Hervey Bay to Manly

Monday 30th October
At 7.00am we saw Lyndal off for her drive home to Brisbane in Scott’s car, then Edgar and Scott had a bit of breakfast and secured everything in the saloon before heading out at 10.00 into a brisk northerly. We took the shortcut across the top of Woody Island so there was only about half an hour of pushing into the choppy waters before we were running down the Sandy Straits with the wind behind. At 1.00pm we dropped anchor tucked in to the south of Turkey Island in a nice gutter across the channel from South White Cliffs.

An old Hervey Bay veteran living on his boat next to us in the marina had told me this was a good spot in a northerly and we noticed that “Moreton Lady” which had been anchored further back in the Curtis Coast book spot, moved up to anchor next to us when they realised it looked like a better position.

The wind was 20knots plus throughout the afternoon so we were not tempted to put the dinghy in the water even though there was quite a nice little beach opposite. A quiet afternoon aboard followed by one of Lyndal’s pre-cooked dinners from the freezer went down very well.

Tuesday 31st
High tide was 0640 so we got under way at 6.00 so as to cross the shallow section of the straits which was just a mile or so beyond our anchorage. The wind had died down overnight and gradually dropped to a complete calm so we had a very pleasant hour cruising over the shallows and on to Garry’s Anchorage, a sheltered channel behind a low island. Here we dropped anchor right opposite the little beach so after breakfast went ashore for a walk. We followed the track through some attractive semi rain forest which gradually petered out to dry woodland.

We had taken note of the sign at the landing place which warned of the possibility of crocs being present so we avoided the alternate track back along the shoreline which would have involved wading around logs etc.

Since the wind had now completely died it was becoming rather hot at Garry’s Anchorage and there were plenty of mossies about so we abandoned the plan to stay for the night and cruised on down to Pelican Bay, just to the south of Inskip Point.

This would also give us the option of crossing the bar tomorrow if the weather looked suitable. “Moreton Lady” was already there and the skipper Paul came over in his dinghy for a yarn after we anchored. He said he was waiting another day and after a late look at the forecast we decided to do the same.

Spent a pleasant afternoon aboard where we were able to observe once again the tendency of some boaties to enter an anchorage with plenty of space available yet come and anchor right next to you. Having had one bloke do this at a distance just inside the comfort zone (eliciting some very “grumpy old man” comments from skipper Ed) we were astounded to see another small yacht motor up and commence putting his anchor down in between our two already close boats just as if he was in a Woolies carpark or somesuch. At this the grumblings from Ed escalated to a full throated roar and this bloke was told in no uncertain terms to “back off”. Good thing we did because during the night this noong dragged his anchor and ran into “Moreton Lady”

The wind eased in the afternoon and we went over to Inskip Point in the evening and walked a couple of k’s up the beach and back which definitely cleared the lungs.

Wednesday 1st November
In the morning the boat anchored next door left so we were able to spend a peaceful day aboard Suzanne. It was windy morning with a couple of heavy rainshowers so we were pleased to be staying in Pelican Bay. In the evening we went over to the beach for a short walk and on the way had a yarn to “Moreton Lady” and heard about his dramas with the wayward yacht last night.
Back onboard we got everything ready for an early start tomorrow.

Thursday 2nd
High tide was 0615 so we got under way at 0445. We motored out into another beautiful Queensland dawn and were the first boat of the day across the bar which was nice and quiet but getting quite shallow at the outer edge. “Moreton Lady” was right behind us and about a dozen more boats behind her – obviously a good day for crossing the notorious Wide Bay Bar.

For once Suzanne had the legs on everyone else and we gradually pulled away from the pack

– rather a nice feeling.

We arrived off Mooloolaba at 1220 and coasted to a stop in the bay to get our fenders and ropes positioned. It was right on low tide and we were rather horrified to note that the quite low swell was breaking across the entrance of the breakwater. However a call to the Mooloolaba Coastguard informed us that by staying south of the entrance and entering close to the southern arm of the breakwater we would have enough depth. We watched a couple of boats ahead of us and followed them in.

We tied up a bit before 1.00pm and after a cool drink caught a taxi over to Cotton Tree where Scott shouted a very nice meal of fish and chips at the Boathouse followed by a visit to his unit to view the renovations. It was then back to Suzanne for a scrambled egg supper and quiet night.

Friday 3rd
Under way at 0600 and a pleasant day outside if a little bit rolly with an easterly swell. We had nice views of Kawana and Caloundra and by the time we got in to Moreton Bay west of Tangalooma it was an absolute flat calm – a very pleasant way to finish our voyage.

We tied up in our home berth at Manly a bit before 1.00pm. Lyndal arrived from home and the afternoon was spent washing down the boat, emptying the fridges and freezers and packing up. Finally locked the back door on Suzanne and headed for the Straddie Ferry.

It was a strange feeling to be heading back to our Island home after more than two months voyaging. Ed in particular had not spent a night off Suzanne since our first night aboard on 27th August.

Suzanne had performed splendidly and we had a great store of memories to look back on.