The weather forecast for the weekend wad not looking good and Fridays forecast was for 15-20 knot South to South East winds and only showers so we decided to head for Bundaberg.

Here are some photos of the Urangan Marina before we left.

We had a great sail all the way to Bundaberg, the winds were blowing steadily from the south so we set the big headsail (the furling reacher) and were sailing along at more than 8 knots

When the wind got too strong we reduced to the main only.

We arrived in Bundaberg just after 3pm and settled into the Marina. One thing that is clear, the marinas berths we have encountered in Queensland so far certainly are wider and easier to get in than the ones at the RPAYC.

Friday nights Bundaberg Port Marina hosts a BBQ for the guests so we joined a group of cruisers for a veal schnitzel BBQ, a few drinks and some interesting stories. We certainly felt like real newbies, with others in the group including
- a Canadian couple who had sailed from Vancouver to Australia via Mexico and the Pacific
- a French couple who had spent 11 years sailing from France across the Atlantic, around Cape Horn, across the Pacific. And were heading north to continue their circumnavigation

Todays adventure was attempting to get Galadriel lifted out to fix a broken ball valve. On the way up to the Gold Coast we discovered that the ball valve on the sea cock for one of the toilets had broken. Luckily the valve was not leaking AND was broken in the open position. This means an empty holding tank - great news.

Luckily Bavaria on the Gold Coast had a replacement valve, so only challenge is to replace the broken valve. A couple of people suggested simply putting a wooden bung in the outlet and tasking off the broken valve. However the thought of having a two inch hole in your boat only sealed by a wooden plug does not seam like sensible idea.

So, a lift out was booked for this morning at 8am. I was expected to drive the boat myself onto the slings. Quite scary with the strong southerly winds. Luckily we got it in without any dramas. Then the fun started, we discovered the crane lift was too small for Galadriel as the foresail was going to hit the crane. So lift out was abandoned.

Then I had to get the boat back out, once again with the strong winds.

Successfully returned Galadriel to the pen. Not a recommended manoeuvre in windy conditions.

With the boat safely returned, off to Hervey Bay shopping centre to buy some winter clothes as it has been the coldest winter in Queensland for a long time

Today was a shore day. We took the opportunity to catch the bus into Maryborough to explore some of the highlights.

The new War Memorial in Queens Park (opened in 2018) is very impressive as are the way that a lot of old buildings in the centre of town have been preserved or restored to the original condition.

No photos to post as they were all taken by the professional photographer (Sonia).

And for those of you who are not aware, the author of Mary Poppins stories (P L Travers) was born in Maryborough so there is a statue of her in town and all of the pedestrian crossing lights use Mary Poppins as the red and green signal instead of the standard man.

Tonight off to the Boat Club Marina to watch the State of Origin in the cinema on the big screen.

Woke up in the morning at Garry's Anchorage on Fraser Island. As the forecast was not looking good for the next few days we decided to head for the marina at Urangan.

The weather was perfect for sailing, consistent westerlies at 15 knots so we were able so sail all the way up the Great Sandy Straight. It gets shallow in the middle so you have to go through at high tide. Luckily high tide was a very acceptable 10 am so an 8:30 departure allowed us to pass through the shallow parts easily.


Morning at Garry's Anchorage with Seas the Moment

 



Sailing up the Great Sandy Straight at 8-9 knots

The free Marine Traffic app only tracks you when you are within VHF range so our full track from Mooloolaba to Urangan is not shown, we did not take a short cut across Fraser Island

And if you are tempted to take a shortcut across some of the shallower parts, you might want to check your depths as it gets very shallow as the photo taken from the breakwall at Urangan shows

Dinner on Tuesday night was at the Italian Restaurant at the Great Sandy Straights Marina with the Cormacks. A great feed, strongly recommended. Fresh garlic prawns and scollops from Hervey Bay - does not get much better

The day of reckoning had come, our first crossing of Wide Bay Bar.
We had contacted VMR Tin Can Bay and obtained the co-ordinates of the way points, entered them into the chartplotter and created a route, checked the weather forecast and re-checked all the forecasts.

Nothing left but to go for it.

Set off at 4:00am and had to motor all the way to Double Island Point as there was not much wind. With a SE swell it was a uncomfortable trip up. when we rounded Double Island Point the wind was 9 knots from the South East. As we were going too be early we took the advantage of a gentle sail for the last 10 nautical miles.

We arrived at the bar at 7:00am, just on high tide. We were the second boat across the bar and the auto-pilot ensure we followed the track perfectly. Could see the waves breaking off the port side

After all of the worrying an un-eventful crossing, followed by a motor up to Garry's Anchorage. Compared to the bar crossing, the conditions inside were very peaceful, you just have to keep clear of the ferries to Fraser Island

 

Galadriel safely at anchor with the crew enjoying a welcome rest after a 4am start

 

 



A wet rainy day so day spent on the boat lazing around.

Tonight the plan is to leave at 11pm for Wide Bay Bar. Forecast is looking good except no wind so we will be motoring up the coast. Have received the updated waypoints from Marine Rescue Tin Can Bay so ready for the 7:30am high tide.

Saturday we walked back into town as it was such a beautiful day. Had lunch on the esplanade and did some shopping.

 

Could not help myself taking this picture of the sign outside the Irish pub