TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

After a calm but short night we are up at 5:00am. After a coffee and a quick bit to eat we set off for the infamous Wide Bay Bar.

We headed out across the bar exactly at high tide. A 0.5 to 1m swell was rolling across the bar but which was absolutely nothing to worry about. After being apprehensive about this bit of the trip for the last 3 months it was quite a relief. In fact conditions were worse as we went further offshore – the seas not large but just lumpy and confused

Depart at 0830. Light NE winds.

Shortly after leaving the marina the engine mysteriously stops. I think to myself “have I bought a complete lemon?” Jo and Brendan must be wondering if they have made a big mistake signing up for this trip. I checked the day tank and it was empty even though I had filled it the previous day. Obviously what had happened is that I had left the fuel tap on and the fuel had drained back to the main tank. I have never bled the fuel system of a diesel before. Luckily it is quite easy on this engine. Once this was done we were on our way again.

The winds were too light to sail so we motored out to Pioneer rocks which we reached at 1000. After this the wind freshened and we sailed south though the Molle Channel past Daydream Island at about 1100 and entering the Whitsunday passage at about 1130. Good sailing with an ENE wind at about 15kts and the tide with us saw Speed Over Ground of about 7kts.

Jo and Brendan arrive loaded with provisions and backpacks. They immediately take over the task of organising food and meals – I think this is great because lets be honest, I am no master chef. I busy myself with the unpleasant task of removing a stinking esky full of decomposing fish left on the vacant boat next to us. We settle into a pleasant evening getting to know each other over a glass or two of red.