Across Wide Bay Bar to Double Island Point

Tuesday 6th October 2015

We awake to a thick fog at our anchorage, we can't see Wilparina anchored less than 100 m away.

An hour later Wilparina appeared.

The shoreline we anchored off looks a bit different at low tide

Today's plan is to cross the Wide Bay Bar on a rising tide, with high at 3.33 pm, so we will try to go across between 2 and 2.30pm. It is going to take us a while pushing the tide towards the entrance, so with 12 nm to cover we leave at 11.30 am and head out through the entrance pretty much on time. The way points for crossing the bar have changed again since we went through on the way up, and there is a northwards moving shoal between the two key waypoints. The local volunteer coastguard, as usual, is invaluable in giving a few tips on the crossing, including advice that this shoal has moved again since the way points have been set, and staying a little north when crossing would be a good idea.

As we cross between the bar crossing way points, you can visually see the shoal and we head north. Smithy caught the edge of it and only had 1 m under his keel.

Mica heading out of Wide Bay Harbour to the first bar crossing way point

The bar crossing was a bit lumpy and there was the odd shallow spot, but otherwise uneventful. Once clearing the second way point, we set a course for Double Island Point to anchor for the night. We do not expect a particularly comfortable night, as it has a reputation for being pretty rolly, but it is a good stepping off point for a sail to Mooloolaba tomorrow. We spotted some whales in near the shore in Wide Bay as we crossed, and a dolphin or two.

Selecting a spot to anchor was not too scientific, we know it is going to roll, so just getting a secure hold on the bottom is all that counts. We anchored in around 6 m of water that is crystal clear. I watched the anchor settle on the bottom.

Once anchored we noticed some whales quite close to our anchorage, but they were very camera shy.

On the way across Wide Bay we were contacted by a catamaran behind us enquiring if we planned to anchor at Double Island Point, as they were considering it but had not been there before. We told them we hadn't either, but we willing to put up with a bit of a bumpy night to get the right tide window for going into Mooloolaba tomorrow. They decided to do the same.

It will be a 7 am start in the morning, and with a forecast easterly. We are hoping to sail to Mooloolaba. The only concern is that it may be too light.