Whales frolic in Platypus Bay

19 to 24 October 2011

* Wednesday 19th tow Little Dragon from Byron Bay to Urangan, launch and stay overnight in Marina
* Thursday 20th Urangan to Moon Point on Fraser Island and overnight at Arch Cliff
* Friday 21th Platypus Bay - whales -  into Wathumba Creek
* Saturday 22th Wathumba Creek - overnight offshore off Moon Point
* Sunday 23th Kingfisher Bay Resort
* Monday 24th Kingfisher to Urangan

My sister Pat and I had been preparing for this trip for ages. We had the charts, a Garmin 72H GPS (no maps) and an EPIRB as well as heaps of food, water, bedding and wet weather gear. Quite a tight fit in a 5 metre boat.

Peter had set off a few days ahead of us in Just Farr Us, his Farr 6000. He enjoys fishing at Wathumba and we planned to rendezvous there with him. Unfortunately there was no way we could communicate with him at Wathumba as he has a 27mh radio and we have VHF and he doesn't have a Next G phone which is the only network with coverage.

It was a long day towing Little Dragon to Urangan, rigging, launching and at dusk motoring round into a casual marina berth for the night. The next morning we put the car and trailer into storage for a week, had a very disappointing egg and bacon roll and coffee at the marina cafe but then set off in high spirits. The wind had been blowing well over 24 knots SE the previous few days but at last it was moderating - or so we thought. Once we left the marina the wind strengthened and the observations show gusting 23 knots at 1300. We fairly flew across to Moon Point on a broad reach. Exhilarating and slightly scary. We considered reefing but I need to rearrange the reefing lines to make it easier to do underway.

From Moon Point we sailed close to the Fraser Island coastline NE, in the gutter, reaching Arch Cliffs just before dusk. These cliffs provided excellent shelter from the strong E - SE wind and we had a pleasant happy hour then turned in early. It may be tight quarters but the bunks are excellent.

Next morning we set off again under sail towards Wathumba Creek in a 10 - 12 knot SE with plenty of time to do a spot of whale watching and still arrive at Wathumba bar around midday on half flood.  We headed several miles out into Platypus Bay and I was so pleased for Pat that several whales turned on a splendid performance for us, jumping, breaching, flapping their tails - the works.

We were feeling very pleased with ourselves as we located and approached Wathumpa. However, the first problem to arise was that the jib furler wouldn't work, and it was a head wind. So we anchored and removed the jib entirely, deciding to motor in across the shallow bar, negotiate the shallow lagoon and fix the furler problem once we were safely anchored in Wathumpa. Next problem the motor wouldn't start. Yes, I did check the fuel. Yes it had worked earlier that morning. It was getting close to high water. Pat was game to try and sail in under reefed main but I wasn't so I radioed to see if anyone nearby could tow us over the bar and into the anchorage.

Luckily for us Headmaster responded immediately and offered a tow. She is also just 5 metres but has an over 100 hp engine and is owned by the Wooli NSW Marine Rescue unit commander. He and his wife had gone away to take a break from rescues! They took us under tow and right into the lagoon alerting Peter to our plight. He had just emerged from fishing up a creek in the mangroves. Then they zoomed off just in time to avoid getting stranded on a sandbank or the bar as by this time the ebb had really set in. Thank you so much.

Headmaster.

Preparing to be towed

Little Dragon under tow by Headmaster. I certainly hope it is a long while before I need to call for help again, but it is reassuring to know that help came so quickly when needed.

We rafted up with Just Farr Us for the night.

 Next morning we sorted out the furler problem and with Peter tried to find out why the engine wouldn't start the previous day. Plenty of fuel. No water in the fuel line. Prime suspect oily spark plug (yes I did have a spare but it wasn't needed). The engine worked again. Thanks Peter

Peter wasn't having much joy with catching fish or crabs and reported swarms of sand flies. I hate sand flies. By late morning it was raining. So instead of enjoying Wathumpa for a day or two we decided to leave in convoy on the lunchtime tide. Before then Peter and Pat took the zodiac over to the camping area (yes, it still has water taps and loos working, but no showers) as well as walking over to the beach. 

 I was keen to show Pat the Kingfisher Bay Resort but we knew that we would need to anchor overnight on the way. The rain stopped and we enjoyed a comfortable reach back down the Fraser Island coast all the afternoon. I normally anchor well before dusk but we were "quite close" to a better anchorage near Moon Point. Peter suggested that we follow him arriving in the dark. I was somewhat out of my comfort zone but agreed. I refilled my 3 litre tank before dark. As darkness fell we seemed to be heading way out and at full revs to keep Peter in sight.  It was further than I expected and my engine stopped having run out of fuel. I immediately anchored and Peter suggested we stay put for the night. We spent a pretty uncomfortable night bouncing around in a strong current. With the aid of the GPS we found ourselves on the chart and realised that we were very close to the charted anchorage .

Above Wathumpa lagoon.

Sailing in convoy with Peter on Just Farr Us.

We set sail very early, happy to get going in the last of the flood - but not before a cup of tea. Again we enjoyed a moderate SE wind and made Kingfisher Bay Resort by mid morning and in a SE it is a very protected anchorage. Pat and I had a cappuccino and shower at The Sand Bar in mind. At last the sun came out. We rowed the zodiac ashore (across a strong tide) ahead of Peter who was due to follow in his kayak. Very unfortunately we missed each other ashore, especially as we decided to stay there until high water at about 5pm.  Peter we are so sorry, we should have rowed out to tell you our plans.  Anyway by the time we rowed back late afternoon planning a happy hour and dinner aboard with Peter he had sailed away. We assumed, we later found out correctly, that he had decided to leave for River Heads and start up the Mary River to Maryborough where he had left his trailer.

Next morning we left early to catch the ebb tide along Big Woody Island and into Urangan. It was a flat calm when we left and we expected that the forecast 10-15 knot SE would spring up - but it didn't. So we anchored off  Big Woody Island and had a leisurely breakfast hoping for wind but ended up motoring all the way back to Urangan. Then it was back into the marina, pack up and start the long journey home.

All in all an excellent voyage.  

Clarence River Classic Cruise 2011

I wanted to show off the Big River - The Clarence - to my sister Pat. What better way  than joining the Clarence River Yacht Club annual Classic Cruise (also known as Classic Pub Crawl)? The Clarence has become my favourite sailing base for the last 3 years.

Sunday 2 October.  When we arrived at the Clarence River Yacht Club  (the Scout Hall) in Grafton and it was raining. A spot of deja vu as in 2010 the same event was virtually rained out. Ignoring the rain we rigged and then socialised with other damp trailer sailors at the BBQ. We learnt that 16 boats had signed up.

Monday 3 October. After a leisurely BBQ breakfast we launched and set off down river. Our mood had lifted as the rain had gone and the sun was out. Observations record that there was a 10 knot gusting 14 knot southerly at 11 am. We had a great but all too short sail to Ulmarra - our lunch stop at the Ulmarra pub. This was the only time we anchored and rowed ashore. The rest of the week we were able to raft up at each stop or tie onto a wharf or pontoon. Ulmarra is a gem and Pat was suitably impressed.

After lunch we sailed on downriver to Brushgrove. The observations show that the wind rose to 17 knots gusting 23 knots at around 1400, but I don't reckon it was that strong. We were easily able to stem the flood tide. We puzzled some boats with our erratic progress. I was testing out my new GPS using Brushgrove as a way point.

At Brushgrove we rafted up outside Big River Sailing Club members Col and Jan Hinbrook's riverside house next door to the pub. Perfect. Then we enjoyed an excellent pub dinner and got to know Sue and Jenny who spoke enthusiastically about their experiences crewing that afternoon.

Tuesday 4th October. Another fine morning and a good southerly sailing breeze. So off we went on the ebb tide to Lawrence for lunch. By this time the fleet was all over the place doing their own thing which is fine as the event was billed as a "leisurely cruise". We didn't want a large lunch so settled for just a cuppa at the pub.

Next it was on to Maclean for the night. All was well until about 2 km before Maclean. There was only a light breeze and it was on our nose. The flood tide got stronger and stronger. We tacked backwards and forward many times but just couldn't make it. Defeated, we motored the last bit. I was delighted to find that my favourite spot on the inside of the town pontoon was vacant. It felt like it was just waiting for me.

At Maclean most of us headed off to the local Chinese restaurant. The company was good and the food cheap - but I don't reckon it is likely to win any awards. However the egg and bacon roll and coffee deal at a local cafe the next morning was worthy of an award.

Wednesday 5th October. The organisers had arranged for the Harwood Bridge to be opened at noon for us to sail under as a group. It was such a short distance from Maclean to the bridge that most of us motored then anchored waiting for the moment. It is a strange feeling knowing that all the traffic on the Pacific Highway has been held us just for us.

Once under the bridge the wind died away and many of the fleet decided that it was hopeless trying to reach Iluka under sail against the strong flood tide so on went the motors. We stopped at the Big River Sailing Club for a quick shower. Several times during the afternoon the wind came up briefly and we hauled the sails up but each time it was short lived and we reluctantly put the motor on again. We only have a 5 hp outboard so not surprisingly most of the fleet were lined up along the beach in front of Sedges Pub when we finally arrived. We were the only boat with a stub keel meaning we don't dry out flat, so we tied up to the pub's new pontoon. It is meant to be for 4 hrs only but they seemed OK about us staying overnight. It was a week night out of season.

Thursday 6th October. The organisers planned this as a free day in Iluka and despite the light rain people were heading off on the ferry to explore Yamba. The official plan was for everyone to sail back the next day to Maclean reaching Harwood Bridge at a prearranged time for another opening. We decided it was time to head home,  and I was quite prepared to drop my mast to get under the bridge - I just can't make it safely with it up.

We thought we had timed our departure from Iluka late morning to catch the beginning of the flood tide, but somehow the ebb tide kept running against us for quite a way. The forecast wind didn't materialise and the light rain continued. All in all it wasn't the best trip back to Maclean under motor, but we made it uneventfully and again found space at the pontoon. I suppose one has to accept that it isn't always going to be fine weather.

Friday 7th October. Bruce from Woolgoolga wanted to get his car from Maclean back to Grafton and I wanted to get to Grafton to pick up my car and trailer so we could pull out in Maclean. We came to the obvious arrangement which suited us both.

My old Helly Hensen sailing jacket had lost any pretence at being waterproof, despite reproofing it. Helen had kindly arranged to loan me one after I got soaked on arrival but it was time to buy a new one. So we went to the chandlers at Yamba on the way home only to find that their jackets had been such a bargain that they had sold out.

Saturday 8th October. This is a postscript as on the Saturday we were safely back home in Byron Bay hosing Little Dragon down ready for her next voyage. We watched with horror on the radar a severe storm approaching Grafton. We now know know that the race back from Maclean to Grafton was abandoned. Initially there was absolutely no wind then they were savaged briefly by up to 40 knot winds as well as hail. I gather that they all survived pretty much unscathed. Well done.

Finally a thank you to the organisers of this most enjoyable event and to all the other participants. I hope to meet up with many of you in the future at other trailor sailor events. In fact we have already met up with Ian Flappers Reid at Manly where he showed us round Bayside Sailability.