaf Bay, Trial Bay, Byron Bay. Imo, it is really important to get the bar entries timed like Alan says. You could also drop a stern hook in the open roadsteads to limit rolling. This boat doesn't usually roll badly, but there are times and places I'd rather have kept the stern to the swell. The main virtue of the open roadstead anchorages is that you can leave at your whim, whereas if you're behind a barred entrance, you really have to wait for the tide if there's any sea running. We managed one time to make into Forster with a 4 kn. outflow-it took forever. Not what I find fun, ymmv.

Ann

[svseachange]

Thank you for the feedback Ann. It's good to know you could get into Crowdy with 7'.

The stops planned are the same as the one you recommend: Camden Haven, Coffs, Clarence River then Southport. Thanks for the tip regarding the new courtesy moorings in Camden Haven.

I am interested in Crowdy as a refuge in case I get the forecast wrong. Also studied the open roadsteads along the way The open roadstead next to Camden Haven makes the stop much safer. Hope to get there a few hours early and take a nap before crossing the bar.

If the forecast holds we will leave Port Steohens in the morning and plan to be anchor south of the Camden Haven bar at daybreak on Sunday to wait for the tide.

[44'cruisingcat]

There are fairly recently installed public moorings at Camden Haven (2), Port Macquarie (3), and Coffs (2).

We haven't been there, but friends have told us Crowdy heads harbour Is much more cruiser friendly than previously, there's a new Jetty (not floating so needs careful fendering) and the trawlers are gone.

Another option is Forster/Tuncurry, generally a well behaved bar in conditions Camden Haven or Port Macquarie might be questionable. Camden Haven bar seems to have suffered some silting this year, and isn't as well behaved as usual.

[boden36]

Its quite a while since we went into Crowdy. Needed boards and fenders and really good springs due to the surge.
Last time we left at 3am as it was too uncomfortable to sleep. We were using silver rope for springs, would have been much better off with stretchy nylon.
We are 36 ft, draw 6 ft and weigh around 11 tons.
Camden Haven is excellent.

Regards,
Richard.

[knockabout]

crowdy is a good rest stop / surges in heavy weather / there is a reef to the east of the crowdy head rock wall / if you go inside take care not to run over surfies / if you go outside the reef (coming from the south) don't turn towards the harbour till you can see the surf club on the beach in the distance past the entrance / or just take care to give the small reef plenty of clearance on the plotter / there is another larger reef heading north from crowdy towards coffs/ coffs harbour is a good stop with all usual facilities

[44'cruisingcat]

Google "rms bar cameras" for live views of NSW bar conditions.

[knockabout]

port mcquarie was good last time we were there / the bar is well marked with leads / also a river for a short cruise / all the usual facilities

[kryg]

You have to pick your weather attached, is an aerial photo of the entrance to give you a good idea, this is on a good day! If you caught in strong north or southeasterly think twice on entering.

Originally Posted by svseachange

We are moving North from Port Stephens after the current front moves through. I am wondering whether Crowdy Head is a viable stop. Lucas says it is fine, but I cannot seem to find any current information about it.

Has anyone stopped at Crowdy Head recently and can provide some feedback? Our boat is 13m (43') with 1.5m (5') draft.

We will probably aim for Camden Haven but it is always good to have lots of options. If you have thoughts about other options on this part of the coast, I am interested in hearing them.

[svseachange]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice. We made good time so we skipped Crowdy. We left Shoal Bay at 9am were anchored in the protection of Point Perpendicular by 3am this morning.

We crossed the Camden Haven bar 3.5 hours after low tide in SSW 10knts, 1-2m swell, no problems, minimum depth following the leads in was 3.2m. Minimum depth in the channel upriver to Laurieton was 1.9m.

The courtesy moorings are good, we are on one now, but they have displaced the anchorage making staying more than a few days tricky.

Key to a shower is a $50 deposit at RSL. Many amenities near the mooring field.

[JPA Cate]

svseachange,

Point Perpendicular is off the entry to Jervis Bay, so,you must mean that you anchored off Perpendicular Point at 03:00? It's nice sand holding there.

Sometimes I think Jimmy Cook lacked inventiveness with his place naming! You guys sure have a lot of Macquarie stuff: the lake, the port, the harbour, and Mrs M's Chair, too! Hard to keep them all straight.

Enjoy your stay at Camden Haven. If you have time, it's interesting to investigate the two lakes by dinghy.

Ann

[svseachange]

Thanks for the clarification, Ann.

Yes good holding there. Looking at the shore I was a little worried about snagging a rock, but the bottom looked good in the satellite pictures.

We crept in slowly and dropped the anchor as the depth approached 5m. A slight risk at 3am but better than standing off then crossing an unfamiliar bar bleary-eyed in the morning.

Was a pretty spot to wake up and good place to get a good rest then watch a few other boats cross the bar before we went in.

Thanks for the tip about the lakes. We are not in any rush.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

svseachange,

Point Perpendicular is off the entry to Jervis Bay, so,you must mean that you anchored off Perpendicular Point at 03:00? It's nice sand holding there.

Sometimes I think Jimmy Cook lacked inventiveness with his place naming! You guys sure have a lot of Macquarie stuff: the lake, the port, the harbour, and Mrs M's Chair, too! Hard to keep them all straight.


Ann

Some of these may have been named by people other than James Cook.

[sea-bee]

I don't think Cook is responsible for any of the mentioned names.

Macquarie was not Governor of NSW until 40 years after Cook's trip along the coast, and all these "Mac" features came from his loyal subjects looking to score brownie points with the boss. He offered gifts to those who favoured him, but he was a bit of a tyrant from all accounts, and had an attitude in his dealings with the indigenous people that probably contributed to the large number of massacres during his rule. There are probably more features named after Macq than any other individual in Australia.

I have also looked at Cook's journal, and do not see any reference to him naming either of these perdendicular cliffs, although this is a word that he particularly liked to use. Mostly, he used it in reference to tide heights. He named the northern head of Jervis Bay Long Nose. Along the north coast named the 3 brother mountains, one of which lies behind Laurieton and Camden Haven. Those mountains were on the northern horizon at sunset on 12 May 1770 and he steered out to sea overnight, so I don't think he would have seen the coastline along there. The similar names are probably coincidentally named by locals with no reference to one another.

Chris