We have anchored up at Jumpinpin for a few days peace and quiet. Jumpinpin is the channel between South and North Stradbroke Island.
A bit of history.
A channel in the general area of Jumpinpin may have formed and silted up several times over recent millennia, however, the most recent formation of the channel is generally blamed on two events. The first of these was the wreck of the Cambus Wallace, a 75 m steel barque of 1534 tonnes built in 1894 at Port Glasgow. In the early morning of 3 September 1894, the Cambus Wallace ran aground in heavy seas near what was then a narrow stretch of Stradbroke Island called Tuleen. Most of the crew managed to swim to shore, but six men drowned and were buried on the beach. The ship broke up where she struck and most of the cargo was washed ashore and plundered by local residents. During the subsequent cleanup, explosives from the cargo were piled up and deliberately detonated on the beach leaving large craters. The explosion is credited with severely damaging the beach and weakening the loosely vegetated sand dunes.
Following gradual erosion of the seaward side of the island over the next two years, the second event to ultimately generate the channel at Jumpinpin was the arrival of a cyclone in 1896. Thomas Welsby, writing in 1921, noted, "Within two years (1896) the southeast gales threw again their power and fury on the very spot whereat the Cambus Wallace had come to grief, drove the rollers and breakers against the sandy hillside until it conquered and made passage into Swan Bay." Once the entrance was established, the heavy seas and strong tidal currents were sufficient to enlarge the channel from 20 feet to more than a mile and a quarter by 1898.
Changes to tidal inundation in the area around the mouth of the Logan River were dramatic. Erosion occurred on farm land and some farmers resorted to building canals. The oyster industry in the area was also affected by what was claimed to be changes in the water density interfering with the ability of the oysters to settle on the seafloor.
The currents and wind have played havoc with us since about 3:30 this morning, having the boat turning 180 degree pirouettes. Catching the anchor chain then releasing with a bang on the hull. Needless to say have been up for last 3 hours keeping an eye on our movements.
At least I was treated to a very nice sunrise.
Fire in the sky at "The Pin"