Rest at last....

Well, it's been a long day.... We were up at 0430hrs, with just a quick cup of coffee and a muesli bar for breakfast. After checking the boat, we set off just before 0500hrs and we crossed the Mooloolah River bar in pitch blackness just after that. Conditions outside weren't the best, with a confused swell rocking the boat. We soldiered on in the darkness, knowing that we needed to be at the Wide Bay bar on the southern end of Fraser before noon. Why the hurry? Well the Wide Bay bar is one of the most treacherous bars in Queensland, and we needed to be there on the rising tide when the bar is at its safest.

Spooky sunrise - Image by Navman

After an hour or so the sun came up....Well it sort of came up, but it was only visible for a few minutes before it was completely obscured by the thick cloud and rain banks. There were numerous heavy squalls out to sea, and we hoped that they would stay out there away from us. Our hopes were upheld.....for a while.

Double Island Point in heavy rain - Image by Navman

By 0845 we were off Double Island Point. 

For those not familiar with the area, this is a wild section of coast with a beautiful rocky headland. The area is also home to the notorious Wolf Rock, which is an isolated rock which is just above sea level. 

Just as we rounded the headland we were hit by a heavy rain squall and visibility was reduced to a hundred metres or so. Wolf Rock disappeared in the gloom and we needed to concentrate carefully to get around the headland and avoid crashing into something.

After a few minutes the rain cleared and we made our way to the approach point for Wide Bay Bar. The rain stayed away for a while and Captain Bligh guided us expertly across the three nautical miles (5km) of confused water in the bar. It was an exhilarating ride, with Endless Summer being pushed along at around 16 knots by the following sea.

Soon we were inside, and in almost total calm in the waters of the Sandy Straits. What a relief after the rocking and rolling we had been experiencing for the previous five hours! 

Coast Guard Tin Can Bay 

We made coffee and set a trolling line so that we could fish on the four mile run down to Snapper Inlet and Tin Can Bay. No fish were caught, but it was a relief to be motoring again in such fabulous conditions. 

Not fabulous for long though. The rain squalls followed us in to Tin Can Bay, and it rained for most of the rest of today.

Tin Can Bay is a great little town, and I hope that its quiet and laid back atmosphere is never spoiled by over-development. We have a couple of minor problems with Endless Summer, and the people at the local chandlery were incredibly helpful, even offering to pick up parts in Brisbane for us over the weekend.

The Coast Guard units at Mooloolaba and Tin Can Bay were also very helpful on our run north, with clear advice and great coverage.

Tomorrow we will be getting the boat ready for its next stage north. We have a couple of electrical problems to deal with, plus some cleaning and reprovisioning to do.  

Sunday might be a day of rest. I think that we all could use one. We have now completed over 600 nautical miles since Monday morning, and most of this has been in open ocean. We also need to wait for the next good weather pattern.

It's been a long day, so I'm signing off now.....

Till tomorrow,

Navman