Wide Bay Bar (QLD)

[44'cruisingcat]

This morning at around 9:00 am we crossed the Wide Bay Bar heading south. I checked with the Tin Can Bay Coast Guard, to see if the waypoints had changed, and was informed they had, recently.

So I took down the details for the two waypoints (used to be three) and loaded them into the chartplotter.

On approach to the first new waypoint I could see that there were breaking waves at what looked like about the exact position of the waypoint.

So we stayed somewhat west of the recommended track, and turned later, north of the new waypoint's position.

Conditions were about as good as you could ask for, a 10 knot NE breeze, maybe 1 metre swell from the East, and well into a rising tide.

I'd suggest anyone crossing the Wide Bay Bar, be very careful, keep your eyes open, and do NOT attempt it at night. At least one of the new waypoints is not right.

But the entrance has definitely shifted, the old waypoints would be even worse.

I'll be sending an e-mail to MSQ.

[Wotname]

Presumably this is the outer bar before you turn S(ish??) for the inner bar or has all that changed as well?

[Wanderlust]

The waypoint of concern is the middle one ... they are now called A, B and C instead of 1, 2 and 3.

We listened to the radio chatter a couple of days after the new waypoints were announced a few weeks ago. A boat was surveying the area in calm conditions and reported that B was right on the edge of a sandbank, and the water was a lot deeper only 10-20 metres to the north and west of it.

A few days later we anchored in Pelican Bay, planning to cross the bar on the next morning's high tide. While there we watched on the AIS as Marine Rescue towed a boat in. There was a bit of swell and the tide was at least 2-3 hours into the runout, so I'm sure there would have been a fair bit of white water around. The rescue crew chose a path about 300 metres north and 100 metres west of the official waypoint.

When we went out the next day the swell had subsided somewhat and conditions were fairly calm. We did not see any breakers at the waypoint but the waves did look a little steeper there.

Note that Marine Rescue can't offer advice that differs from the official waypoints, but did suggest that if we saw white water at the official point we go a little north and west of the waypoint.

[44'cruisingcat]

Yes, it's what would have been the middle one when there were three. But now apparently there are only two.


It's the second one you would come to when entering the harbour.

[2Wind]

I sailed inbound during late September and outbound in early October using the old waypoint 1, 2 and 3. In bound it was clear that the old waypoint 3 (no doubt the current equivalent #2) needed to be moved east nor east by 100m or more. I surfed the lightly breaking swell approaching it. Outbound three weeks later in calm condition and at 3/4 tide under bright moonlight I made my track slightly seaward of the old #3. I had 3.0m of water over the bar between 3 & 2.

I will be interested to get the new waypoints and see where they lie in relationship to the old. Given 44's comments above, it certainly appears that daylight crossings in good conditions will be the rule until further notice.

[44'cruisingcat]

The new waypoints lie pretty much parallel to the old ones, but further north, on the "Second leg" when outbound.


They now only give two waypoints, the "First leg" outbound is dictated by using the entry leads as a backlead. However you need to stay a bit, maybe 50 metres or so west of this course.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Wanderlust

The waypoint of concern is the middle one ... they are now called A, B and C instead of 1, 2 and 3.

We listened to the radio chatter a couple of days after the new waypoints were announced a few weeks ago. A boat was surveying the area in calm conditions and reported that B was right on the edge of a sandbank, and the water was a lot deeper only 10-20 metres to the north and west of it.

A few days later we anchored in Pelican Bay, planning to cross the bar on the next morning's high tide. While there we watched on the AIS as Marine Rescue towed a boat in. There was a bit of swell and the tide was at least 2-3 hours into the runout, so I'm sure there would have been a fair bit of white water around. The rescue crew chose a path about 300 metres north and 100 metres west of the official waypoint.

When we went out the next day the swell had subsided somewhat and conditions were fairly calm. We did not see any breakers at the waypoint but the waves did look a little steeper there.

Note that Marine Rescue can't offer advice that differs from the official waypoints, but did suggest that if we saw white water at the official point we go a little north and west of the waypoint.

We came across on the 5th of November. The route the rescue crew took worked for us, with our 2.2 meter draft.

"A little west and north" is not good enough, as everyone seems to understand. What a shame the VMR can't tell us what they know, in advance of formal changes.

I sure hope no one tries a night time entry at this stage, and of course, then sands keep moving north.

Ann

[Wrong]

Ah, yes. The Wide Bay Bar. Been over that rascal three times. In the first episode, I'd created waypoints to a spot just outside the bar on the recommended track. Plan was to use, from there, physical references supposedly located on the land beyond. Problem is when I was on approach with the wind 20+- knots aft, haze and a setting sun obscured my view. Well, lucky for me a sailboat had just crossed the bar ahead. Unsure though of its precise track, I ran parallel of the entrance to the crossing to more closely observe the waves. Then, based upon my observations I was reluctant to proceed without further confirmation. Called VMR who based upon my given position said I looked to be spot on... So... The depth sounder displayed about 3' under my shoal draft keel which draws 3.5'. Almost broached but all's well that ends well.

Then VMR officially closed the bar for two days.

Second two experiences were 'pins & needles' events and were accomplished without anything more than coming away with an appreciation for the confused, rough conditions.

Not particularly my most fun thing to do.

[Mirage Gecko]

In the last week of November we were given Emailed the coords from VMR which were a little differnt to my Navionics by about 40 metres that I had used to cross northerley about five months earlier BUT was advised to head West and Nth a bit as well.On the day we crossed it was in very good conditions but a reasonable swell was running and way point two which is the one you basically turn right at and head out to sea had white water spot on the waypoint mark so we took the verbal advice and went west and north in unbroken water.What gives with this advice is VMR bound by some crazy regs to give you co ords they know are not correct?

How does the VMR close the bar?
Chris

[Mirage Gecko]

Apologies prior post should have been last week of October.
Chris

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Mirage Gecko

How does the VMR close the bar?
Chris

It doesn't - It has no regulatory or enforcement authority, it can only offer quite specific advice.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by Factor

It doesn't - It has no regulatory or enforcement authority, it can only offer quite specific advice.

)

I can state uneqivocably that in 2001 on my first crossing of the Bar toward the Great Sandy the bar was declared closed over the VHF. Mine was the last boat over before the closure. Whomever or whichever agency had the power and authority to decalare closure I don't know. It was not advisory. Of course there's no way to interdict a crossing by a determined boater willing to take the chance. I was to put it mildly, lucky. But then the Bar was not yet closed when I crossed.

[JPA Cate]

In terms of strategy for the WBB crossing for entry, I'm thinking it's best to arrive for the morning tide: trying to see the leads into the setting sun is very difficult. To me, it's worth it to roll around at Double Island Point at night, in order to arrive in the right place at the right time.

Ann

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Mirage Gecko

What gives with this advice is VMR bound by some crazy regs to give you co ords they know are not correct?


Chris

Yes, I think they are. They know the current waypoints aren't right, but they're the waypoints MSQ has given them. So all they can do is add the advice to be ready to go west and north.

It's a shifting bar, so at some stage every set of waypoints will need to be amended, but the problem is these new ones seem to have been wrong from the time they were issued.

[Wrong]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

In terms of strategy for the WBB crossing for entry, I'm thinking it's best to arrive for the morning tide: trying to see the leads into the setting sun is very difficult. To me, it's worth it to roll around at Double Island Point at night, in order to arrive in the right place at the right time.

Ann

Arrrrg, Aaak, Yuk! I did that on my second crossing toward the Great Sandy in 2011, and 'rolling around' is an understatement. Double Point is one the anchorages at the top of my list to avoid. Still, you are right. My second crossing was blessed with calm conditions, no breaking waves and excellent visibility. Me thinks from your comment you've rolled around a bit yerself at Double Point.