Passage - Brisbane to Burnett Heads

18th May to 23rd May, 2021

After 11 (long) weeks in Manly Brisbane, waiting for repairs to be completed, John and I were finally able to start our pilgrimage north. We left the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club Marina in Manly Brisbane just before sunrise laden to the gills with food supplies. The passage through Moreton Bay was uneventful and the weather behaved properly for a change. We must have got a bit soft waiting around so long. I needed to lie down a few times as I was feeling queasy, not sure if it was the big lentil feed last night OR God forbid, seasickness! John’s shoulder was playing up and we hoped he didn’t have another frozen shoulder – very debilitating.

We pushed on regardless. Of course, our wind instruments failed again with the usual problem of intermittent readings and then full failure (sigh).

Interesting to note the number of container ships waiting outside Brisbane, all needing to quarantine before coming into the port. It shows how much we rely on imported goods. We got to Mooloolaba in good time and crossed the dreaded river bar easily. The dredger was still there as silting of the channel continues to be an ongoing problem.

The “Duck Pond” on the Mooloolaba River is known for deserted boat wrecks dragging in strong winds, we had anchored about 40 minutes up the river next to the mansions, we had to leave early the next morning for Double Island Point. I was quite peeved to realise the nausea existed only when we were in rolling waves and must, in fact, be seasickness. How embarrassing for a cruiser. It therefore wasn’t a great trip for me with big swells washing into the back of the boat, waves coming from the side and the wind from behind. Tallis and I

were really happy to finally anchor at the lagoon behind Double Island Point.

John and I both love the lagoon very aware that it was relatively recently formed from storm activity and can just as easily disappear. When circumstances allow it is a great place to spend a few days – not the weekend though as the 4WDs come from Rainbow Beach. Just recently the crazy wind surfers have arrived as well. Tallis loves to run around on the sandbank.

The next morning, we left around 10am allowing ourselves plenty of time to get to the start of the Wide Bay Bar crossing three hours before high tide. We’d confirmed the way-points with Tin Can Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue and a few other boats were making the trip with us. I was quite tense but John thought surfing the waves with two- and three-meter breakers coming from starboard was quite OK. He said the boat performed very well. I abstained from getting a drink although I really thought I needed one.

We stopped at South White Cliffs as it was good for Tallis as there is a sandbank at high tide and it is also well placed to get to Burnett Heads. We stayed two nights. As usual we were very busy doing not much more than cooking very tasty meals, having afternoon cocktails, watching the sea eagles and pelicans and walking the dog on the sandbank, which, if caught out, we will tell the rangers is NOT part of

Fraser Island.

The weather was inconsistent being fine, overcast and as well as some scattered showers throughout the day. We started turning the freezer off at night as the battery was low with quite a few days without full sun. The mainsail also covers the solar panels. Obviously as we had just had the batteries replaced, we were a little (lot) nervous about this.

The following day we motor sailed from South White Cliff to Moon Point. A little later we moved further north east as it was getting a little rolly where we dropped the anchor originally. Moon Point is another postcard image spot with beautiful white sand and aqua water. Later in the evening more showers passed through and we used our new side protectors a few times.

Unfortunately, we had more battery issues – the inverter wasn’t working, the outboard motors weren’t charging starter battery and the house batteries weren’t getting up to a reasonable level on the solar. We turned the freezer off again hoping this problem could be resolved remotely and we wouldn’t have to return to Brisbane.

Bundaberg was the closest place for us to go to get technical support for the batteries. We left Moon Point early and had a beautiful comfortable sail averaging 7 knots, my first experience of a “beam

reach.” The navigation system showed 8 other boats on the same course. The coastline is interesting here – it is so flat you can see the Hummock from miles away. You can also see all the new housing and the coastal development.

We anchored past the marina and bulk sugar terminal on the Burnett River in preparation for a trip into Bundaberg via the Burnett River the following day.

Next: The Burnett River