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.
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. 
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