Well our ETA for Fraser Island was estimated at 0800 the next Morning (Sunday). We set out sailing beautifully but not as fast as we could wish. Then we hit a southerly set, with a 2 knot current against us and as we were only doing 4 knots, we got no where. The distinctive cone shape of Mt Warning - south of Gold Coast, finally disappeared off the horizon at about 1 pm.
We have added another cape to our HATE list - Cape Morton - we tacked and tacked and tried and it would NOT go away. All night we worked to get past in very rough conditions.
Ian and I never mastered the rock and roll on the dance floor, but the windChalmer has sure worked on getting good at it. Morning always looks a lot better. We kept a look out for ships all night. At one point a fishing boat all lit up was on our bearing but avoided us and then we saw some very odd lights - a red and white. Couldn't work out what it was, so tucked in behind the fishing boat, figured that he knew where he was going. Suddenly we figured that it was a huge container ship. Red and white lights on the bow and then nothing for metres and meters and then a while light on the stern!! Phew, the rest of him was totally dark.
So back to working on getting past Cape Morton. Sunday morning, winds still Northerly and at 40 k. Calmer waters by daybreak.
3 pm Pilot Whales off Lookout Point North Stradbroke Island, they were fishing around us. Can still see Cape Morton. Drat!!
SUNDAY 13 May - finally got rid of that rotten Cape Morton. It disappeared over the southern horizon before we were abeam with Mooloolabar.
When you are disgusted with the world, then the dolphins appear and play around your bow for ages and do great big back flips in the water seemingly just to entertain you - about 4 pm. Sunday. Very calm conditions, slowly working up the cape.
10 pm hit by a southerly. Then back to rock and rolling all night. Ian had about 2 hours sleep altogether, I had about 4 because i felt bad if he was up and I was asleep. He slept on the floor of the cockpit. Only trouble was he would be sound asleep and then I would see ship lights and would follow them for ages - but if they got too close I wanted him to make a decision about them.
Lucky I made a mound of sandwiches before we left, so we had something to eat. If I didn't eat rice cakes or something I started to feel a little queasy for the first time on the trip.
Only trouble with sailing, once you are on the boat, there is no going back.
Luckily, I was told by a very wise man (yes, thank you Alan Wise) that you were just a cork bobbing on the ocean. So kept saying, am just a cork bobbing on the ocean.
CHART PLOTTER - this is just the most beautiful thing. Can see exactly where you are and how long you should take to get there. Was so good as we got closer to Double Island Bay in Wide Bay Bar just off Frazer Island. Finally got into the bay where Alan Lucas (thanks so much Wilson Family for giving us Alan's book - just wonderful reading up what to do and where to go) said should be a good place to park.
As we got more into the Bay, we both kept saying, is it less rough? Yes, it was, yes it was. Just like when you have been driving on Cape York forever on a rutted road and suddenly get onto the bitumen. Quiet, no sound amazing.
QUIET, QUIET, QUIET, no rock n rolling. Cannot believe it. When the anchor had been dropped it was 4.30 am on the Monday morning. I looked out and there was this whopping big sand cliffs, looked like we were practically sitting on them.
We went off straight to sleep - after sailing from 6 am Sat to 4.30 am Monday!!
Nearly a day longer than we had estimated.
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