After a feisty sail from GC without the guidance of any moonlight, we opted to cross Wide Bay Bar and take rest to break up the 48hour passage in the ocean. PS You know you can’t drop the anchor out in the big blue! 🤪
We stand-off allowing the morning light and higher tide to fill our world before He Who Never Hums prior to a bar crossing , radios for a report on the conditions. Unfortunately it was too early for any information on todays crossing. The only suggestion was to head east and look at the state of the entry conditions for ourselves.
We catch sight of broiling seas and felt as unsettled as the surface of the bar. So a bit more watching…waiting…wanting…but not really willing. Trying to not overthink the sandbanks that act like land mines. We don’t hesitate any longer and move to the entry.
You know, I think these conditions are only perfect for a keen photographer to freeze frame the moments of white water dancing high against the innocent early morning sky.
He Who Hums has all the responsibility for Condesa and it’s precious cargo.
Me? Oh my job is to firstly….. hand out the life jackets prior to entry and then to give a response to any uncertainties. 🤗
We have in hand, our updates GPS maps, amended waypoints and when you marry them to what you see it gives you the distinct feeling that you have all the gear and no idea. 🤓
Anyway, as I was saying it is my job to be the second set of eyes and ears to the equation. It’s the easier job. I just need to keep an eye on the screen and let He Who Hums know when to keep Condesa to port or starboard. Yes! I insist, keep to port! I resist looking but I can hear the wave building behind us and it sounds like a pearler. Any surfer would be wetting themselves with excitement. I keep my eyes forward, confident even with our bowsprit heading down a trough. Now I am able to estimate the heights behind us just as Condesa sits back into the wave , enjoying it, like she’s some sort of recreational surf ski.😜🌊
YES - I encourage with certainty, stay on this line! Watching our little yacht icon tracking the pink line on navionics, my bible and I have faith we are in the deepest path of the channel and looking good. he Who can’t Hum is looking at lots more still to come and possible saying a wee prayer.
All the vessels in the bay are poised waiting for our report to Coastguard Tin Can Bay once we are safely inside.
He Who ordinarily Hum’s voice is raspy, strained from a big stint at sea.
He speaks of a “boisterous bar” with 3-4 metre breaking waves. And we both instantly feel for the small yachts as they head out. Out of courtesy we wave back merrily, not wanting to burst their bubble. Clearly they haven’t sighted the sets of waves yet.
They leave bliss trailing in their wake from the fast emptying pond in which we anchor. We watch the Congo line of vessels head out, confident with the fact that a vessel has made it through. Or it could be a Safety-in-numbers thing… (I’m pretty sure that works better in the Animal Kingdom tan a fleet)🙈🙉🙈
However it appears that today is the day for at least a dozen vessels.
Airwaves break the first outbound boat has cleared the bar. Repeating our description only to add, they were so glad not to be “that vessel” surfing inbound. Ummm 🤭That’d be Condesa and she never gave any doubt in her ability as she held her line firm (43 tonne does that for you 😜), constantly reinforcing her magnificent seamanship.
The good ol Hereishoff Schooners - engineered and designed since the 1800’s for waters well beyond this mosh pit.
Us? Well we are built for response and responsibility and navigate the rest with huge respect for the sea.
* An old sea salt friend John Phorr gave us some sailing tips early days. “In moments of extreme situations, 9 times out of 10 it will be the crew who falter - not the vessel. (Noted!)

Well now, AMEN to us and all the people who are navigating obstacles on land or sea. Apply this where you will. This is only one of many tips I have kept up my sleeve. Thanks JP 😘🙏🏻