Once back Peter, Alan (Camelot) and the man from Wind Wanderer spent the rest of the afternoon contemplating weather, tides and swell conditions and whether we should make the move north to Yamba. In the end we all left just after 6am on Tuesday morning and motor sailed in very light NE winds all the way to the Clarence River and the towns of Yamba and Iluka. At 54nm it took most of the day and we entered a rolly river bar at 5pm just in time to anchor at Iluka before nightfall. We took Alan Lucas's ('Cruising the NSW Coast') advice and disregarded the leads over the bar in favour of a passage close to the southern breakwater. This proved good advice as we watched the waves break over the bar beside us. The swell was forecast to be 1.5m and we entered at 3 hours after low tide as recommended. Iluka is a comfortable harbour within the Clarence River where a long rock wall separates the main river from this quiet haven, there being only two small entrances in.
Rene and friends, Arkaydes and Roseanne at Iluka
This morning we walked around Iluka to sus things out. The caravan park will let us have showers at $5 each and also use the washing machines and dryers at the going rate. We finally found the small town centre and had a luscious salad sandwich at the bakery. There is also a butcher, PO, chemist, service stations, small hardware store, some clothes shops and a brand new IGA supermarket. You can get most things here without going over to the other side to Yamba. We will however take Lily over at some stage. We have been advised to go with one of the others in their dinghy as it is quite a long way and for our safety (strong tides etc) we have organised to go with Joan and Alan from Camelot. I can see we will be at least a week here - so much to see and do.
Liz goes shopping Iluka
Peter berthing the dinghy
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