Brisbane. Floods in Queensland

The sun is finally shining here again after many days of just rain, sometimes heavy rain. Bundaberg the town we spent a month at in November is now half under water. The Hervey river where the marina is we stayed at has flooded its banks and Our marine store on the river in town is now flooded and hundreds off houses are evacuated and many businesses ruined.

We had initially considered going up the river to the town to stay on pile moorings which are cheaper. But glad we didn't as there is much debris on the river now that could break your boat from it's moorings, if not damage your boat. Many of the roads in the area a closed do to parts of them being under water and bridges damaged. Some areas are having the worst rains and flooding ever recorded and some the worst in 20 years. Many roads in Queensland are closed as portions of them are under water and bridges damaged as well. Most of the bridges they take the guard rails off so the water can flow freely over top. Several small towns have been evacuated, and portions of many other areas evacuated.

The Brisbane river has also flooded its banks in Brisbane putting pedestrian paths and ferry stations under water. Where we are in Manly it is an ocean front marina in a boat basin so no worries about floods here, though we would not want a cyclone to hit a crowded marina like this one. Cyclones don't normally come done this far, that is why we are here, but sometimes the remnants of then do though very rarely.

With all the wet weather I got all my inside boat jobs done, now hopefully can started on the outside.
Added Jan 1/2011. Happy New Year everyone. The nice weather has gone and it is raining again, heavy gray overcast, looks just like Vancouver no November, just alot warmer.

Notice to Sailors

I have been going through other cruisers blogs to research where we are going next and find out where the good anchorages are and what we have to watch for etc., for our up coming trip to Darwin and then Indonesia. I noticed some blogs were helpful and many others had no useful info for a sailor. Then I realized, I could do better as well. So from now on when I get a chance and internet is ok I will put an "Info:" section at end of some posts for each area that will give useful info about an anchorage or port, and gps position of where we anchored so you can locate anchorage on chart.

I have gone back a bit and edited some posts already and added a 'Info:' section using my log book to refresh my memory. Done Bora Bora to Australia and some of Mexico.
Also I have noticed my blog postings are a day out. The date is correct on my computer but the blogger time stamp is on Vancouver time?? We are a day ahead here and plus 6 hours. Dec 25 3:30pm now 2010. Will try to have something for everyone, even mistakes, for those looking for them.

Christmas in Brisbane

I had a quite Christmas down at the boat. Dorothy has flown home for her fathers 90th birthday which is at Christmas. She will also visit Vancouver to get a few things down and bring back some goodies for the boat.
I had some Potatoes, yam, some broccoli and a can of chili con carne for Christmas dinner, yumm. Not many people around the marina, most have gone home. Christmas is definitely not as big a deal here as it is in North America. I pulled the head apart to do some repairs and improve the smells, plus got a few other chores to do while Dorothy is gone.
Found a little tiny hill we can hike up to try to get some cardio when going on our walks. It takes 2 minutes, well maybe less, to get to the top, boy Australia is flat. It has rained every day the last 3 days, though not continuously. A small cyclone hit the coast near Cairns and then downgraded to a tropical storm, had huge amouts of rain there this morning, the first one of the season.
The rain has stopped so time for a walk.

A Trip to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

We rented a car yesterday for some chores and to explore further afield. We first got a new outboard motor. We got a good price on the old 3.5 HP mercury which I never liked and was always troublsome and traded it in for a new 5 HP Yamaha. Every place we went in the Pacific, 95% of the outboards where Yamaha's and everyone loved them. So with such a larger dealer and parts network and super reputation, what else would you get? Your dinghy is like your car at home, you use it to go everywhere. We row when we can unless it is to far or strong currents and wind.

After that errand we drove to the Koala Sanctuary and paid the entrance fee which was a bit steep, but there turned out to be a lot more here than we thought. There were animals here from the bears to kangaroos, tasmanian devils, dingo's and lots of birds. A lot of the animals were in their natural enviroment and could come and go as they pleased. We had planned to go to another park afterwards to go for a hike, but we spent all our time here at the sanctuary. As we were driving back to the boat there was another thunderstorm warning put out on the radio. Soon the sky was black and then lightening and then it poured buckets, I pulled the car over until the rain slowed down. Later we heard on the radio, 3 people had been killed, at least one was a motorcycle accident. A few miles away they had hail the size of oranges and cars were damaged and had broken windows. The traffic was stop and go most of the way back to the boat. We got in just before dark, glad we don't have to do much driving any more.

'How ya goin'- Manly Boat Basin

After we got the boat settled and cleaned up we did a quick tour of the local area. Manly is a small village on the waterfront with three large marinas. There is a medium size food store, marine store and a few other shops about 15 minute walk. But another half mile away is Wynnum, a much larger town with everthing for shopping. Some are a bit far and we need to cycle to them. There are lots of bike lanes and the waterfront has a walking/bike trail the whole length.
We have noticed almost everywhere so far in Australia they keep the beach front open for public access and walkways along the water. people always greet us with 'how ya goin' rather than 'how are you' and everything is 'no worrys mate' . The weather has finally turned sunny and we have had lots of sun the last 3 days.
We took a train ride into Brisbane the day before yesterday. For $10 dollars we got a ticket than can be used as often as you want on their trains, buses or water cats. We rode into town with the commuters in the early morning then rode the water cats which are very fast ferrys and rode up and down the Brisbane river a bit and got off up river at a park before hoping back on a cat to ride back to downtown area. Then we explored the downtown, went into Boat Books store for a couple of guide books. Some much needed new shorts were bought and new sandles as we are still wearing the ones bought in Vancouver over a year ago.
The rain is back. While I type this it is pouring like crazy outside. The VHF radio just put out a flood and severe thunderstorm warning.

Info:
It is well marked the entrance to Manly boat basin. Watch out going in because just this year they changed the layout of the basin and it does not match the chart plotter or the Beacon to Beacon book and we got lost inside and it was difficult to turn around in the strong wind and confined space. The marina sent a skiff to guide us to our spot.
We are at 27 27.447 S 153 11.397 E in 10 feet. Is a huge marina, a 1km round trip walk to showers and back to your boat if you are near end. Small IGA and good marine store 15 min walk away and better shopping a long walk maybe 40 minutes or a nice bike ride on sea wall.

Mooloolaba and Bribie Island- Then to Manly and Engine Alarms

We left Mooloolaba reluctanly and said we would stop here again on the way up next season as there is still lots more to do here and it is a secure place for the boat.
We left at 5am to make use of the tide heading down Morton bay. The forecast was for NE winds so we hoped for an easy trip down to Manly. As soon as we got out of the channel we new the wind was out of the SE, more head winds in rough seas.
Numerous rain squalls went buy and the wind direction seemed to change from E to SE as squalls came and went. But the going was slow and we knew we would never make Manly before dark so decided to try the anchorage at the South end of Bribie island around in the channel behind island. We dropped anchor about 3pm and rowed ashore to check out the small village here. There was a nice waterfront trail that we took a long walk along and decided that this was another nice spot to spend more time on the way backup next year.
There were lots of birds here and when back on the boat before dark, you could here thousands of birds of all kinds making a tremedous noise.

We were up early again at 445am to get out of channel before tide turned against us and then to catch same down across the rest of moreton bay down to Manly. Again the NE forecast winds never came. The coast guard forecst was now SE to NE winds, great, and they were SE but at least they were light and we motored most of the way.

As a big rain squall was passing over us our engine alarm went of for its first time ever and I immedialtly shut it down. Lifted the engine cover off while Dorothy tried to get boat sailing so we would not get blown to shore. I saw right away the problem, the fan belt had broken and so the engine cooling pump was not turning, over heating engine. Fortunatly we had a couple spares so managed to get the engine going within a half hour. Dorothy got wet from the rain squall as to sail she had to turn the boat so the rain was blowing right in the side of cockpit behind the dodger.
After that everything went fine and we arrived off Manly harbor as another big rain squall came so we delayed our entrance until it passed, not wanting to go in a unfamiliar cramped boat harbor with poor visibility and wind and rain. After we entered we got lost as apparently they changed the harbor layour recently and it did not match our guide book. A couple of fellows in a skiff from the marina staff came and guided us to our spot and helped us in as I had called the marina just before arriving. We made it! Our new home for at least the next month.

Info:
Mooloolaba has a all weather entrance, no real bar to worry about, just follow the leading marks in, the swells steepen abit as you get near shore, but ok. Probably any tide ok, but it does get down to 9 feet or so ounce inside the basin. I felt more comfortable going in with the tide up a bit. Careful anchoring, it is easy to run aground around the edges of anchorage. We were at 26 41.378S 153 07.267E. Anchorage was a bit crowded we were short scoped in 8ft of water. But is a great place.
From Mooloolaba S to Manly we stayed 5 miles out until we got near Bribie Island then stayed close following the inside route round the end of Bribie island in the Beacon to Beacon book $37.00. Or just follow your chartplotter. We anchored on the inside of Bribie a mile south of the bridge, in 24ft at 27 04.946 S 153 09.423 E. In hind sight we should of anchored another 1/4 mile north as where we were, near the dock, it got quite bouncy for an hour with a tide rip and it was calm further up. Was lots of room to anchor. Nice spot to spend a couple of days.

Mooloolaba Australia Dec2010

We have enjoyed our short stay here inspite of all the rain. Last night was a Christmas parade of boats that went up and down the harbour all decked out with Xmas lights.
There are a lot of nice walking trails around here. Several trails along the open ocean beaches and trails down the canals. Lots of shops not to far away for us without a car. Am sitting here waiting for the rain to stop so we can go ashore again. It has been raining of and on for a week now and no end in site.
There has been serious flooding in many parts of Australia so far this season. They say this is the wettest spring Australia has ever had, and the highest their dollar has ever been. Perfect timing on our part.
Very early tomorrow morning, conditions permitting we will head South to Manly though we may anchor for the night of Bribie island and then continue to Manly the next day to work the tides right. There is a lot of tide action and shallow sand banks for miles around here so carefeul navigation is required and working the tides to also avoid wind against tide conditions if possible.

Wild ride heading South

We left Bundaberg port marina at 5am Nov 30 2010. Heading out of the river mouth out into Hervey Bay was a bit of a bumpy ride though nothing like we would get later. The wind was on the nose so made for slow going and we had to motor sail for a while until we could get a better angle on the wind and finally sail. Later in afternoon we had to motor sail some more as wind headed us again and we wanted to get to the start of the Great Sandy Strait behind Fraser Island before dark. We anchored by Sandy point near Fraser Island for the night. It rained some during the night and had rained some yesterday as well. The rain stopped so we inflated the dinghy and went for a walk on the beach and then headed out about 10 am to ride the tide up the strait. Careful navigation is required all through the strait as it is narrow and shallow and must follow the infrequent channel markers, our chart plotter helped alot.

The weather was foggy and of and on rain all day, not encouraging us to stop so we rode the tide up to a very shallow place and then caught the tide change down the other side of the strait and anchored by Pelican Bay ready to head out over Wide Bay Bar into the open sea. Our reservation in Manly by Brisbane was for the 7th of Dec but we needed to move with the weather. The next day they predicted NE winds instead of the usual SE winds so wanted to start South while winds were favourable. We decided to head for Mooloolaba about 50 miles South. There was a strong current in the anchorage and some wind so had a uneasy night.

We were up at 4:45am to catch hi slack at Wide Bay Bar. This bar has a nasty reputaion and many boats have come to grief here. As we left the protection of our anchorage we started punching into the ocean swell entering the channel and of coarse the wind was on the nose. So our motoring speed was down to 3 knots and then we left the channel heading for the first of the 3 waypoints the coast guard had given us over the radio. The sand banks are always shifting so they change the waypoints occasionaly. The seas rapidly got much larger and chaotic with violent boat motion. Our boat speed was now down to 1 to 2.5 knots and the next hour was not fun as the ocean here was like a huge tide rip. After an hour we reached the 2nd waypoint where you turn about 30 degrees to head for the 3rd and last waypoint. Now we were headed for the actual bar and the water which was about 60 feet deep got more and more shallow. We could sea the incoming swells now piling up and getting steep and the tips of some of them breaking. The water got down to about 18 feet which was almost shallow enough to great surf like conditions but not quite. A couple of waves were very steep and the boat climbed up them to crash down on the other side with a huge spay of water. Then 20 minutes later things slowly got better as we headed to deep water and the open ocean. This 2 hours was probably one of our most violent at sea.

We now could turn further South now and start sailing the seas were still quite rough for the conditions. A couple of rain squalls came through which messed up the wind so first there was not wind then 22 knots then 10 knots so lots of sail work and some motoring and chaotic seas.
By 11am things improved and we had a great sail the rest of the day and arrived of the harbor entrance at Mooloolaba about 5pm. We motored in the narrow entrance after being thrown about abit by a few large swells in the shallower water here. Inside was peace and quiet and smooth water. It was high tide now and we only had 11 to 18 feet under our keel as we headed past the marinas to the anchorage. We dropped anchor in about 13 feet and could finally relax.

We saw Rob on Shamatha and rowed over later for a quick hello and for the scoop on the area here. The next morning we toured the town which is a super place with lots to do, much better than Bundaberg.

Sailors Info:
Sandy point anchorage. We anchored in 18ft at 25 13.975 S 152 59.535 E. It is somewhat protected, we had a good night. Not sure what it would be like in a strong wind. Would not want to spent more time here, is just a place to stop for the night. Going through Great Sandy strait was ok with a chart plotter, could be a bit tricky otherwise as there is not as many channel markers as there should be. The theory I'm told is to ride a rising tide up the strait and arrive at the shallow area at high tide and then ride the tide change down the other side. The shallow area is where the N and S flood tides meet. My chartplotter uses the Navionics chips which seemed bang on.

The next anchorage on other side near wide bay bar at Pelican bay was just ok. We got there near dark and there was several other boats there. So we anchored in 18ft at 25 48.736
153 02.324 E. It was an uneasy night as was a strong current and windy making boat point into current, not wind. Might have been better to anchor back a couple of miles on side of channel where we saw some 2 boats anchored. Beacon to Beacon book good for all this area.
Wide bay bar, well, read the write up above. I heard best to transit near Hi slack tide. Also should call VMR Tin can bay for the latest 3 waypoints that guide you through bar.

Last 2 days in Bundaberg

Two days before we headed South we rented a car. Did a bunch of grocery shopping and then in the evening went to the Mon Repos turtle beach/research station where you can watch the logger head turtles come up the beach in the dark and lay eggs.

There was about 30 people there that night and we were divided into two groups. We had to wait about an hour until the ranger spotted a turtle was coming up beach and then we were led down the beach in the dark and stood behind the turtle as she dug a deep hole with her flippers to lay the eggs in. Apparently as long as we stay behing the turtle it is ok they don't leave.
The ranger put a flashlight on ground by hole so we could see better. Then the turtle proceded to drop eggs one by one until she layed 165 eggs and then covered them up with sand and smoothed it flat to hide where eggs were. The ranger stuck a stick in the ground to mark the spot, then the turtle proceeded back down the beach to the water. The ranger then decided that the eggs were laid at the high tide line and needed to be moved up a bit. So she dug up the eggs and dug a new hole higher up and handed eggs to all of us to carry up to the new hole. The eggs are about the size of a chicken egg but have a leathery feel. The hole process took about 3 hours and we got back to the boat about 11:30pm.

The last day before leaving we went for our last bike ride down a nice seaside trail. Often when cycling on the nearby roads, Magpies will fly at your head screeching loudly then circle around and come at you again and again following you for a half mile. We noticed a lot of cyclists have 6 inch twists of wire sticking out of the tops of their bike helments, which apparently discourages the birds. Other people paint a face on the back of their helments.