Mooloolaba to Hervey Bay

Monday 18 June an early rise allowed us a 7am departure from Mooloolaba with the high tide. This time the bar was relatively benign although we took no chances and reversed our incoming path to take us to an open sea without any dramas. Jimmy was there in his tinny to bid us a bon voyage on a sparkling Monday morning.

Jimmy farewells us from Mooloolaba on a perfect Monday morning

The kite was soon put to good use in the light 5-10kn SSW breeze for the next 7hrs before we were forced to start the donk to keep up the modest average. It was about 6pm by the time we dropped the pick in the bay around the corner from Double Island Point. There was a very slight swell coming in but it was well protected from the prevailing wind and after an easy tea it was time to hit the sack.

Enough breeze to keep this up for 7 hrs out of 10

Tuesday 19 June
Wide Bay Bar which provides access to and from the southern end of The Great Sandy Straits has a section in it called The Mad Mile. The name is quite apt given its reputation for at times a dangerous piece of water especially when swell conspires with tidal current to create nasty breaking waves. Our turn to cross was uneventful having got the latest waypoints for the channel from the volunteer marine rescue and timed it well with a low swell and rising tide. Nevertheless it was sobering to imagine less than ideal conditions when we had breaking waves either side not too far away and at one point down to 2.5m below the keel.

Heading for Wide Bay Bar. Double Island Point left of pic and Rainbow Beach

Once inside Inskip Point we were greeted by calmness and sunshine of The Great Sandy Straits.
A mile north a sea eagle greeted us as we dropped anchor at Elbow Point to soak it all up. Lunch, a beach walk and a swim was the perfect entree.

Just inside Inskip Point and the serene waters of The Great Sandy Straits heading north

White Breasted Sea Eagle always a majestic sight near Inskip Pt

After lunch it was a short motor to one of the best known all weather anchorages, Garry's Anchorage for the night.

Miff sighting the distant channel markers into Garry's Anchorage

The next morning at Garry's we caught up with fellow cruisers Trevor and Gail who we met in Port Stephens and Derryn and Dianne from Devonport, Tas. We all set off on a pleasant walk through the foreshore bush then Miff and I continued on further to explore the sand and mudflats.

Early morning peace, Garry's Anchorage

I didn't realise!

The wonderful mangrove

Miniature life

Wandering aimlessly?

Thursday 21 June
Paying close attention to the tides we headed north to South White Cliffs relieved to have made it through the shallowest section in the Straits. South White Cliffs is a delightful anchorage with large expanses of water at high tide and sand at low tide and sunsets on cue.

Sandy Straits sunset

looking the other way

Just relaxing here is easy. Caught a couple of bream for tea, went for walks, had sundowners with Trevor and Gail. It's a photographers and twitchers delight. Fantastic birdlife here, sea eagles, ospreys, brahminy kites, herons, eagrets and they are only the ones we know. Then when the weather went grey and gloomy Miff put her book down and took to the galley to bake a delicious fruit cake ( don't take any notice of the expiry date of the mixed fruit) in the improvised pressure cooker oven.

Fresh is best

Miff works her magic with the pressure cooker oven

Its a big country

Mangrove leaves

Sandy Straits low tide

Plenty of sand for the Soldier Crab

End of another day

Sunday 24 June
The next part of the journey was unexpected. Instead of making our way to Hervey Bay in our own good time, when the sun was shining and the wind favourable my heart had other ideas. In short I had a heart attack which started about midnight Saturday at South White Cliffs. Sixteen hours later after a slow showery windy trip I was treated in Hervey Bay Hospital then flown that night to Royal Brisbane and stented a couple of days later.
Thursday 28 June
Discharged from hospital.

Some may say this is a drastic way to avoid Miff's cooking

Two hospitals and one stent later, Brisbane and my beautiful first visitors Sarah, Tim and Arlo

Back in Hervey Bay with friends Roy and Cindy

Our new crew member

Tuesday 24 July
Today Miff and I returned to Sorcerer in Urangan Marina, Hervey Bay and it felt good to be home. For the past 4 weeks I have been rehabbing in Sydney and on the NSW south coast where the walking on beaches and mountains is beautiful. Also I discovered an exercise trail in Hervey Bay which I made full use of by riding the bike to and doing a session. A checkup with my cardiologist in Brisbane on 30 July gave me the OK to finally get going north again so we restocked, refuelled and watered ready to go.

Southport to Mooloolaba

Southport to Mooloolaba

Making the inside passage of South and North Stradbroke Islands is a welcome sheltered alternative to the outside route especially when there is a big sea running. If the weather is good its even better when you can try fishing or crabbing, we weren't inspired to do either except for once on the last afternoon near Steiglitz. With our 2.2m draught we also needed to take careful note of the tides to reduce the chance of grounding in the shallower sections, Beacon to Beacon was a valuable navigation aid.  
After 3 days of windy rainy weather we arrived in calm clear conditions at a delightful anchorage next to Macleay Island at the bottom end of Moreton Bay. As a treat after being a bit boat bound for three days in the less than inviting weather we went ashore to the village to buy a few essentials and have a yummy meal of baked spud and coleslaw at The Blue Parrot Cafe.
A late start from Macleay Island saw us arriving at Bongaree inside Bribie Island 41nm north at about 8pm after a dead calm  Moreton Bay.

Moreton Bay sunset approaching the Port Brisbane shipping lane

Friday 16 June
We woke to a sunny clear morning and set off for Mooloolaba at 7am in a 10kn SW breeze. Having overestimated the distance we had to travel we arrived off Mooloolaba at 1.30pm with the tide only half way in.

sailing along Bribie Island with the spectacular Glasshouse Mountains behind

Passing Caloundra with The Glasshouse Mountains behind

After speaking to Marine Rescue about the state of the bar we decided to sit off and wait for the swell to abate, the tide to rise and to observe, with the help of AIS, the course taken by other vessels coming and going through the entrance. By about 3.30pm we thought we'd give it a go. The course involved heading towards the beach about 500m from the wall then running parallel with the beach just behind the breakers. When we were level with the outer end of the wall we ran towards it at 90 degrees. This took us through water as little as 900mm below the keel, and brought us to the end of the breakwall with just enough room to squeeze between it and the breaking waves across the mouth and at the same time watching out for surfers and all manner of water craft having a ball on the said wave.
Once inside (what a relief!) we were welcomed by Miff's brother Jimmy and friend Bruce and with their pilotage it was plain motoring to our secure anchorage amongst the waterfront mansions of Mooloolaba.

A warm welcome to Mooloolaba from Miff's brother Jimmy

A timely warning for a busy barway entry

Typical weekend traffic at Mooloolaba  barway

The weekend was spent off the boat with Jimmy and Julie at their home in Buderim enjoying hospitality only families can provide. The beautiful weather allowed a good tour of Mooloolaba with Jimmy and Julie including a Saturday morning cafe breakfast, tour of the canal marinas and homes and replenishing food, fuel and water supplies in readiness for our departure on Monday morning. 

Who needs a dinghy when you have a bath?  Mooloolah River local.

Iluka to Southport

With thoughts of sunny walks along beautiful beaches, swimming in warm surf and catching fish for dinner our time on The Clarence River didn't quite live up to expectations. Fortunately our time spent with my (John's) Aunty Sue, who lives at Iluka, more than compensated for the less than perfect weather. It began with fresh king prawns for lunch at Aunty Sue's and over the week in Iluka included many cuppas and catching up on family news and reminiscing. My Dad's and Aunty Sue's parents retired to Iluka and as a child I spent many memorable holidays here from the sixties onwards.

rainforest on The Bluff Nature walk

We managed to fit in between rainy days, a walk through the peaceful Nature Reserve rainforest to The Bluff Beach for a quick swim then back along the main Iluka Beach to town followed by a birthday celebration gathering for Aunty Sue at the Boatshed Cafe with the volunteers from the op shop for afternoon tea.

Sea eagle nest on telegraph pole Iluka

The anchorage in the bay is very secure and convenient to the beaches and all the town services including good coffee at Hullabaloo and fresh and good value fish & chips at the Fisherman's Co-Op.

The safe anchorage in the Iluka Bay

Miff performing maintenance in an exotic port

morning coffee & John's Mum's dateloaf Iluka

The well set up dinghy pontoon in the bay in front of the pub

Osprey nest on mobile tower Iluka

Ibis wandering the streets of Iluka

The day before leaving Iluka we drove to Woody Head with Aunty Sue to take in the scenery and share an ice cream. This was also a good place to get an idea of what the sea conditions were like for the next leg to Southport.

Woody Head interpretation sign

John and Aunty Sue at Woody Head

A short walk from the anchorage is the entrance wall, popular with fisherman, and a good viewing platform to survey the state of the barway. Always reassuring to know what to expect before committing.

fishing trawler heading out of the Clarence River mouth for a nights fishing

Monday 4 June
Aunty Sue's Birthday. Weighed anchor at 0645 on a clear blue morning with a light westerly blowing. Passed Moriaty's wall and waved to Aunty Sue as she sent us on our way. Cleared the entrance past a well behaved bar and out onto a gentle SSE swell. As the breeze picked up to 10-20kn WSW we made good time in reaching Cape Byron, 52 nm north by 1530.
 Between The Clarence and Cape Byron we had the thrill of siting at least six separate pods of humpback whales some way in the distance but clear enough to see them breaching and tail slapping with spectacular results. Also to complete the nature display we saw a turtle and had dolphins swimming alongside.

Cape Byron light Australia's most easterly point

distinctive landmark of Mt Warning off the Byron coast

As the sun set the wind increased to 15-25kn W and a brilliant moon rose in the east. By now we had a double reefed main and genoa but were still averaging 5.5kn. Because we wanted to wait until daylight to enter the Southport Seaway we needed to slow somewhat. Unfortunately we didn't have a lot of choice but to slow as we headed more NW from Tweed Heads and the wind also swung to the NW and kicked up a sharp short 2m + sea. We ended up having a pretty uncomfortable 6 hrs before tucking in close to the shore and motorsailing for the last 2 hrs in a dropping wind. The entry into Southport Seaway was very straightforward in an offshore breeze and rising tide. We soon found our way to Bum's Bay and a good anchorage for a well earned rest.

sunset north of Byron Bay

The Gold Coast south of the Seaway

Tuesday 5 June
After a couple of hours recovery nap we woke with the very big surprise of finding our friends from Tas , Tim and Sal, in the carpark opposite our anchorage waving at us. Of course we didn't delay in going ashore and heading to the nearest wine bar for a celebratory drink and catch-up. That evening we found a good value dinner at a Burleigh Heads hotel followed the next day by a very nice lunch at Tim's cafe choice in beautiful Burleigh sunshine.

beachside Tai Chi for the masses at Burleigh Heads

Saturday 9 June
Having sampled the gentler side of Goldcoast life, replenished supplies including a gas refill and the added bonus of seeing our Tassie friends it was time for a farewell coffee with Tim and Sal before continuing north. We anchored at the sheltered Tipplers Passage, South Stradbroke, a couple of hours away, in just enough water amongst the weekend revellers and powerboats.

Crowdy Head to Coffs Harbour

10th May, 2012 (my Mums birthday!)

A sunny, windless, cloudless day saw us leaving Crowdy Head for Camden Haven. Motored all the way on an oily sea for about 4 hours. Entering the Camden Haven bar was very uneventful on a flood tide. We anchored just off the jetty at the Laurieton United Services Club. We met fellow Taswegians Peter and Chris on 'Honey Bee' with fellow travelers Nic and Erica on 'Jepeda IV'.

Perpendicular Point on entry into Camden Haven

Next day we walked for an hour up North Brother Mountain through a beautiful forest of cycads and enormous eucalypts. Out on the top we had a very wide view north and south on a brilliant, cloudless day. A random koala had appeared in this area about 2 months ago all by himself but according to the ranger would probably be leaving soon to find a mate. It was a quick 45 minute walk back down to the boat.

John amongst the giants on North Brother-Laurieton

Track up North Brother

Entrance to Camden Haven(Sorcerer is middle boat in foreground) taken from North Brother Mountain.

A lonely boy who will depart soon from this place to find true love.

A large fig tree-Camden Haven

Aerial roots, fig tree-Camden Haven

We are definitely having one of these in OUR garden!

 12th May we motored out of Camden Haven around 1pm on a rising tide heading north to Coffs Harbour. We took about 18 hours due to very light wind so motorsailed most of the way. We dropped anchor at 7am between the old jetty and the harbour wall in company with Trevor and Gail on 'Newtsville' who we met in Port Stephens.

We greet the dawn nearing Coffs Harbour

Arriving Coffs Harbour

Miff at lookout on Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour Marina from Muttonbird Island

The following morning after receiving sad news from home we tucked Sorcerer into the marina and we were on a train to Sydney to collect our kids Martyn and Lindsay from New Zealand to return home for my Dad's funeral. A week later we returned to be presented with a large fresh King fish fillet caught that day by Liz and John from 'Blue Marlin'. We briefly met Liz and John just before heading to Tasmania the week before. The gesture was beautiful and very welcome. We managed three meals from their gift.

Looking south from Muttonbird Island across the harbour

Info about Solitary Islands which lie off the coast north of Coffs Harbour

Muttonbird Island is associated with a dreamtime story of the Moon Guardian who tendered the muttonbirds on the island as food for the local Gumbayngirr people and they named it Gittain Mirera.

Alarm set for 1230am we headed out into the darkness around 1am. With the South Solitary Island light winking at us and only a 5-10kn SSW breeze we motorsailed for the first few hours. As the breeze increased to 10-20kn, along with a following sea, we enjoyed a modest 5.2 kn average for the leg to the Clarence despite the East Australian Current which runs predominately south at between 1- 4 kn.  If you hug the coast it can help a lot but this is not a good idea at night. Crossing the Clarence River bar was uneventful and we dropped anchor in the Iluka Bay at 2pm.

The EAC-good for heading south!(not a good photo but you get the idea)