1770 to Burnett Heads (Bundaberg)

Fri 3 Sept 2010

A 'goat boat' at the entrance to Round hill Creek

Up early again with anchors away (as in weighing the anchor) occurring at 0600 as Annie motored out of the creek and Michael raised the mainsail. We were making 5 knots when three fishing boats roared past us at considerable speed with a couple going either side at the same time, such considerate people. At Round Hill Head there was already a goat boat paddler and 2 fishermen on the rocks. Some people are very keen on their water activities, including us we guess.

Round Hill Head

Captain Cool or just Michael

The sun was rising as we left the creek and the headland looked particularly pretty in the morning sun. The sea was calm with a low swell and it was cool but not beany weather cold. We were motor sailing at 5.4 knots for the next hour and then settled down to a regular 5.8 knots for the morning. Raelene steered most of the way but had a hiccup and a rest for an hour between 0900 & 1000 (lack of sleep we think) but then managed the rest of the day untroubled.

Annie and the glassy sea

The sea was glassy at times with no wind at all and very little swell it was so still that dolphins were leaving rings on the surface when they dived. Besides a couple of pods of dolphins we saw a couple of large turtles swimming along but no whales.

Whiling away the time

We had SE winds at 5knots until the forecast NE 10-15kts turned up at 1330 and then it was ENE 10knots. Aaah! the vagaries of the wind. When the wind did kick in a bit we were doing 6 -7 kts but still motor sailing.

Still whiling away the passage time

Mr Universe or Michael during the first stages of Mooloolaba Madness

Around 1100 we had a period of madness when we thought it might be possible to go outside of Fraser Island straight to Mooloolaba. Anne changed course for the top of Breaksea Spit however after 20 mins when Michael had finished plotting the route and calculated the distance ie 209nm and 42 hours at 5kts sanity returned and Anne steered back towards Burnett Heads.

We entered the Burnett river and anchored at 1500 close to our previous spot 3 weeks earlier. Anne logged off with Marine Rescue Round Hill unlike the evening earlier when we did not log off with Coast Guard Gladstone and they rang Anne's mobile to check on us. Although we had logged off with VMR Round Hill, here there is no tracking sheet following you. The obligation is to log on and log off with each VMR or Coast Guard separately.

Mooloolaba Madness returned again as Michael contemplated a shorter route (192nm & 38hrs at 5kts) around Fraser Island by crossing Breaksea Spit in a channel just north of Sandy Cape (it looks alright on the chart). On asking advice from VMR Bundaberg it was recommended to go north of the spit around the lightship On calculating again sanity returned. Great Sandy Straights here we come again.

Pilot boat and the bad cat "Cat with 2 masts clear the channel"

'Bad Cat' as Anne calls it

Over the radio was a message that the 'Sam Eagle' bulk carrier would be leaving the sugar terminal shortly so all vessels should clear the channel. Entertainment in the Burnett river was provided by the Bundaberg Pilot boat directing "The cat with two masts keep clear of the channel" and he was not too polite with the direction (it did not seem to work as the cat still proceeded on to the Bundaberg Port Marina. Also heard was"White trawler clear the channel", and still not particularly polite about it. This message was also ignored because very shortly the trawler rounded the bend at about 10knots and proceeded down the channel to open waters.
The cat with 2 masts was an unusual design with a mast on each pontoon, a different take on a ketch or yawl that's for sure. Probably owned by Dr Two Sticks Two Hulls!!

Tug 'Ballina' & bulk carrier 'Sam Eagle'

The bulk carrier soon came into view with a tug in company while the pilot boat charged down the river keeping the way clear. It was surprising how large a vessel enters the Port of Bundaberg.


Michael proceeded to cremate our steaks as the sun sank while Anne prepared the chips and salad. Another gourmet dinner washed down with turps and kero. No lovely sunset to finish today's blog as Michael was busy getting the coals ready and forgot.