Monday, March 28, 2011
Staurday 26th we left Garry's Anchorage at 1pm, the idea being we would be at the shallowest point of the Sandy Straits at high tide giving us the best chance of getting through. Following the lead lines on our chart the trip was going to be a slow one so Elaine made a carrot cake for afternoon tea to pass the time. Once getting to the half way point just past a place called Boonlye Point we got a bit confused with the port markers as they were different to what was on our charts. After and executive decision we decided to follow our chart and ignore the marker. We had been advised by Coast Guard Sandy Straits that the sand levels had shifted alot due to all the floods. Anyway following our chart wasn't the best idea as we ran aground and came to an abrupt stop.The tide still had about 15 mins to go to the top of the tide so we probably had about 30mins to get off before we would have been stuck for the night. Moving the boom as far out as we could to the Starboard and both getting on that side as well, trying to lean the boat over as much as we could we managed to motor off and finally get into some deeper water.
We pulled up at a place called South White Cliffs. The water here wasnt the best looking so there was no swimming happening. We launched the dingy and headed over to the beach. Picked up Maria (a crew member of Screensaver) on the way. The beach was a muddy sand so wasn't the best, and like Garry's the mozzies were out. Elaine already covered in bites wasn't about to hang around to get another round of bites so we headed back. Stopped at Screensaver had a drink and then headed back to Nemetona for some chicken Kiev for dinner.
We woke Sunday morning to rain and wind, basically just shitty weather. Decided to up anchor and head to Kingfisher Bay Resort which is about 10 NM in the hoping we would be able to anchor of the beach and go ashore. Once anchored up we jumped into the dingy and headed ashore. To our delite there was a swimming pool, BAR and some shops. We relaxed in the Bar, I had a beer and Elaine had cocktail of the day called "Wild Dingo". We relaxed there for a while and used there facilities and headed on back to the boat.
Monday was spent swimming in the resorts pool and generally just relaxing. Had breakfast at the cafe on the island and Elaine booked in for a much needed wax job. I sat on the jetty and met some local characters whiles indulging in a few cold ones from the Jetty bar . The crew of Screensaver had gone on a 24km bush walk which we decided to give a miss. We looked at hiring a 4 wheel drive but the cost of that certainly wasn't in our budget.
There has been very little sun out over the past few days so we are starting to struggle a little bit for power on the boat because the solar panels aren't really contributing anything. It was good to be able to spend some time ashore. Today we will be heading for Great Sandy Straits Marina at Hervey Bay for a few days to do some chores, washing etc before heading out to anchor up again for a few days before heading to Bunderberg.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday morning we pulled up anchor at Elbow Point and headed towards Garry's Anchorage. As the inside of the straights is shallow we can only travel a short distance each time when the tide is at its highest.
No wind and very calm we motored about 10 miles and put the anchor out at about 1pm. We decided we would take the dingy down and head over to the beach , (Fraser Island). Once there we went for a bush walk to get of the boat for a while. This is a lovely place, but the bloody mozzies and sand flys drive you fricken mad.
Swimming isnt really on the cards here, one the the reason is the water is quite brown in colour and has alot of debris in it from the floods, and the other is the warning signs about the presence of crocodiles. We have also seen a couple of dingos on the beach.
The sunset was lovely as we sat on the back deck and ate our roast rack of lamb and roast vegies that Elaine cooked in the oven. (Very nice). Well after a game of charades on the back deck of Screensaver we retired for the night after another action packed day.
Saturday we are heading further up river to Ceratodus to find a spot for the night.
No wind and very calm we motored about 10 miles and put the anchor out at about 1pm. We decided we would take the dingy down and head over to the beach , (Fraser Island). Once there we went for a bush walk to get of the boat for a while. This is a lovely place, but the bloody mozzies and sand flys drive you fricken mad.
Swimming isnt really on the cards here, one the the reason is the water is quite brown in colour and has alot of debris in it from the floods, and the other is the warning signs about the presence of crocodiles. We have also seen a couple of dingos on the beach.
The sunset was lovely as we sat on the back deck and ate our roast rack of lamb and roast vegies that Elaine cooked in the oven. (Very nice). Well after a game of charades on the back deck of Screensaver we retired for the night after another action packed day.
Saturday we are heading further up river to Ceratodus to find a spot for the night.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Well its been a while we know. Finally have set of from Southport.
Left Southport on Sunday afternoon 20th March and headed up the river a mile or so to an anchorage known as Bum's Bay for an easy get away.
We set sail for Mooloolaba at 2am Monday morning with our friends in there boat Screensaver.
The Weather was calm for the seaway exit which was good, only about 10 knots of breeze so we had to motor sail. Elaine was sick after about 10mins so that wasn't very good. While putting up the main sheet the electric winch got stuck on so it was panic stations for about 30 seconds trying to get the rope of the winch so it didn't pull the sail off. Water temp was 27.4 degrees. As Elaine was sick for most of the day I thought I would sit her on the back deck and give her hair a wash as we motor sailed along , thought this might help her feel a bit better, unfortunately this didn't stop the vomit. Arrived at Mooloolaba harbour at about 5.15pm that evening, after motoring up the harbour to an anchoring spot we found but it was to shallow for us so we ended up at the Marina.
Tuesday was spent doing a little bit of shopping and had a swim on the beach. Also I had some maintenance to do with a few things on the boat that had played up the day before. We had a couple of beers on the back of Screensaver about 5.30pm and decided that we would go out for some cheap eats . Not realizeing that everything in Mooloolaba closes at 7.30pm by the time we had got ready and walked to 5 different restaurants everything was closed. So back to the boat for a home cooked pizza. Walking back through the marina carpark there are 2 big waste bins used by boaties, staff etc, it was dark but there were carpark lights, there were alot of noises coming out from around that area, as we walked by there were dozens of RATS scourring up and over the fences out of the bins, I couldn't believe how many there were.
Wednesday morning were we up early and checked out of the Marina at 8am. Today we are heading for Wide Bay near Fraser Island. The day is perfect with 30.5 degree crystal blue water. We had plenty of time to kill so we sat on the back duck board most of the way and cooled down. Rod did a bit of fishing and caught himself a 2ft Yellow Fin Tuna which he threw back after a photo shoot! It would have been great for dinner but neither of us wanted to clean it and it was way to big for 2 so it would have been wasted. Our plan today is to get to Wide Bay (About 55 miles) and anchor there over night as to get into Tin Can Bay / Fraser Island you have to cross the Wide Bay Bar and the best time to do this is at high tide. Our arrival (5pm) would have been at the wrong time so anchoring up for the night at Double Island Point seemed to be a good idea as the winds were slight and the swell was small. After anchoring we went for a swim had a drink, cooked some dinner, watch some dolphins play around the boat and then decided to retire for the night . Well once the tide changes so did the swell. It was the worst night we have ever had on anchor. The boat rolled side to side all night with stuff flying about in cupboards. We where up and down moving things and changing sleeping quarters inside and outside. The moon was at it's brightest and the sky full of stars so way to much light to sleep outside. This lasted till about 3.30am when we could finally get a bit of sleep.
Thursday moring we were up again early as we had to get to the entry of the Wide Bay Bar in time for the top of the tide. Had some brecky and we were off about 8.30am. Only a short distance of about 10 miles to the Bar entrance so we took our time as the weather today is lovely with a small amount of wind. We passed through a school of fish and saw 3 shark having a bit of a feeding frenzy. Mental note don't swim here! Once we got to the Bar entrance we checked our position and decided to let Screensaver go first as he has done it before and we would follow. The weather was in our favour and the crossing was an easy one which was great for us as some of the stories of bad crossing had got stuck in our heads. We headed up the river and are now anchored of the western side of Fraser Island at a place called Elbow Point rafted up with Screensaver. Will relax here for today and head of to Hervey Bay in the morning up the Great Sandy Straight.
Left Southport on Sunday afternoon 20th March and headed up the river a mile or so to an anchorage known as Bum's Bay for an easy get away.
We set sail for Mooloolaba at 2am Monday morning with our friends in there boat Screensaver.
The Weather was calm for the seaway exit which was good, only about 10 knots of breeze so we had to motor sail. Elaine was sick after about 10mins so that wasn't very good. While putting up the main sheet the electric winch got stuck on so it was panic stations for about 30 seconds trying to get the rope of the winch so it didn't pull the sail off. Water temp was 27.4 degrees. As Elaine was sick for most of the day I thought I would sit her on the back deck and give her hair a wash as we motor sailed along , thought this might help her feel a bit better, unfortunately this didn't stop the vomit. Arrived at Mooloolaba harbour at about 5.15pm that evening, after motoring up the harbour to an anchoring spot we found but it was to shallow for us so we ended up at the Marina.
Tuesday was spent doing a little bit of shopping and had a swim on the beach. Also I had some maintenance to do with a few things on the boat that had played up the day before. We had a couple of beers on the back of Screensaver about 5.30pm and decided that we would go out for some cheap eats . Not realizeing that everything in Mooloolaba closes at 7.30pm by the time we had got ready and walked to 5 different restaurants everything was closed. So back to the boat for a home cooked pizza. Walking back through the marina carpark there are 2 big waste bins used by boaties, staff etc, it was dark but there were carpark lights, there were alot of noises coming out from around that area, as we walked by there were dozens of RATS scourring up and over the fences out of the bins, I couldn't believe how many there were.
Wednesday morning were we up early and checked out of the Marina at 8am. Today we are heading for Wide Bay near Fraser Island. The day is perfect with 30.5 degree crystal blue water. We had plenty of time to kill so we sat on the back duck board most of the way and cooled down. Rod did a bit of fishing and caught himself a 2ft Yellow Fin Tuna which he threw back after a photo shoot! It would have been great for dinner but neither of us wanted to clean it and it was way to big for 2 so it would have been wasted. Our plan today is to get to Wide Bay (About 55 miles) and anchor there over night as to get into Tin Can Bay / Fraser Island you have to cross the Wide Bay Bar and the best time to do this is at high tide. Our arrival (5pm) would have been at the wrong time so anchoring up for the night at Double Island Point seemed to be a good idea as the winds were slight and the swell was small. After anchoring we went for a swim had a drink, cooked some dinner, watch some dolphins play around the boat and then decided to retire for the night . Well once the tide changes so did the swell. It was the worst night we have ever had on anchor. The boat rolled side to side all night with stuff flying about in cupboards. We where up and down moving things and changing sleeping quarters inside and outside. The moon was at it's brightest and the sky full of stars so way to much light to sleep outside. This lasted till about 3.30am when we could finally get a bit of sleep.
Thursday moring we were up again early as we had to get to the entry of the Wide Bay Bar in time for the top of the tide. Had some brecky and we were off about 8.30am. Only a short distance of about 10 miles to the Bar entrance so we took our time as the weather today is lovely with a small amount of wind. We passed through a school of fish and saw 3 shark having a bit of a feeding frenzy. Mental note don't swim here! Once we got to the Bar entrance we checked our position and decided to let Screensaver go first as he has done it before and we would follow. The weather was in our favour and the crossing was an easy one which was great for us as some of the stories of bad crossing had got stuck in our heads. We headed up the river and are now anchored of the western side of Fraser Island at a place called Elbow Point rafted up with Screensaver. Will relax here for today and head of to Hervey Bay in the morning up the Great Sandy Straight.
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