Pos 1800, 09/01/2020. Off Brisbane. The title Pancake Bay has nothing to do with where we are at present, but it appears my description of it has gone astray. Here is a little about Pancake Bay. Pancake Bay, and who knows the origin of the name, is situated not far
from Bundaberg and near Gladstone. The afternoon before approaching Bundaberg produced some fairly lively conditions. It would have meant that we arrived too early for the approach to Bundy, which has a long channel going in, and then a 10 nm winding river journey
up to the town of Bundy. We would have liked a high tide situation but as it happened we got through the narrow bits with about 12 inches under the keel. Tight but not too tight. Back to Pancake. We needed to arrive at the entrance channel near Burnett Heads at the
right tide, that is flooding in. With that in mind we sought the charts for a refuge where we could hang on the anchor for a few hours so that we might time our arrival correctly before setting out for an overnighter to Bundy. Pancake Bay caught our attention despite the fact
it had some challenging entry requirements, such as having to avoid reefs and rocks and shallow bottoms. Off we deviated to Pancake Bay. Through binoculars I could see that we were not the only ones with such a refuge in mind. There were already 10 yachts in there.
Conditions outside were lively so our pleasant surprise was that as soon as we got past the entrance to the Bay the water flattened and the wind almost ceased. We did not need to go as far in as the other yachts but chose instead to pick up a National Parks courtesy
mooring instead. The little Bay is delightful. On one side were low wooded hills with a designated hiking trail and on the other side a very long white sandy beach. On one small beach was a camping family with happy children squealing and laughing, as anyone would in
such lovely surroundings. We ate dinner early and the three of us settled down for a peaceful nap for about 6 hours. At 2200 we all arose refreshed, dropped off the mooring lines, thanked Pancake Bay for her delightful hospitality and continued our journey. Nothing
spectacular there but one of those beautiful small anchorages that will stay in our memories. Such peace is not easily found.
Presently we are off Brisbane but a way out at sea. We decided not to go through the mosquito swamps the 'short' way to the Gold Coast but this time on the outside. Again we have to time our arriving for an ingoing tide because of a bar way at the entrance, which can
cause large breaking waves. We almost broached Shonandra (turned sideways) with a large breaking wave last time we went in. That was a bit scary, so this time we will time things a bit better.
We ought to be in Southport tomorrow by this time. That's it tonight from crew Shonandra.