Wide Bay Bar crossing. Our grand entry into Mooloolaba

We spent the night anchored in 7 mtrs of calm water at the southern end of Fraser Island. I woke at 4.20 am to the unfamiliar howling of a dingo on shore. This triggered a thunder of startled bird calls. Lying below the large escape hatch window I could see the first thin light of dawn. Glenn was already awake and preparing Sea Trek III for her final leg of this season. The yacht next to us had raised it's anchor and was motoring out. Other cruisers were on their decks readying equipment.

Up and moving at sunrise.

So why such an early start? (Being an 'evening person' I call it 'extreme sailing').

The tide, wind and sea conditions for crossing the dangerous and notorious Wide Bay Bar were perfect. An early start ensured plenty of sea time prior to the next port of call, Mooloolaba. The winds were predicted to be N NE, at 15 to 20 knots, promising a great day of boisterous down wind sailing.

Benign: Wide Bay Bar.

The Wide Bay Bar has an area called "the Mad Mile". It's a shake up of steep waves from all directions. The resulting wave action on a vessel is extremely confused. In anything other than perfect conditions a yacht's stability is under threat. Three sets of coordinates were kindly provided by local Volunteer Marine Rescue. We plotted our course. This crossing demanded concentration. We passed through the area without incident. We enjoyed the day of sail south.

The winds gradually increased as forecast. By the time we needed to drop the head sail the waters were becoming choppy. The vessel pictured past us heading out to sea and took many waves over the bow.

Beating against wind and tide.

We lined up the leads for our entry into the Mooloolah River. (waterways of Mooloolaba). The waters inside the grey stone breakwalls looked calm. But outside during our approach we were really being tossed around. The NE 25knots winds were churning things up. The depth sounder showed 2.5 mts; a new shallow bank had shifted since our last visit. Glenn was at the helm. My eyes were fixed on the rapidly approaching stone walls.

We were within 20 mtrs of the grey rock entrance when the engine splutter and stopped. I turned to see fear on Skipper Glenn's face. O M G, this was not a joke. We had momentum from the following winds and Sea Trek III was charging forward. It was chaos: "Jen get back here: raise the headsail. I can't controll her". We struggled against tremendous wind pressure in the narrow channel. The head sail flapped violently. We needed it unfurled it again to gain some control. The rock embankment was very close.

I contacted the Coast Guard Mooloolaba on the VHF radio to tell them that we were without engine power ; we were in the channel; that we would have to drop anchor; that we were rounding the corner, and that we would be needing a tow,..please. They said that they would come immediately to our aid. We dropped head sail and anchored. RHONDA RESCUE, in all of her sunflower yellow was on her way.

Ten friendly faces in bright orange uniforms reached out to help us. Multiple fenders and lines were attached to ST3, and within a minute we were nudged safety into a pontoon. As quickly as they arrived they left. A whirlwind of efficiency and professionalism. What a worthy volunteer organisation!

"Help me Rhonda,..help, help me Rhonda.."

With dock lines adjusted we breathed a sign of relief. Laurie a fellow cruiser and skipper of Pretty Alright motored past to check that we were okay. He had heard my distress call on the VHF.

A dinghy pulled up and more sailing friends appeared. Linda and Bill of Valiam (and more recently Lati) arrived with a bottle of Bubbly. They had returned from a Mediteranian adventure only weeks earlier. We spent the evening exchanging all sorts of stories. What incredible adventurers they are, and they live right here in Mooloolaba. Linda invited us to lunch with the promise of authentic Greek cuisine. (thanks to Christina).

Circumnavigators and fleet owners.

Bill and Linda supplied us with bicycles ('apparently' mine had brakes but only one gear) and took us on a tour of their favourite bike paths. We now know some of the best cafés, BBQ spots, surf and waddling beaches. It's all just a convenient short dinghy ride away. Thanks so much.

 

Jen and a captive stolen toy.

We'll be here for a while now, and we think that we'll enjoy ourselves (even if it means employment).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Part two Mooloolaba: Flashbacks

Mooloolaba: I lived in this area in the early 80's and it was really great to revisit this week. I spent lots of time catching up with some really great friends. It felt almost like I had never left. Special thanks to Jim and Leonie for your hospitality and for organising the great night out: Mexican. (memories of the famous Rusty's).The amazing coincidence was that John and Lee had just returned to Australia after living in Bali for 14 months on the same day that we arrived in Mooloolaba. Weirder still, I was the first person to ring them on their new phone. All in all it was great to see them again and relive how hard we use to work in the 80's!

The Bluff: (one of my old worksites in the 80's).

Old surfers never age, they just keep rusting away.

Best Mexican in 28 years!

Jen and I also received another really pleasant surprise with the unexpected arrival of Captain Wally and his lovely wife Karen, both sailors from Moruya in southern NSW. We met Capt Wally and Karen on our sailing voyage to Tasmania in Crazy Lady. For an interesting ( funny) read about this unique event:

http://sailingadventuresofcrazylady.blogspot.com.au/2010_01_01_archive.html

Wally and Karen came to visit their son who now lives in the area. We had a few very relaxed days catching up with them as well, including a long walk to some of my old haunts. They report that our old Mercedes is enjoying the rural holiday in their Moruya paddock, along with two catamarans including their Hoo Roo.

Captain Wally and his all girl crew.

The Sunshine Coast turned on the sunshine, the weather was perfect. Everyone we met made our stay so pleasant that it was hard to leave. Jen and I are convinced that we will return to Mooloolaba in November to wait out the cyclone season before we head much further north next year.

Where we are now:

http://skipr.net/where-is/boat-pages/?boatid=1122

 

 

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Part One Mooloolaba

By Jen: We have spent so much time socialising since arriving in Mooloolaba that we are a little behind in the blogging.

We are also waiting for repairs to be completed to the auto pilot (third time lucky)? This will decrease the exhaustion level of skipper and crew.

I wanted to share some of my impressions of Mooloolaba. This place is a Mecca with the well monied Grey Nomads ( retirees). I felt positively youthful from Monday to Friday walking along the promenade. ( The weekend was the usual mix of youth dudes.) The facilities for the public are top quality, and the nights reveal some interesting lighting.

Sculptural and elegant hand rails.

Dreamy by night.

SAILABILITY is strongly supported in Mooloolaba. This is an event/activity organised several times a week for disabled people to enjoy the unique sensations of being on the water. A large troop of volunteers gather with specialised equipment to assist in lowering and raising the participants into and out of the dinghies. Much laughter and hooting from happy sailors.

Colour and fun.

Lots a gleeful sounds as this dinghy passed by.

The Mooloolaba Yacht Club shares the grassy foreshores with the marina. We spent time here with friends old and new. Jessica Watson "the world's youngest circumnavigator to sail solo and unassisted" is duly acknowledged with plaques and displays, as were her sponsors.

Jessica Watson: Our hero .

Bruce Arms is also a local and was a very generous sponsor to Jessica's triumph. He also holds the record for his own quick run around the paddock in his catamaran.

So what is our connection with this Bruce Arms? He skippered our yacht Crazy Lady after she was sold and sailed her from Hobart to Western Australia, via the Great Australian Bight. I feel so proud about Crazy Lady making it with ease because Glenn and I put a great deal of sweat and tears into her transformation...(not to mention the fact that she carried us safely across Bass Strait).

 

Mauve in colour: the record breaking Big Wave Rider.

Lots of animals inhabited the vegetated foreshores of the Mooloolaba beach strip. Extensive boardwalks meaner through the seperation zone between "surf and turf".The Bush Turkeys wouldn't stay still long for a photograph, and the dense shade created further challenges for this photographer. It's also the season for mating and nesting. Lots of scratching of the undergrowth building compost leaf mounds in the forest environment.

Why am I the only person in our walking groups to see Lizards? I have identified four kinds so far just sitting beside the pathways.

I love lizards.

This next photo is a monument erected for the dogs who went to war. It is dedicated to my mum, who is computer literate and has recently had a degree of vision restored.

I had to pat the dog.

Glenn is really enjoying the enforced break that Mooloolaba has provided.

"It's such a perfect day; You just keep me hanging on..."

Sea TrekIII bathing in pink Champagne.

This will be followed by part 2 Mooloolaba. Very soon we hope to be safely tucked into the Great Sandy Straits.

 

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Manly, Moreton Island to Mooloolaba.

Glenn: I Had a phone call from a Sydney friend last week while we were tied up at the marina in Manly. He asked "Where are you?" "Manly" I replied, "What, you're back in Sydney?" . Well apparently Sydney doesn't have exclusivity to the Manly name. Yes, there is a Manly in Brisbane, and a lovely place it is. It's a village that caters to sea faring folk, with the best fish & chips found so far on this voyage. After topping up our diesel tanks on Saturday morning we set sail for Moreton Island. Our destination was the "Big Sandhills" at the southern end of the island. Looking at the chart I figured that the sandhills would be a great place to anchor in the prevailing SE winds.

Saturday morning: kids in skiffs. (obstacle course leaving Manly)

We had a great sail over to Moreton, Sea Trek III revelling in the 15 - 20 knot breeze. I really didn't know too much about Moreton Bay before this trip. To be honest I hadn't put too much thought into it. Let me say I was very impressed with the bay, it's a pristine waterway that is also a great cruising ground, with many anchorages for yachts. I don't think I would like to be out there in a big westerly, because it would be very exposed to any wind from that quarter.

We boasted to our fellow sailors.

We arrived mid afternoon to find at least 20 other yachts anchored there. I guessed then that I had made the right decision! Jen managed to see a dugong, and we both spotted several huge manta rays in the crystal clear water. Our friends Ines and Steve from SV Bravado called to say they were on the way from the Gold Coast and hoped soon to be anchored nearby. We met them on our extended stay in Port Stephens, and have shared various anchorages with them on our journey north, including Camden Haven, Coffs Harbour and Bums Bay on the Gold Coast. Over a coffee on Bravado we decided to head for Mooloolaba first thing Sunday morning.

Anchorage Big Sandhills Moreton Island.

Dinghy ashore.

We left for Mooloolaba early Sunday and had a brisk and eventful rocky "washing machine" trip,(Ill leave it at that) arriving at Mooloolaba marina about 3.30pm. I lived in the area for about 5 years in the 80's and look forward to catching up with some old friends. More next post.

Where we are:

http://skipr.net/where-is/boat-pages/?boatid=1122

 

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One for Jen

I put this little video together as a tribute to Jen, who has come along for the ride on my crazy sailing dream. If it wasn't for Jen's enthusiasm I would be lost at sea! This clip features a couple of nice sailing days with a little song I did on my uke and glok, all recorded on the iphone.

 

Thanks Jen.

Where we are:

http://skipr.net/where-is/boat-pages/?boatid=1122

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