Engines were started just before 7am at Mooloolaba Marina, with an on time departure at 7 am. The bar crossing was very calm, but the forecast 15-20 knots Southerly was a bit on the light side, like 8 knots.
Nevertheless, the mainsail went up and we started motor sailing, at least getting some benefit in diesel saving.
It was a lovely day to be heading up the Coast.
Mount Coolum
Peregian Beach
As it turned out, we did sail for several hours on and off, adding considerably to the length of our trip, but enjoying the opportunity to have a sail. Mark had the code zero up, as he headed for Noosa. However, he did have to change course for Wide Bay eventually.
Both of us gybed backwards and forwards making some forward progress, but not enough to get us over the wide bay bar before dark.
Just South of Double Island Point we radioed in to Coastguard Tin Can Bay, as instructed, when we left Mooloolaba. To our surprise, we were notified that despite being given the entry waypoints for Wide Bay Bar only yesterday, there is an error on Waypoint B and the local recommendation is to go 100m North of this waypoint to avoid running aground (not to mention the breaking waves, which are a bit of a give away). Anyway, we followed the new instructions without issue. It was a bit like arriving at an airport at peak hour as boats materialised from everywhere, all wanting to cross the bar before dark, many expert at slowing down before entering the bar so they would't be first.
Getting across the bar was not a huge issue, but the run into Inskip point from the shallow bar crossing was rough. We took water over every part of the boat at some point until we got out of the influence of the South Easterly swell, and the Southerly wind , still blowing at around 13 knots. A few other boats crossing close to us were also a bit hard to work out what they were going to do next.
As we entered the main waterway, some other Hanse owner friends, Brian and Petra, were on the beach watching us come in. They are on a "land yachting" holiday, otherwise I am sure they would have been with us. It is a shame we haven't had a chance to catch up, other than from a distance.
Just we were heading off to the anchorage, avoiding the Inskip Point Ferry, a Dugong surfaced right beside our boat.
We dropped anchor at 5.30pm, in Pelican Bay, utilising our well developed anchoring in the dark techniques.
Wide Bay Bar is another milestone out of the way, and now we just need to get through the shallows at Sheridan Flats and we are then we are off to Bundaberg.
Tomorrow will be a rest day, so we can work out the tides at Sheridan flats. The current plan is to motor up to Garry's anchorage, and overnight there.
No comments:
Post a Comment