Sandy Straits & Fraser Island

Our next venture was to negotiate the infamous Wide Bay Bar, a sandy bar one has to cross in order to reach the Sandy Straits inside Fraser Island. Here we were really fortunate. The weather was relatively benign and, despite the fact that we went through on a fairly low tide, we managed to negotiate the “Mad Mile”, a turbulent washing machine of waters leading into the straits and into calmer waters. 

 

The coast guard services there are amazing. The sands on the bar shift constantly so the coast guard issue regular waypoints to assist in negotiating the reefs and they were spot on. They're on watch the entire time to see that all boats manage the transit safely and, I suppose, would immediately send out a rescue vessel should anyone run into difficulties. It certainly gives a sense of security but I wouldn't want to try this in stormy conditions.

Calypso - oops!

Once inside, it was so much calmer but very shallow in a number of areas. So much so that, with the shifting sand bars, despite following the recommended route, it still landed us in trouble. We touched ground on a falling tide and there we stuck, eventually lying on our side awaiting the incoming tide to lift us off again. 

According to the chart, it should have been deeper water on the starboard side and shallower on the port but it was exactly the opposite in reality. 

 

Viatrix - oops again!

I was at the helm when we grounded so felt a bi guilty but was somewhat vindicated when friends in another boat with a much shallower keel, went aground just behind us.  So, the two of us lay there feeling rather foolish but Paul used the time to his advantage and managed to finish scraping the starboard hull while it was exposed.  

Now all we need do is run aground again and flip over to expose the port hull then we'd have a nice clean bottom all round!  Getting into the water to scrape is, by advice, not an option.  The bay is home to bull and tiger sharks with the appearance of the odd croc.

 

No sooner had we re-floated than our engine died causing us to have to drop anchor in the middle of the channel. Paul had to change all the fuel filters which obviously became a tad clogged with our various fuel issues we've been having. Fun and games – no peace for the wicked.

The following night, we stopped at an anchorage near a resort which offered some nice hikes and facilities such as a swimming pool and the best hot showers we've found in a month of Sundays. What a pleasure.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Calypso at anchor in the Sandy Straits

The various stages of the bottlebrush flower

 

& his friend

I hope this is the only croc we encounter