East Coast Cruise 2014: Manly, Brisbane to Bundaberg

S 24 45.42’, E 152 23.68’

Manly, Brisbane to Bundaberg

We finally set off on our East Coast 2014 cruise up the coast of Queensland on the 14^th May. With a fair breeze and friend Robbi aboard we had a fast sail across Moreton Bay over to Tangalooma on Moreton Island, where we moored for the night inside the wrecks placed there to provide a more secure mooring – they don’t work that well, but good as bird roosts.

Tangalooma wreck, Moreton Bay

Channel marker Myora, Moreton Bay

Then, another nice fast sail up to Mooloolaba, where we stayed in the marina rather than anchor in the river as we expected the stay to be a bit longer. The SE winds stayed at 20-24Kts for the next few days so a bit of a swell built up on the ocean, which prevented us from the next leg, which was to cross the Wide Bay Bar to go in behind Fraser Island – the extra ocean swell of 3M makes the sand bar unpassable. So we spent 4 relaxed days of chilling, downing coffees and cakes, and kicking the tyres of a few boats and boat deals. Jo made sure I kept my cheque book on Kirra Kirra.

Nice new genoa doing its work

Genoa adds 1-2 Kts speed.

Surfing the Mooloola River bar on a surf ski

Jo and Robbi, Mooloolaba beach

After 4 days, the winds had dropped a little, we had itchy feet and were bored with being in one place for too long, so we sailed up to Wide Bay and anchored for the night in behind Double Island Point – of course the swell came around the point and made our O/N anchorage a bit of a roller coaster.

Our anchorage off sand cliffs on Rainbow Beach, Wide Bay. Note the swell

White water on the Wide bay Bar - not a biggie as it was off to the side

Then crossed the bar, which has a well-deserved reputation for surprises, but this day was normal – just a bit of white water to the side and the swell built to 1.5-2M on the bar, making it a bit of a downhill run coming in. And then we were into the calm protected waters of The Great Sandy Straits - it is a tad shallow in spots and we bumped one sand bar.

A night at Garry’s Anchorage saw my best haul of mud crabs to date – 6 angry and snappy crabs in the one crab-pot! Only 2 keepers, both very good size – of the others the 2 females had to go back (isn’t that always the way with the girls) and 2 were undersized.

Garry's Anchorage, Fraser Island

Garry's at sunset. Feel that tranquillity

After a visit to Kingfisher resort on Fraser Island (the largest sand island in the whole wide world – so ‘tis said - we spent a night anchored off Big Woody Island. Hooked 3 nice sized fish using prawn heads for bait - landed one nice snapper. One too big and broke the 30lb line.