Where to spend a week in December

[Mac26Mpaul]

Well if it were me, I'd do the Sandy straits for sure, in fact, we are looking at doing it next year. See Wathumba creek here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kjBJpgNDOA

The Gold Coast area is more landlubber friendly I think, but sailing in the estuary down here, can be a bit of a pain (half the reason we own a Mac!) Hervey Bay will be better than sailing on the Gold Coast.

However for just one week, there are basically two separate options here for you, i.e, Moreton Bay, or The Gold Coast/ lower Bay.

If the weather/conditions are great, you can do Moreton bay with Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island, St Helena, Peel, Amity etc. But if you start your holiday and find that the wind and conditions are not suitable for the family, then you can have a seperate backup plan of down into the lower bay Islands to Gold Coast.

I guess that would be the same up there? i.e stay in the Sandy straits if the Bay is not in a family friendly state.

[sunshinecoasting]

Thanks Fresh, tough decisions indeed, however I plan on having this boat for many years so I dont need to be concerned about missing anything, plenty of opportunities for both locations, indeed one day I want to spend a quality month or so doing the Whitsundays, of course the crew will need to be far more sea worthy before that happens. The lower bay and Gold Coast may be the better option for a tender crew, and as far as Fraser is concerned, I don't know what I was thinking......we have a small dog with us when we sail so Fraser would be a no go zone unless we leave the dog on board which is not advisable. I will research all Paul has listed and make a decision very soon. It all may be a storm in a tea cup because I am currently looking for other work (in fact I have an interview today) and if that happens I wont have any leave at Christmas anyway!!

And Paul, you are correct, both locations have somewwhere to go in bad weather but admittedly the Straits have more open water that is still ok in bad weather than the GC which looks to me to be limited by narrow channels requiring far more motoring. I expect that time of year to have prevailing S/E winds so launching south of Bris river means head wind all the way to GC and little room for tacking, whereas the Straits offer more room to tack? Dunno yet.

Thanks for all yuor feedback both of you, if you ever need some advice about the Sunshine Coast be sure and ask. Cheers, Dennis.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Good luck with your Job interview Dennis

I could use a new job myself............

[sunshinecoasting]

Thansk Paul, I did do very well at interview but when it came to money they were well short of what I was expecting for that position, I wish companies would include wage expectations in their job adds.

Anyhow, quick question for you, I have been doing a lot of research and I cant find anywhere that has casual rates to securely park my car and trailer for 1-2 weeks anywhere from Manly, south? I have tried the marina's and yacht/boat clubs but they either have no space or their response was rather snobby and I got the feeling if I wasnt a financial club member then I was wasting their time. Not only that, it doesnt appear that south Brisbane area has a lot of public boat ramps? Of the ramps they do have it sounds like they are always very busy. So the question for you is, do you have any recommendations for launching and vehicle storage for that part of the world? I'd like to launch close to Peel island as that would be my first stop but I guess launching further south would be OK too. Up here you can find a boat ramp every 500 meters or so and the attitude of the Marina's and boat clubs seems far more accepting so I am a bit deflated with the attitudes south of Brissy.

Thanks for any advice, Dennis.

[Mac26Mpaul]

I don't know about Manly. Perhaps you could leave the car/trailer in the trailerboat club (for a fee)? There's no secure parking at Viccy Point/Redland bay, that I'm aware of.

One idea might be to drive down the Gold Coast and launch from the Runaway Bay Marina I was told you can leave your rig there (Onsite security). From there you could spend a day or two mucking about on the Gold Coast, and then head north to Peel Island. Go up the main channel and come back down the Canaipa passage or the other way around.

Otherwise, you can definitely leave your rig at Horizon shores marina. Its a $20 fee for one launch and one retrieval and leave your rig there as long as you like, with onsite Security, plus its kind of in the country so not much crime at all. There is a very old boatyard next door to Horizon Shores (Rudy Maas) and I believe they have a similar deal. You may hear duelling banjos playing as you drive in though... Starting from there, you could head north for a Bay cruise, or head south for a Gold Coast cruise.

Here is a 5 day bay cruise we did leaving from Horizon shores: Day one to Peel Island 15 miles, Day two to the Big Sand Hills about 17 miles , Day three to the Wrecks Tangalooma , Day 4 to St Helena , and Day 5 to Dunwich and then back to Horizon shores. (could definitely have missed Dunwich and saved some time) All up we did 93 nautical miles

Or you could launch from Horizon shores and go to Peel Island day one, Day two, sail back down the Canaipa passage to Jumpinpin (actually you will probably be under Iron Gen into a South Easterly), Day three, around the corner to "The Bedroom or another mile or two to Tipplers. Day 4 and 5 in the Southport Broadwater area, Maybe pop out for a sail out the front of Surfers if the Seaway is okay, Day 6 back to Horizon Shores. Unfortunately you will find yourself motoring a fair bit around here...

Another tip: There is not really much to see between Horizon shores and the start of the bay, whether main channel or Canaipa, lots of mangroves and mud with the odd sandbank and not a great deal else. There is nothing too much to see on the lower bay islands so don't think you need to stop anywhere there.

Peel to the Gold Coast, the three parts that your female crew will probably think the nicest are Peel Island, Jumpinpin, and the Gold Coast area from about the Coomera River onwards south.

[sunshinecoasting]

Thanks Paul, I am pretty set on the GC now and maybe Sandy Straits for Easter, so I will look in to Horizon shores then, it sounds a bit too good to be true. I dont play Banjo but I do play guitar so maybe I could do a duel with the locals?

How hard is it to sail/motor from Horizon shores striaght to Jumpinpin? Looks like a maze of channels around the top of Tabby, top of Eden then the top of Crusoe, (Dist 7 Nm) would that be the best way to go or would it be better to go Tipplers across the top of Kangaroo? (Dist 6.5Nm)? Tipplers looks easier to negotiate but I dont know the channels.

EDIT: It's true, It's true! I just checked their website and got this, "All this for a flat fee of $20 per launch, unlimited nights out. Annual Ramp Passes also available. " So even though it is much further south than I wanted this is where ai will launch. Thanks for the tip Paul.

Thanks, Dennis.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Yeah, it is a good place to launch from. Coming down the M1, take the Yatala Jacobs Well off ramp and you then drive about 12 minutes through the cainfields to get there. I'm sure you can fill up with water there and you can certainly fuel up, but there is nowhere to stock up on food, so bring enough for a few days. Otherwise, there is a small and pricy supermarket at Jacobs Well. You could stop there (on the way to the Pin) and go to the supermarket but there is only a small beach and there are a few rocks in the sand to the left of the boardwalk. Be best to leave the boat at anchor there if you have a dinghy, or you could just drive there before you launch, its another 6 minutes from the Horizon Shores turn off. (have a look at the photos on google earth at Jacobs Well. There is one there of my wooden sailing dinghy which from memory should give you an idea of the beach there)
How much is the annual ramp pass at Horizon then?

Yes, it is a maze of confusing little mangrove islands and shallow rather boring to most people, channels. There are a few ways you can get to the Pin, but the simplest way for you is down the main channel and turn Left once you hit the southport channel. Be careful around where you turn left as the markers get a bit confusing there and I'v seen a few boats go aground. I often go past Taby Island and the others you describe, but I don't sail the Mac up there (only motor). Just go the way I said, much less confusing and much less chance of hitting a bank.

The Map shows how to get to the Pin. The second Map shows how to get to the bedroom. You cant sail in there as its very shallow once you turn left at that little Island heading towards the Bedroom. Its a super calm little spot and there are fire pits you can use there plus a toilet and cold shower block. Look on google earth and you will see the picture of my Mac there (actually there are some of my pictures at the Pin too). As per the line on the map, you just go back a bit to get to Tipplers.

From Horizon Shores to "The Pin".


Horizon Shores to the Bedroom,, and then back out to Tipplers.

Out of interest, there is a good Irish pub a bit up from Jacobs Well (Harrigans) which has free pontoons you can tie up to if you want to go and have a meal and a cool relaxing ale..

[sunshinecoasting]

Hi Paul, thanks so much for this info, helps with the planning for sure. What can you tell me about Couran Cove resort? Looks like a nice spot to stop for a few hours on the way down to GC, I presume you have to buy something there (a meal?) to cover your visit and use their facilities and I also presume that would be very expensive?

Cheers, Dennis.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Sorry Dennis, cant help with that one. Was going to go in there a few years back but found out at the last second that it was private. I have heard that that has changed and they accept visiting boats now but I have not been in there myself. Will let you know if I find time to check that out before Xmas.

[sunshinecoasting]

Thanks Paul, their web site advertises free use of their facilities to boaties if you want to take advantage of their restaurant etc. Interesting.
Cheers.

[Relackson]

Hi Fellas

Just found your thread. Bloody bewdy! Lots of helpful info.

My long term plan is to start at the Gold Coast Seaway and visit as many suitable places as possible on the way up the Qld coast. How far I get, ..... don't know. Certainly to the Whitsundays, I hope. Plan on putting the boat in around May each year, doing a few weeks sailing, leave the boat and car for a few weeks and fly home, come back and move up further... Hope to be able to do this every Victorian winter. Planning to start next May.

So your information is invaluable to me - and very much appreciated. Hopefully, I can contribute as I progress.

Smooth sailing

Stan

[sunshinecoasting]

Hi Stan, well I can certainly help you out with info in relation to the Sunshine Coast, ie. Caloundra/Pumicestone passage to Noosa river/Lake Cootharabah. Maybe after December I will have some first hand experience with the Gold Coast waters too. Let us know well in advance of any such trip, maybe we can meet out on the water, who knows?

Cheers, Dennis.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Hi \Stan,

Sounds like a fantastic plan to me, and something I'd like to do one day too although I don't know about in the Mac. There are a few stretches with no safe harbour for some distance and a few scary bars you will have to cross. Of course, smaller trailer sailers, with less safety features than a Mac have done the QLD coast so I'm sure its entirely doable if you watch your weather and plan well.

Hope you will do a running blog on that one - It will be great

One book I recommend is "My Sweet Little Episilon" available from boatbooks, written by Barry Craft, who in his retirement sailed a Southern Cross 23 trailer sailer from the Gold Coast, up the QLD coast, across the top, and finished up in Perth

[Relackson]

Thanks Paul

At this stage I didn't plan to sail all the way up - as yet don't have enough experience nor knowledge of the Mac's capabilities. Intend to put it on the trailer as appropriate. But, as you imply, it could be possible.

Have been sailing only in Westernport and the Gippy Lakes so far. Am keen to try taking it out and sailing around Phillip Island this summer - obviously a bit of Bass Strait involved. Would love to sail from Westernport to Port Phillip Bay, too. Will see how we go.

Thanks for the heads up on the book. I will look it up.

Yes, I intend to do a blog. You blokes have provided me with so much information, I'd like to do the same for others.

Stan

[sunshinecoasting]

Hi Stan, Mornington peninsula and Westernport are my old stamping grounds, lived there 36 years, I sold up from a little place called Bittern (near Hastings) before moving up here 15 years ago, take it easy doing the strait side of Philip island and around the Peninsula, I have seen and surfed some treacherous waters there (Cape Schank), very scary water indeed, I have also seen it like glass but it can go from glass to Himalaya’s in minutes. My family owns farming land along Kilcunda, Wonthaggi and Cape Paterson coastlines, I have spent many a weekend camping along that coast and as spectacular as it is I wouldn’t be seen in my Mac there. I can remember camping in the dunes at my cousins farm off Wonthaggi in June once, we were beach fishing in calm(ish) conditions one day but the next morning the waves were dark green and 4 meters high, the sea was black and the wind coming from the arctic so strong the surf was being pushed in to the sand dunes above the beach, scariest water I have ever seen, no wonder ships were lost in the early days along there. We just can’t imagine those conditions up here on the Coral sea.

Cheers, Dennis.