We raised anchor at 6 am to head off through the shallowest part of the straits, Sheridan Flats. We should reach the shallowest part around 1 hour before full tide.
We crossed the shallow area with about 1.2m under the keel , the 3m plus tides are a big help.
We had the current with us nearly all the way down to Pelican Bay, as the tide floods South to Sheridan Flats after which we picked up the outgoing tide from there on.
We arrived at Pelican Bay (Inskip Point) at around 10.30 am and anchored in one of the few deep areas with the outgoing tide running at about 3 knots through the anchorage, pushing the boat around a fair bit in the process.
Also at the anchorage was Kyeema, another CCCA member whom we have seen on and off since the Whitsundays. Rod and Lee touched base with them, and a sausage sizzle was organised on Cooinda for lunch. By lunch time the current had died down as low tide was around 1 pm, so it was easier to put the dinghy over and motor over to Cooinda without getting washed out to sea.
Lunch on Cooinda with Romul and Nellie from Kyeema
After lunch we went ashore on the sand spit that is only exposed at low tide and had a walk over to near where the vehicle ferries run between the mainland and Fraser Island. The tide comes in pretty rapidly so, we didn't stay there for too long.
Boats at anchor in Pelican Bay taken from the sand spit at low tide
By the end of the afternoon there were 8 boats at anchor, presumably all with the same plan to cross the bar during the morning high tide. I can't see any other reason why you would anchor here.
Vehicle ferry going back to base past Kyeema
After such a big lunch we had toasted sandwiches for dinner and had an early night in anticipation of an early start in the morning to cross the bar. Kyeema decided to go overnight and pulled up anchor and headed out just after 4pm. He radioed in around 6pm after crossing the bar saying it was a bit lumpy and confused seas but they were finally through and heading south. No doubt we will see them in Mooloolaba.
We agreed we would pull up anchor at 5.45 am.
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