1st April 2013
Sandy Point (Moon Point) 25o 13.845S 152o
49.757E 7.5 hours motor
We started to pull the anchor at about 9:30 for a day of
motoring up “The Narrows” between Fraser Island and the mainland but had a bit
of a hiccup getting away. During the
change of tides throughout the night we must have drifted around a submerged
tree. The anchor chain couldn’t have
been tighter wound if we had done it deliberately.
Super Mark to the rescue with saw and axe while I jogged the
boat in the channel.
I’m a Lumberjack and I’m ok…
Stopped about lunchtime at Ungower just south of the ranger
station to actualy set foot on Fraser.
We were met by a local Barney(Goanna) who circled round the tree trunk
as we tried to get a better look at him.
As we started to walk up the track we realized
that it was mozzie city. They were a
plague and sucking real blood. Back on
the boat and parked just off Sandy Cape at about 4:30. Just in time to watch the pelagic fish come
to smash the poor old bait fish all around the point.
Squeaky white sand and soft shelled baby turtles – Yum…
2nd April 2013
We had a late start after a big night of self-medication
during which it was decided that today would be a day off fishing. We moved around the point to the northern
side get off the lee shore and then took Merv for a walk and claimed a sand cay
where we tried to catch some bait.
I had a good run on the rod that took most of the 80lb braid
off the reel. And then snapped it off!
We were going to make a concerted effort to catch a fish here before we head
off to Bundaberg tonight but we were running short of the serious gear needed.
We fished to the max all day but to no avail and ended up sitting
around tonight waiting for the wind to come in so we can head off to Bundaberg
and find a tackle shop.
3rd to 4th April 2013
Bundaberg Port Marina
24o 45.761S 152o 23.202E - 10.5 hours on the motor
Refueled at Bundaberg 26 hours for 63 Litres – 2.4L per hour
We left Sandy cape at just before midnight and motor-sailed the whole way to Bundaberg. We could have turned the motor off for a while
but wanted to maintain 6kn to arrive at the right tide. Mark did the big shift and when he finally
went to bed the fish started going mad all around us smashing into baitfish. I was going to wake him but after the last
couple of days efforts that he had put in to fishing I just didn’t have the heart.
Mark berthed the boat in Bundaberg with a deft hand. We tied
up to what is left of the commercial fuel wharf and went and took a berth at
the marina at the river entrance. 
There is still debris in the river so the entrance is closed
during the night to all boats. This is going to make it difficult for me to
leave early enough to get to Lady Musgrove Island on Friday. There still quite a few boats that have been
left on the rocks after having been swept down the river. Some flash boats here in the marina and I'm the youngest person here by about a decade.
I do however have the sexiest tender in town...
Who's a pretty Merv?
We caught the courtesy bus into town so Mark could arrange a
train to Townsville. Had to catch a taxi back as the bus we needed doesn’t run
during school holidays. Bundaberg is
streets ahead of Rockingham. The photo
says it all…
Mark left today to catch a train to Townsville. It’s been great having someone so seaworthy
on board for the first bit. I think he
left pretty hooked on the idea of sailing.
Thanks mate and I’m sure the only regret is the lack of fish landed.
There’s a strong wind warning out so it looks like I wont be
going to Lady Musgrove tomorrow. Going
to do a few jobs on the boat and I should be able to finally get away on
Sunday.
I will be out of range for a couple of weeks as I’m going to
follow the island chains off the coast. Starting at Lady Musgrove I’ll head
through the Capricorn group through the Northumberland Group and into Mackay in
a couple of weeks. That’s the way the wind is blowing…
It means I’ll miss
Keppel(sp)(sorry Chris) but you can’t do everything can you? I’ve cleaned out
the large diesel tank and that should be ready to put into use so, fuel wont be
a problem.
I should be in Mackay around the start of the WA school
holidays… This will put me quite a bit
ahead of schedule so I should be able to take a bit more time through the
Whitsundays…
Cleaning up some loose ends – here’s the video of the Wide
Bay Bar crossing.
