Start Loc: Urangan (25o 17.63'S, 152o 54.71'E)
Narrative: After sailing into Urangan last Sunday, we spent Monday doing the groceries and sorting some of the administration for our return (we have school to prepare for, a removal to do, utilities to sort out, etc). We decided we would do a day trip to Fraser Island while we were here, so on Tuesday morning we departed from Hervey Bay. After reaching the island at Wanggoolba Creek we went to Central Station and had a quick walk through the rainforest along Wanggoolba Creek. From there we went for a swim at Lake Mackenzie before lunch at the resort at Eurong. After lunch it was on to Seventy-Five Mile Beach. We stopped at the Maheno wreck and the coloured sands at The Pinnacles before stopping for a swim in Eli Creek. It was then back on to the 4WD coach for the trip back to the barge. The kids were happy to see a dingo cooling off in the sea and walking along the beach as we drove back down the beach. (It has been decided that after all the wildlife we have seen, the crocodiles have let themselves down!) We managed to get bogged on the way back to the barge and had to be pulled out by another 4WD coach. It was rushed, but not a bad day.
We had a bit of a sleep in today after a big day yesterday. After getting ready to go we cast off at 10:25am and moved around to the fuel wharf for our last fill up before Brisbane.
Refuelled: 49.38L @ 155.9c/L = $76.98
Economy since 29 Dec: 49.38L for 23 hr 58 min = 2.06L/hr
Economy overall: 652.42L for 321 hr 59 min = 2.03L/hr
We left the fuel wharf at 10:55am and motored out of the marina. We motored through the shallows around the top of the Great Sandy Strait before setting sail down the strait. The wind was NNE at 10-25kts, so it was good for sailing south. On the flip side, high tide was around 10:00am so we were heading into the current. Boat speed was generally 5-6kts, but speed over ground was 3-4kts. When SOG got too low we motor sailed to keep some speed up. We passed the yacht Carl (from Lady Musgrave) near the top of the strait and had an uneventful trip south. We anchored on the south side of Bookar Island (just west of South White Cliffs; 25o 30.90'S, 152o 57.53'E) at 4:05pm, having averaged 4.5kts over ground. We were just short of the shallowest part of the strait and almost on low tide, so waited for some tide to come back in.
I worked out that if we left at 7:45pm we would have about 1m of water under the keel to play with. We ate dinner as the sun set, then cleaned up and got ready to go again. Carl had left just after 7:00pm; I figured she would draw about the same as us and she appeared have got through no dramas. We raised the anchor at 7:45pm, switched from mooring light to navigation and steaming lights, and motored over the shallows without a problem. Heather was helping me navigate in the cockpit, while the kids stayed below and watched a movie. We passed Carl again just north of Garry's Anchorage. I was thinking of anchoring near Fig Tree Creek (just south of Garry's) but with the northerly winds it was a bit exposed. We sailed for a bit and motor sailed for a bit, and finally dropped anchor tucked in behind Inskip Point at 11:35pm. Carl was sailing in as I went to bed.
We are now in a position to cross the Wide Bay Bar just before tomorrow's high tide at 9:50am. There is a strong wind warning for outside as the southerly change comes through, but we should be fine tucked in behind Double Island Point. We will then make an early start on Friday for the 50nm trip to Mooloolaba. We will spend two nights there before the final leg home on Sunday 15th January.
End Loc: Inskip Point (25o 48.89'S, 153o 02.74'E)
Distance run: 45nm (cumulative: 3022nm)
Engine hours: 5 hr, 50 min (cumulative: 132 hr, 22 min)