Other than experience crossing the Wide Bar bar itself, and the cruising of the Sandy Straights, is there any reason why you would not consider going east of Fraser Island than down into the Bay?
Once in Urangan, I will have my fathers half cabin to explore with.
Cheers
Select to expand quoteToph said..
Other than experience crossing the Wide Bar bar itself, and the cruising of the Sandy Straights, is there any reason why you would not consider going east of Fraser Island than down into the Bay?
Once in Urangan, I will have my fathers half cabin to explore with.
Cheers
Going from where to where Toph? If you are heading north from Mooloolabar it's a couple of days run to Bustard Head. If you are day hopping up the coast you will have to go inside. Any way it is a lot more interesting sailing in the straits.
The Straits are really good fun to sail, flat and fast, the outside of Fraser can get a bit lumpy. I've spent time sailing the straits, seeing whale, visiting the Woody Islands, tied off at White Cliffs, exploring the island :), great sailing grounds.
Been outside and inside. Inside is much better but can be a lot slower. I was caught at Inskip Pt for 3 days after a southerly trip down the strait.
I haven't gone around the outside, but to get from Double Island Point to a safe protected anchorage around the top of Sandy Cape and it's shallows, is over 100nm.
Having been up the inside a few times, I would much rather do that and anchor in Pelican Bay for the first night - a great spot for a beer at the end of the day I reckon. Then, using the tides, you can easily day sail to Urangan in two days.
Where are you now NowandZen?
If you are still up near Great Keppel, you'll have the Brisbane to Gladstone fleet doing a drive by in your neck of the woods soon!
Select to expand quotePhoenixStar said..
Going from where to where Toph?
Heading North PhoenixStar, sorry....
I was just doing some reading on crossing the Wide Bay Bar and it seems to me that the weather conditions that can render the crossing inadvisable, may not yet be too bad out... So if you were facing spending a few days in Mooloolaba or Double Island Point waiting for a weather window, going around Fraser could be plausible still (that's really my question, and I appreciate that going inside would be a nicer trip).
The double Island anchorage is not great so if you were waiting for a weather window you would be staying in Mooloolaba. If you were caught out at Double Island Point the trawlers use the western side of the bay so that is an indication of what is best, if you anchor in the eastern end it looks better but in reality the swell curls around the point and you an end up beam on to the waves. Because you have to leave from Mooloolaba the trip to Bustard Head is quite a long way. The bar has moved quite a long way north so it pays to check the latest way points with Tin Can Bay. The new entrance is workable in most conditions.
Going outside you should keep clear of the long sand spit north of Fraser cos there are strong tidal currents through channels in the sand that whip up confused cross seas. And watch out for Wolf Rock off Double Island point, it's easy enough to sea but it's definitely not the time to be down below brewing a cup of coffee.
Select to expand quotePhoenixStar said..
The double Island anchorage is not great so if you were waiting for a weather window you would be staying in Mooloolaba. If you were caught out at Double Island Point the trawlers use the western side of the bay so that is an indication of what is best, if you anchor in the eastern end it looks better but in reality the swell curls around the point and you an end up beam on to the waves. Because you have to leave from Mooloolaba the trip to Bustard Head is quite a long way. The bar has moved quite a long way north so it pays to check the latest way points with Tin Can Bay. The new entrance is workable in most conditions.
Going outside you should keep clear of the long sand spit north of Fraser cos there are strong tidal currents through channels in the sand that whip up confused cross seas. And watch out for Wolf Rock off Double Island point, it's easy enough to sea but it's definitely not the time to be down below brewing a cup of coffee.
God advice there Phoenix.
There is the Breaksea Spit Light well north of Fraser. Pass north of it and you should be fine in most conditions.
If you want to head over to Bundaberg from Fraser it is possible in the right conditions to pass south of the light between it and the spit. The right conditions are 1. A slack tide, preferably high. 2. Calm conditions. I wouldn't do it in more than a 1 metre sea. 3. Daylight. In daylight you can see the white sand 40 to 50 feet below you and start doubting the accuracy of your sounder. 
Even in perfect conditions, dead flat calm, you can see the ripples and glassy surfaces of the water where the overfalls are. It is just spooky.
If you do this passage it will save you about 12 miles going to Bundaberg.
JUst all sounds sooo good. i never realised what an amazing surf spot that was there too. i cant wait to get there.
Out of interest what draught can travel up the sandy straights? Does 1.8m become prohibitive?
Select to expand quotegyccrewman said..
Out of interest what draught can travel up the sandy straights? Does 1.8m become prohibitive?
Easy peasy gyccrewman.
I draw 2.1m and as long as you work the tides it won't be a problem. The tides flood from each end and meet around about Tooth Island, so you can, if you want, sail from one end to the other in a day by timing your arrival at Tooth Island at high tide. Or you can stop overnight somewhere and continue the next day.
Select to expand quotegyccrewman said..
Out of interest what draught can travel up the sandy straights? Does 1.8m become prohibitive?
Just be cautious at the green on the northern end of Stewart Island, all the charts show good water north west of beacon but they lie, favor the island side. And the sand between the last yellow buoy and Urangan harbor is shifting all the time. If in doubt go north around the yellow beacon (NU2) and then come down the channel off the pier. Watch the tide cross flow around the harbor entrance, it can be strong. Everything else is easy.
