We have had no luck getting a weather forecast, but the last one we saw said 10-15 knots SE/NE. It is blowing around 10 knots in Pearl Bay which is reasonably sheltered, so we decide to head to Yeppoon, but expect it might be a bit rough.
We left at 8.30am, and as soon as we got away from the coast the wind was blowing 15 knots plus, in lumpy seas. Over the next half hour it increased to 20-30 knots and the seas were steep and very uncomfortable. We were making little forward progress, so after an hour or so decided to head for Port Clinton, the next anchorage down the coast only about 5nm from Pearl Bay. It took us 2 hours to cover this distance and after clearing the entrance shoal into the Port, we found ourselves in relatively calm, deep water. There was not a great deal of relief from the wind but at least it was comfortable.
We anchored in the South arm of the port in 14 m of water. We still have no depth sounder, so followed Cooinda over the shoal and used our portable unit, and some advice from Cooinda on the depth they anchored in, to establish the depth at the anchorage.
Anchorage at Port Clinton
It continued to blow up top 30 knots all day and there is a 1.5 to 2 knot tidal flow where we are anchored. At last count there were 10 boats in here waiting for better conditions. It has been raining on and off all day.
At least here we have mobile phone, internet and VHF reception so have now seen the forecast for the next few days, and it looks like we might be here till Saturday.
Port Clinton is part of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area and is often closed for exercises which includes firing live rounds and bombing. The exercises start again on 26th September, but as far as we can ascertain the area we are in is not included in this exercise.
Hopefully we will be on our way to Yeppoon on the 25th.
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