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.