Mooloolaba to Great Sandy Straits

Sunday 26 July 2010

Up at 0330 for a quick shower, a cup of tea and a piece of toast. (It sounds a bit like a line from 'Matthew & Son' as in the Cat Stephens song). We cast off the lines and motored out of Mooloolaba Harbour at 0525 in the bleak rainy darkness to make sure we'd get to Wide Bay Bar on a rising tide before darkness. (Cruising is truly pleasurable at times and then there are the other times).

With wind on our port quarter from the SW at 10-15kts we unfurled the genoa and made 5-6 kts with the engine going. The sea was still a bit lumpy with a 2m swell following causing a bit of a wallow and the sky was somewhat bleak but as the piccies show 'Los Saaremaates' were in good form even if a little chundery.






Later the wind changed around to the SE at 15kts steady and we even managed to turn the engine off for 1 1/2 hours of peace and quiet as we approached Double Island Point. The sea had settled down and we toddled along at 4.5 - 5 kts for a time then the engine went on again once we got below 4kts.

 The sea and sky look so lovely in the photo, probably a bit like the current NSW weather. The dolphins did their thing escorting us for a while and the whales put in an appearance, fortunately not like the one off CapeTown in South Africa.

Wide Bay Bar was an interesting experience following the waypoints given by the Coast Guard it took 20 minutes at 6kts to cross from the first WP until we logged off safely inside Wide Bay Harbour at the third WP. It was lumpy with confused cross seas but fortunately no breaking waves and many locals were coming back in across the bar so conditions must have been good (all things are relative to what one is used to). No pictures of the bar as it was a bit busy checking for way points and keeping the heading.


We cruised on up the channel at 7 kts with the floodtide and anchored inside Inskip Point in 5m of water close to the shoals along with several other cruising boats. It was a pretty location but one would not think so from the photo.

Safe and sound at anchor we had dinner and went to bed at 1900.

Mooloolaba

 Tues 20th to Sat 24 July 2010

What a great place Mooloolaba is with lots of eateries and coffee shops down the road from the marina. The beach and bay are perfect for a swim in weather warmer than 20C, mind. Note that Anne is not ready for the water as we take a short cut along the compacted sand of the shore. A lovely stroll along the boardwalk brings you out near the Surf Lifsaving Club which has roast dinners (yum but we missed out). The fishing co-op, which was right next door to the marina, had great seafood and excellent chips, which will always get Michael's vote.

Entry to Mooloolaba harbour is well marked with a non problematic bar due to the sand dredge working constantly to remove any build up of sand and replenish the beach. Coast Guard Mooloolaba are a short walk from the marina and have a sheet with the latest waypoint updates for Wide Bay Bar (which can get a bit treacherous at times). The waypoints in 'Beacon to Beacon' are not current due to the shifting nature of the sands. What else would one expect at the bottom of  'The Great Sandy Straits' besides a bit of sand shifting around.

Beautiful sunny weather for the next 3 days saw us out and about taking in the ambience of Mooloolaba. No cultural activities here but a stroll up to Alexandra Headland took us to where the mast of HMAS Brisbane looks out to the final resting place of the now dive wreck 3nm offshore. HMAS Brisbane's bridge and control room are located at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Anne the sailor is gracing the mast support, once again wearing another stunning outfit.

Along the forshore drive is the Anti-Hoon measure signpost which we thought a very novel idea. Perhaps there should be more of it, especially when those rowdy LMYC CD's are out and about!!!
On checking the weather for the trip north we decided to leave at 0500 Sunday morning, hence a rainy Saturday meant resupply at Coles, fill the water tanks and the gas bottle, then pay up ready to ship out. The rain stopped us from walking down to the Surf Club for a roast dinner so we had to settle for a seafood extravaganza instead from the Fishermans Co-op. Michael was so stuffed with food he could not manage all of the chips. Was it the dozen oysters, calamari, prawns, and the mahi mahi fish that were just too much for the belly that left insufficient space for the chips?? (We will never know).

Bruce & Meagan from Yamba in 'Winkali' an Adams 36 we met in manly and again in Mooloolaba. They are on their way north also.

Michael supported by Anne plans another great sea voyage Saaremaa style with a glass of 'Ribena' for sustenance.

Anne has a glass of 'lemonade' and as responsible sailors we always double check our passage plan (the next day) especially if the' turps' has been out and about.

Manly to Mooloolaba

Tuesday 20 July 2010
Bye bye 'Privateer' sleeping happily in your pen.

We awoke to the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the deck at 0100hrs. Luckily it stopped before we left our pen at 0300hrs. The air was dead still and the engine was not needed to exit the pen.
Motoring out of Manly harbour the light on the port marker had gone out (new bulb needed) but we managed to stay on the correct side down the channel to our first waypoint from the Beacon to Beacon book. GPS navigation in the dark is an amazing technology (poor Capt Cook who navigated without it). Anne was a bit nervous, with good reason, as all the waypoint were entered in our GPS by Michael (oh ye of little faith).

Motoring across Moreton bay towards Moreton Island in the blackness was most unlike Lake Macquarie as several large ships were at anchor: it was more like being off Newcastle. By the time we were on the Eastern side of the bay the dawn started to break so we put the mainsail up and unfurled the genoa and were making 6 knots (aah for the peace and quiet without the engine).

The ebb tide took us along at up to 8 knots a speed which Saaremaa rarely reaches.
Anne had a particularly enjoyable sail see pic. (No seriously she was enjoying it, Michael).
For the first time on this trip we managed to do most of it under sail alone and reached Mooloolaba crossing the flat bar at 1300 hrs which equated to an average speed of 5.5 knots.

Several large boats were awaiting the pilot to enter Brisbane, who then arrived and we played dodge ship with them as they moved off. Michael noticed later that it is not recommended to pass across the pilot boarding area in the 'Beacon to Beacon' (as we did). Bugger me, its a bit like the Military Exclusion Zone there is all this open sea and the shortest way is straight, across why not? Because it becomes a great game when you are looking down the anchor holes and you may feel somewhat vulnerable. We survived.

Entering the marina pen was once more a challenge with a little scrape on the starboard side as Michael bashed his way into the berth (Its a good job Saaremaa is a tough steel boat with Michael at the helm).
The sunset was absolutely amazing with the 'Mackerel Sky' clouds and the fiery sinking of the sun.
The two stuffed little Saaremaates tied up, booked in and then conked out for a while.

Brrrr!! Not Tropical Sailing

We are glad its not like this anymore.

It was not like this lovely Cambodian weather the Elephant people Jennifer & Paul enjoyed.
Tip: Be kind to your mother or the mahoot!
An in joke for the Grays.
Sorry to any blog viewers that did not do the Norwood Budget Tour of Cambodia/Vietnam but the itinerary is open for the NBT to the next destination, sign up here (at your peril!!!).

Manly to Brisbane

Sunday 18 July 2010

A little trip to Brisbane on the train wore out the Saaremaates today as we walked all around the city and then back to the RQYS. A couple of beers helped revive us as we watched the Laser Masters returning to the club.


On the foreshore at Manly was a bunch of large inflatable palm trees (sorry Ray and Chris, we could not harvest them for you).







We checked out the pile berths on the Brisbane River near the city centre and decided they were not for those of us who like a peaceful berth without wash from the constant river traffic.
Amongst the vessels would have to be one of the least attractive we have seen for a time (see right). Only a mother could love it!









Old Government House in Brisbane is a site worth visiting for many reasons. It contains a number of artworks by William Robinson including his 1995 Archibald Prizewinning 'Self Portrait with Stunned Mullet'. The presentation of information via video footage gives a detailed and interesting account of that period of Queensland's history,it has the delectable Sigrid Thornton presenting the commentary and its FREE.
That was our cultural outing for the week.

Canaipa Point to Manly

Thurs 15 July

On a clear sunny morning with light NW winds we motored to Peel Island in Southern Moreton Bay passing a sunken motor cruiser on one of the many sand banks, a large turtle and managed to avoid the frequent ferry services to North Stradbroke Island.
We anchored in Horshoe Bay on the South side of the island and went ashore tethering 'Muhu' (our dinghy) at the hitching rail in search of the old gaol (Michael is in the doorway).



Peel Is is a former leper colony so we had to go ashore to appease Anne's warped fascination with such places. Alas there are no information signboards on the island, which is a National Park, only signposts with 'No Fires' and 'Keep off, Unsafe Structure!'
The wreck of the 'Platypus' is a forlorn sight at the eastern end of the island along with the "Unsafe Structure!' which Anne is standing on.


After our little island sortie it was a brisk paddle (too lazy to get the outboard off, ie @ 27kg you think twice about it) back to Saaremaa just as the wind got up, a bit longer and we would have ended up at North Stradbroke.
We upped anchor and moved up the bay for a nice quiet night which turned out to be a bit more rolly-poly than we expected when the wind came in from the south.

Moreton Bay looks a bit like Lake Macquarie except there are a lot more shoals and large ferries going back and forth. Also the entrance from the Gold Coast Seaway is a bit trickier than the Swansea channel and a bit longer but at least you don't have to wait for a bridge to lift.

The beach babe below is wearing the latest of Saaremaa's Winter Collection and looking particularly stunning in hat , tee, shorts and Burke dekkies.

Friday 16 July
Another glorious day so it was time to sail for Manly only 9nm away but it took us 4 hrs ( just as well this is not a global circumnavigation).
'Benny Boy' (wind vane) had a go at steering for about an hour but failed miserably, going off to port then off to stbd, probably due to Michael's lack of accurate setting up or the wind was not right or whatever????
Finally with 3nm to go and only making 1nm in the previous hour the motor went on and we were in Manly in no time at all motoring through the Masters Laser Dinghy fleet as they crossed the channel access to Manly Harbour.
We tied up in a pen (Michael managed this one reasonably well) at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, $42/night for a 12m berth (not too bad). This marina is huge and Manly has more masts and boats than we have seen before. There are 4 separate marinas in the harbour.
'Privateer' is an old friend across the way , whom we last saw in Fame Cove, Port Stephens, back in December. She is in a pen with covers on and looking as well kept as during Mike and Leonie's time.

Gold Coast to Moreton Bay

Gold Coast (still)
Tues13 July, still here in fab Runaway Bay, washing done, boat watered, dieselled and ready.
Check out the washing, now do we look like a real cruising boat?
After a tour of the GC with Stephen & Bev Murray (pictured with Anne) seeing the view from on high and the over the top palaces of some of the canal estates it makes one wonder. (What that is, who knows??) thanks to Stephen & Bev for their hospitality and company.

The Broadwater from on high where you may be able to discern the entrance bar. This view is to the NE. If you cannot find the bar do not enter and if you enter follow the channel marks or its grounding time.
It may be our grounding time as we proceed up the GC seaway to Moreton Bay but lets hope not.


'Kiwa' with Phil & Cathy from Adelaide were penned close to us as fellow Runaways and we hope to see them further up the coast.
With a deep draft they are not keen to chance another grounding up the Seaway and will be heading to sea and onto Mooloolaba. Everyone goes aground up here so we hope that when our time comes it is soft and short lived. We are heading up the channel on a rising tide, if I can find the tide table book.


Jenny (Anne's niece) came for a quick visit and a glass of plonk, sorry I mean a Chateau Four Dollar cleanskin, which was very drinkable. Yes life is hard up here with The Bud Naked being saved for more out of the way anchorages. ( Bud Naked wine one would be aware is in a pouch and hence has no empty bottle wasting boat space, not a bad drop Chris & Nikki)





Wed 14th July.
We headed up the seaway towards Moreton Bay overnight at Horshoe Bay, Peel Island. Alas it was not to be, for although we avoided the dreaded grounding by the time we entered the bay the wild SW wind convinced us to retreat. We anchored at the lovely Canaipa Point waking to a beautiful day.

Left Lake Mac on to Gold Coast

Welcome to Saaremaa's weblog.
As blog virgins it may be a bit bland to start with but here goes.

'Saaremaa'
Anne & Michael are currently headed up to the warmer weather of Queensland, destination indeterminate, on their Adams 35, shoal draft, cruising yacht, 'Saaremaa'.
Provisioning went well with the grog stowed first and the necessities of life such as food and clothing packed in after wards.

Lake Macquarie
We started with a wet and misery 2 nights in Lake Macquarie tied up at the LMYC then headed up the Swansea channel over a lumpy bar for Port Stephens on Wed 23 June 2010.

Port Stephens
Arriving in Pt Stephens at 1500 we headed for Salamander Bay where we picked up a vacant buoy close to shore near Jennifer and Paul's. We spent several days on this very useful mooring in between trips up to Nelson Bay for shopping. Finally the weather looked good so we headed for Shoal Bay for an early start on the trip north to Forster. After the misery weather of the lake Salamander Bay put on a spectacular sunset not long before we left Pt Stephens.

Cape hawke Harbour (Forster/Tuncurry)
Monday 28 June we left Shoal bay at 0530 in the dark with 20kts from the SW and a following sea of 3m which made things a bit boisterous. We managed to avoid hitting Boughton Island and surrounding rocks then set course for Forster/Tuncurry which I had never heard of being called Cape Hawke Harbour before (you live and you learn). Arriving on low tide we anchored in the river opposite the Fishing Co-op just next to the low sand island that is under water at HT.
We were a bit nervous about the tide change when anchoring in the river as 200m upstream is the low bridge we did not want to attempt limbo-ing under. All was well and we did not make the news. Anne is enjoying the ocean on the way to Trial Bay and she even had whales waving their 'army' flipper things at her in the photo above.

Port Macquarie
Tues 29 June saw a beautiful day with dolphins, whales and calm sea conditions where Raylene our autopilot had a wonderful steer most of the day. On arrival at Pt Macquarie we entered the Port Marina where Michael managed to enter and then leave a berth without mishap.

Trial Bay
Wed 30 June, 0730 and we crossed the bar for another round of Saaremaa and the sea towards Trial Bay. More work for Raylene and and calm conditions saw us anchoring in Trial Bay just below the old gaol. Here we came across the only stroppy VMR radio operator on the coast fortunately his morning colleague had a better manner. Absolutely no swell was encountered in the bay and we had a clean anchor to haul in, beautiful. Notice our Trial Bay prison garb airing in the breeze in the photo above left.

Coffs Harbour
Thurs 1 July on to Coffs Harbour with arrival a 1300 sea conditions OK but weather deteriorating. Tied up to a wharf and stayed for 5 nights. An easy tie up for Michael on the outside of the finger wharf next to 'Infini' a Westsail 32 owned & skippered by Shair (danger woman) an adventurous Sydneysider. (Anne, Shair & 'Infini' discuss the merits of sailing)
Friday 2nd brought a rainy cold and misery day with the only saviour being our fan heater plugged into the mains supply at dock. A cab out to the airport to give a part of Benny Boy the windvane to a welder provided our outing for the day.
Saturday we spent the night at Safety Beach with Janet and Dave (See photo topleft Dave Janet & Anne). Anne was missing the rolling motion of the V-berth and did not sleep as well as Michael who was snoring for Australia's first division.
After a couple of more lazy days in Coffs we finally decided to head for Yamba/Iluka but Anne had the brilliant idea of doing an overnighter straight through to the Gold Coast. (this is true - more fool me! Anne)
The course was plotted using Graeme's ('Spirit 7') charts for the shortest route to Southport.
Yes I did see the Military Exclusion Zone off Evans Head and naturally ignored it in my plotting!!!
When logging on to VMR Coffs Hbr Anne was asked about being aware of the zone and said, " Of course we know all about it. Michael!!!" We replotted. Bugger its much further!
We finally left Coffs at 0930 Tues 6 July. 30 hrs later after much motor sailing (27hrs) a few hand steering when Raylene went to bed with Michael.
It was back to helming again for Anne until 0300 saw a change of watch with Annie freezing and hallucinating it was Michael's turn for joy. With only one involuntary gibe both ways around 0500 I was glad that the main was on the 2nd reef and the wind light.we arrived at the Gold Coast Seaway entrance on an ingoing tide at 1400 hrs Wed 7 July safe and sound. We were 2 stuffed little sailors, a brilliant idea Anne!!
Thanks to all for their emails and texts. Much appreciated.


Gold Coast
On entering the Seaway we received a message mentioning that a car was available at Runaway Bay Marina. With absolutely no hesitation whatsoever we looked up the Marina, rang about a berth and headed for it. Thanks Harry & Penny.
Luckily the pen was huge and there was no wind so Michael almost managed to get into it without going too far sideways, although the Davidson 57 in the pen over the way was very useful in pushing off from the bow. Many hands are required for our berthing!!!
What a TOP SPOT Runaway Bay turned out to be: excellent amenities, great cafe, laundromat, walking distance to a large shopping centre and local trendy shops, on a bus route to Southport and all this for only $30/night plus a set of steak knives (well maybe not the knives).

We have been days doing this first blog and now its Monday 12 July, a month since we set out, so its time to post.