Garry's Anchorage - Mooloolaba
24 September 2013
As we approached Garry's Anchorage we were surprised that there were only 3 houseboats there compared to around 20 boats last time here. That soon changed when the weather predictions were 25 plus knot winds and we were joined by quite a few yachts and cats as its a well protected area.
Constantly checking the weather reports it looked like the earliest we could cross the notorious Wide Bay Bar was going to be Saturday, however listening to the Tin Can Bay Coastguard and a few yachts at the mouth of the bar it was reported that the bar was "flat as anything" we decided to quickly pack things away, put the dinghie on Bravado and rush the 14 nm from Garry's to the Bar while the tide was rising. As it turned out that was a very good decision, after accessing the bar we decided to cross it and head to Mooloolaba. Even the "mad mile" turned out to be a very mild mile. By then it was was 12.30 and with the 64 nm journey would mean that we would arrive in Mooloolaba at night. We don't normally like crossing a bar or arriving at a place at night, however we have been here before and Steve felt confident. What a great job he did, it was pitch black, no moon, followed the lead light through the bar and then navigated through the river to our anchorage at "The Pond" Well done Steve!!! Staying here probably till Sunday or Monday, Steve wants to watch the footie final on Saturday and we have a few jobs to be done.