4-10 July 2008 Bundy to Brisbane

With a SE-S wind predicted we decided to sail east across Hervey Bay to Wathumba Creek on the northern end of Fraser island. We anchored outside the creek the first night as it has a very shallow entrance. After checking it out on Saturday morning in the inflatable, we decided to enter on the high tide. We anchored in a small hole inside with 3 other cats but as the tide dropped it became clear we were going to sit on the bottom.

Sunday we left on the high tide and reached south to Moon Point before motoring to Yankee Jack Creek for the night. We listened with increasing interest to each weather forecast as we got closer to the Wide Bay Bar. Monday we motored to Garry's Anchorage and with a forecast of NE-NW and a decreasing swell for Tuesday, we decided this was the best time to cross. But Tuesday saw a SE 10-15 knots when we crossed with 1.5 to 2.0 m seas. The "mad mile" was aptly named but the bar was not breaking and although there were a couple of bigger sets, we crossed without incident and anchored at Double Island Point.

Wednesday's sail south to Mooloolaba gave our first whale encounters, 2 some distance away (one breaching and one slapping it's flipper) but the last surfaced only 50m in front. We quickly tacked and it swam alongside for quite a while before continuing it's trip north. We hand steered and kept a much more vigilant lookout after this. We anchored in the Mooloolah River with "Davoren".

Our final day's sail started in a strong SW that died by lunchtime. We motor sailed for a couple of hours before arriving at Raby Bay to the cheers of the awaiting crowd (Mum and Dad). Warren sounded the fog horn to signal the end of our trip and we tied up in our marina berth. Now the cleanup, return to work and planning for the next trip!

1-3 July 2008 Yeppoon to Bundaberg

The weather has been very good the last 3 days with blue skies and light winds. This has lead to some motorsailing and motoring but is much better than the alternative of 20+ knot headwinds. We decided to pass through The Narrows - the shallow passage between Curtis Island and the mainland. The shallowest sections dry to about 2 m at low tide so it is important to work the tide.

As the higher tide is at night at the moment, we decided to travel this section on Tuesday night. We had met a Kiwi couple in Mackay who had done the night sail and they said they had no problems as the route is well marked. We motored from Yeppoon to Maria Inlet, anchored, had an early dinner and then started our trip down the Narrows at 1800 hrs. While a little stressful on a moonless night, we went through without incident and anchored in Graham Creek (left) about 2130 hrs.

An early start the next morning had us motorsailing through Gladstone harbour before the wind died and we then motored to Pancake Creek.

Today we sailed about halfway to Bundaberg before the wind died and we motorsailed to arrive at Bundaberg Port Marina at 1845 hrs. 72 nm in 12 hours! Tomorrow we start the final leg home through the Sandy Straits and the dreaded Wide Bay Bar. Suzanne, please check the Coolum Surf for me every morning! The wind is forecast to increase over the weekend so we plan to bide our time inside Fraser Island before we cross the bar. Life is tough sometimes!!

30 June 2008 – Port Clinton to Yeppoon

E then S 10- 15 knots
South to Yeppoon today and with a predicted ESE breeze to go NE in the afternoon, we were looking forward to a reach and maybe even the chance of getting the spinnaker up. No such luck as the easterly left at 0900 to be replaced by a southerly. More tacking – although with blue skies and slight seas, it was good sail. We are now tied up at the Keppel Bay Marina getting ready for the next 350 or so miles south. If all goes to plan, the next update should be at the end of the week from Bundaberg.

29 June 2008 – Hexham to Port Clinton

SE 15 – 20 knots, easing in the afternoon
Another 60 mile day to windward. Port Clinton is a huge harbour within the Shoalwater Bay Military Zone. The south arm of this area is the only anchorage open at the moment due to live firing exercises by the army. The picture was taken inside the harbour and shows 9 other yachts at the preferred anchorage. We had a very calm night and have put this on our list to revisit as there is a lot to explore.

27, 28 June 2008 Digby to Hexham Island

SSE 15-20 knots
The winds are forecast to increase tomorrow so we decided to skip the Percy Islands and make straight for Hexham Island today. Although this means another long day, we do not need to move tomorrow if the winds are as strong as predicted. 62 miles to windward – what more can I say. Hexham is a good anchorage although a bit rolly and subject to bullets (large gusts of wind) that had us moving around on the anchor. We spent our day off fishing, reading and exploring. Warren’s fish cleaning attracted a couple of large sharks that had him deciding that the top of the back stairs was a better cleaning area. We kept all the fish scraps and disposed of them the next day well out to sea. Definitely no snorkelling at Hexham.

26 June 2008 – Mackay to Digby Island

SSE 15–20 knots
The winds did ease a little, or so the weather bureau said, although as we bashed our way towards Digby Island it didn’t feel that way. The boat made good progress with a double reefed main although we took a lot of water over the topsides. Unfortunately 2 of our hatches are leaking and this has caused some issues for us to deal with when we get home. We arrived at Digby at 1600 hrs after covering 54 nautical miles to windward in about 9 hours. The anchorage was a bit rolly and stark. We were just happy to have stopped pounding!