Onwards to Southport via Dunwich

Wednesday 4^th October 2017

Finally, we are leaving Mooloolaba in what has turned out to be a foggy morning. We motored out to the river bar in relative calm at the top of the incoming tide, only to be greeted with a larger than expected swell outside. Over the past few weeks the BOM has not done well in forecasting conditions in SE QLD.

Anyway, we are on our way and motor off into Moreton Bay in a more uncomfortable swell than expected and a SE breeze strengthened (unforecast) as well found our way dawn the coast. The first few hours were pretty lumpy, and dodging ships in the Brisbane Port entry channel added to the entertainment. There is a surprising amount of traffic, and the main channel into Brisbane is a long an tortuous course.

If anything, the wind strengthened (against us) as we headed South, and we were pushing the tide, so it was hard work. After around 6 hours we started to get a favourable wind angle and had cleared most of the shoals, which require regular course changes to avoid. We could finally carry some sail to assist in our voyage, albeit still motor sailing.

WE saw so many whales today, it is becoming a bit tiresome.

We diverted from the short course to have a look at Tangalooma, along the way, but had to do battle with two ships in the main shipping channel on this small part of the journey. One of them radioed us to say he was departing from the main channel and was going to pass us on starboard, from behind, leaving te main channel to take a shortcut into Brisbane. We had been moving to starboard to give him room, believing he was going to follow the main channel. AIS once again made all of this so easy.

One of the ships we ended up talking to to find out who was doing what!

Tangalooma

Eventually we approached our desired anchorage for te night, Peel Island. Conditions had deteriorated quite a lot and in a 15 knot easterly, Peel Island did not look appealing. We decided, at the last minute, to head for Dunwich (Deanbilla Bay), which looks pretty bulletproof for any wind from the east.

Our fleet ( Dalwhinnie, Moonshadow and ourselves) anchored by 5.30pm, and found the conditions great for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow we plan to raise anchors at 5.15am, so that we can pass through Jacobs Well on the high tide and onwards into the broadwater, where our depth problems will no longer be an issue.