Sat 10th July, we rose at 3.45am, and first priority was to check the weather forecast. It had continued to blow pretty hard all night despite the forecast for the winds to abate. A check on the Bureau of Meteorology site showed there was still a strong wind warning in place (cancelled later in the morning) and that, coupled with leaving the seaway in the dark, without a chance to check if there were breaking waves, made us decide we would motor up into Morton Bay, through the broadwater and go on Mooloolaba from there on Sunday.
A friend with a catamaran told us that this was an experience not to be missed, I won't be giving others similar advice.We headed off at around 7 am, got disoriented , and had to backtrack to find a “navigable” channel into the main channel to Morton Bay from the Broadwater, we grounded 3 times and bounced off the bottom once in a powerboat wake. We had a number of reputable cruising guides assuring us the channels were navigable for deep keel boats (must have been written by catamaran owners), so in the end we gave up and went back to Southport and anchored just off the spit and decided on plan B. I don't think we will be back to have another go.
A check of the weather forecast showed winds were abating back to 10-15 knots, seas around the 1.5 to 2.5 m mark, and a phonecall to the seaway tower, confirmed that the crossing conditions were
now moderate, compared with not real flash this morning.
"We" decided we would go to Mooloolaba overnight tonight. So, we had lunch, booked a marina berth in Mooloolaba, had a few hours sleep and pulled up anchor at 4.30pm, and headed off to the seaway.
Just as we were approaching the seaway there was a Securite announcement to all ships from Seaway Tower. Apparently this morning a tinnie overturned in the seaway whilst crossing, all on board were rescued. But the whereabouts of the tinnie was unknown, other than it constituted a risk to navigation in the Seaway as it was under the water there somewhere, but yet to be found.
Not to be deterred, we crossed the bar with no dramas, Carole took her out, and after a few dramas with the main halyard getting caught on the radar reflector again, we set sail for Mooloolaba.
For the first part of the trip up the outside of Stradbroke Island, winds were light 5-10 knots from the SE moving us along, but with a little assistance from the diesel. The next leg from Point Lookout to Cape Moreton, saw the breeze fill out to around 20 knots and we powered across this stretch on a broad reach with only the mainsail. It was a bit bumpy in parts. Alas when we passed Cape Moreton and turned toward Mooloolaba the wind was right up our tail until very late in the trip when it moved ESE, so once again there was a bit of motoring involved.
We had a bit of rain along the way, but generally it was a clear starry night, but little moonlight.
We arrived at the entrance to the Mooloolaba bar at 7.30 am and Carole took us in very professionally. We were tied up at our berth at the Mooloolaba Yacht Club by 8.15 am.
We had a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, a shower and a bit of a cleanup of the boat and now for some rest.
Just heard from our friends Rod & Lee on Cooinda. They hope to be in Southport by lunchtime. I hope they don't find the tinnie in the seaway. They will depart for Mooloolaba on Tues.So we should finally catch up next week.
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