21 April – 22 April

Finally departed Brisbane and had great conditions with a 15kt S/SE breeze. The slight swell in Moreton Bay highlighted the sandbars with breaking wave - always impressive to watch … and steer clear of! Once out of the protection of the bay the swell was up to about 3m+ and the winds kicked in and it made for a rolly trip. Getting into Mooloolaba was interesting with a pretty decent swell, and Tania was stunned by a kayaker who crossed right in front of us as we entered the channel. She might have given him an ever so quiet ‘oi!’ which he figured out really meant ‘bugger off you idiot’.

0400 departure from Mooloolaba, no problems crossing the bar, but certainly needed to time the sets. We had a very rolly sail to Wide Bay with 2-3m swell and 15 kts up the clacker. We arrived in good time to cross the bar, otherwise known as the Mad Mile, with a rising tide. Wrong! We got the GPS coordinates to come in from TinCanBay Coastguard, but there really is no good time to come in with a 2-3m swell! We got smashed crossing the bar and broached once. I also think we touched the bottom surfing down a 3m breaking wave. Conditions improved across the bar but still VERY uncomfortable. Probably a more dramatic experience than the 50kts we experienced at Cape Palliser. New jocks required. Kids watched TMNT throughout and Harry fell asleep! Glad to be safely anchored at Pelican Bay.

Over and out …
Jeff