Moteton Bay QLD

[Barwon14]

Hi Forum ,

I am wishing to cruise from Scarborough Morton Bay QLD to the Gold Coast . I have a swing keel yacht so draft is not an issue . If was I was to take two or three days can someone recommend some stop overs or even marina's along the way to break up the trip Thanks in advance

[Alan Mighty]

It's hard to construct a passage plan from scratch without more input from you, Barwon14.

First is whether you are time-bound and/or whether you are prepared to the play the winds and wait for winds and tide.

- for instance working the SW land breeze that runs most early mornings to just after dawn (when you're leaving Scarborough - assuming you're in Scarborough Boat Harbour); and
- waiting for the N winds predicted for Thurs-Fri 24-25 June.

2. then there are the big questions about route

- go outside, around Cape Moreton and enter at the Seaway; or

- stay inside the Bay and then whether you prefer:

. the Main Channel (i.e. west of Russel Is); or

. the Canaipa Passage.

3. then it's about what you've already done and seen and what you want to do and see.


4. Your destination might choose your answer to Q. 2.

5. You've indicated your draught is not a problem. I assume that also means your air draught is not a problem.


Generally if you are staying inside and depending on the size of the boat and what wind speed moves you, you'll sail in the N and central part of the Bay and motor-sail in the S part. If you're lighter and smaller and depending on what winds are in the S part of the Bay, then you can sail there too.

You've worked your way through the relevant chartlets and the photos of anchorages in Beacon to Beacon? You can download the chartlets for free from MSQ, but the aerial photos are, I think, only available in the dead tree versions of B2B.

Zulu Waterways (https://www.zuluwaterways.com/map/-2....3259163643806) is an excellent planning aid.

Apart from windy.com and BoM, you've several sites for wind and tide info, including reports from the Inner Beacon, Hope Banks, Banana Banks etc. See for example: https://www.seabreeze.com.au/weather...ecast/brisbane

[clownfishsydney]

Is really only a one day trip, but good spots are Canaipa Point, Coffee Cliffs, Slipping Sands and Jumpin Pin.

[Alan Mighty]

And welcome to Cruiser's Forum, Barwon14.

You can find the Beacon to Beacon (B2B) chartlets at:

https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Beacon-to-Beacon-Guides

[Dave_S]

Weather permitting (easterlies are best), Moreton Island is nice to anchor along, it is directly east of your start point so not ideal but you have three days to do a full day trip, you can follow it down then follow N Stradbroke lots of nice anchorage's.

[Alan Mighty]

Zulu Waterways lets you choose satellite image or marine chart as the base layer. Most every anchorage is marked.

Any internet search will turn up opinions on anchorages - whether you want an anchorage for sleep, provisioning, fishing, or exploring (dinghy ashore and walk across Moreton Island to the surf side; explore parts of N Stradbroke ranging from Dunwich to searching for the 'lost ship' seen by pilots flying over the Island.

Have a sticky at:

https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/...horages?page=1

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ay-184522.html

Those are just scratching the surface, heaps more on the Net.

[Alan Mighty]

Beacon to Beacon covers the marine park limitations.

You can get more at: https://gcwa.qld.gov.au/wp-content/u...Guidelines.pdf

and

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-bay/about

[Barwon14]

thank you ever so much for the reply it is all new to me, I have just been around the sticks racer to now . I have to deliver a Noelex 30 to Paradise Point just just North of the Gold Coast from Scarborough. I have 2.5 days if I need it , so not really looking to go cruising just a safe passage down by sail and motor with recommendations as to which way to go and where to say if required along the way , really appreciate the time you are taking to assist me

[Alan Mighty]

So if you pick a day, such as Thurs 24 June predicted to have N wind, you'd make an easy downwind sail down the coast (past Garnet Rock if you know it), across the shipping channel (monitor VHF 12 as well as VHF 16 and VHF 73 perhaps) to Peel.

If the N wind continued in the S part of the Bay (e.g. from Peel south) a Noelex 30 would likely carry the wind further down to the Main Channel.

On a broad reach or a run, you'd likely lift the keel, so you dinnae have much worry about the couple of tricky bits along the Main Channel. You'd likely have to motor-sail further S.

Were I to do that, I'd check the tide times. The N part of the Bay is always happiest when tide and wind run together. I'd not set targets, because the boat is not so familiar.

So I'd take it as it comes and around 1600 I'd check where I was and look for the next best anchorage.

That means planning a few possible anchorages so at 1600+ you could decide which one to take. I've never used any of the marinas in the S part of the Bay, always anchored. Cannot help there.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

So if you pick a day, such as Thurs 24 June predicted to have N wind, you'd make an easy downwind sail down the coast (past Garnet Rock if you know it), across the shipping channel (monitor VHF 12 as well as VHF 16 and VHF 73 perhaps) to Peel.

My point about VHF 12 is relevant for when you cross the Entrance Channel to Brisbane. Brisbane VTS uses VHF 12 and will periodically broadcast the schedule of ships entering or leaving the port via the Entrance Channel.

Most all commercial shipping over 35 metres has to report in via VHF 12 or digital services.

Monitoring VHF 12 as you approach the Entrance Channel gives you an idea of what will be happening when you cross the Entrance Channel.

[Alan Mighty]

A recreational ship equipped with VHF radio is required to maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 16 and either channel 12 or 13 depending on its area of operation.

Between the pilot boarding ground at Point Cartwright (Mooloolaba) and Brisbane Cruise Terminal (Hamilton), a recreational ship fitted with a VHF radio must maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 12 prior when navigating in, or near a shipping channel.

When operating in and along a shipping channel, the recreational ship should navigate on the outer edge of the channel.

For reasons of safety, a recreational ship should only cross a shipping channel at
recommended locations and at 90° to the channel (refer to MSQ Boating Maps, formerly
Beacon to Beacon, Guides for recommended crossings).

[Alan Mighty]

In the graphic, the blue lines are 'preferred routes'.

[JPA Cate]

Hi, Barwon 14, we've made the trip to Southport a number of times. From where you cross the ship channel, (your choice, but from Scarborough, we'd probably do it close to Brisbane, rather than out by Moreton Is.), then leave Mud Is. to starboard, and then, Peel Is. close to port, and head south in the channel along N. Stradbroke. We are too deep draft to use the Canaipa Channel, but you can, and it will be shorter. I would not plan to overnight at Jumpinpin, the wind against the tide situation can cause you to go up over your anchor rode, which I would not want if i were delivering the boat to its new owner, because of potential damage.

If you instead go via Jacob's Creek, you can anchor safely in the east-west reach before you get to Jacob's Creek VMR. There is a marina along the way before you get to that point, iirc, called Horizon Shores. If you phone ahead, they might have a berth, if you require that, and you could try and set that up. We are not talking huge distances here, and the winds may well be light and fluky there among the mangroves, usually dropping out entirely, at night. We always find somewhere to anchor, but as a round the buoys racer, you may not have anchoring gear that you trust for overnight. The area is riddled with mangrove creeks that you can drop your hook in, but not much in the way of marinas..... Current runs up to 3 kn. at springs in places, which is why I brought up the anchoring gear consideration.

Maybe one of the cruisers at Scarborough could loan you charts for the trip? and you bring them back when you return?

The person to whom you deliver the boat should be willing to drive you to the train, to Brisbane, and you can get to Scarborough on public transportation from the Central Station there.

Ann

On Edit: I googled Paradise Point, and zoomed in. You approach, coming from the north, will be to leave Sovereign Is. to stbd, and enter between it and Ephraim Is. It is extremely built up, but there is (at least) a jetty there.

If you plan the trip to go with the tides, plan to use them to help you along the way. Done this way, it is only part of one day. If the tides are against you, plan to stop somewhere in the region between Russell Is. and the Gold Coast. Horizon Shores fits the bill.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Weather permitting (easterlies are best), Moreton Island is nice to anchor along, it is directly east of your start point so not ideal but you have three days to do a full day trip, you can follow it down then follow N Stradbroke lots of nice anchorage's.

I should point out, it gets very shallow in the bay where N Stradbroke and Moreton Island meet. Read your charts and tides carefully especially in that area.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

If you plan the trip to go with the tides, plan to use them to help you along the way. Done this way, it is only part of one day. If the tides are against you, plan to stop somewhere in the region between Russell Is. and the Gold Coast. Horizon Shores fits the bill.

Ann's advice is, as usual, golden.

Depending on schedule (which likely is set by whoever ordered the delivery), I'd check the evolution of the numeric Wx models through the days ahead.

If all continued to look peachy, I'd run out to the North Reef green early on Thursday (say aim to be at the N Reef Green at 0400). Then set a course of 150 Mag, hoping to get a push from the rising tide and the Nly wind (which will be a bit diminished by any SW land breeze).

After 9.5 nm, that should get you to the Entrance Channel into Brisbane port. So I'd have monitored VHF 12 (Brisbane VTS) listening for ship movements. Brisbane VTS is quite polite with recreational sailors - of course crossing the Entrance Channel is a case of recreational vessels not impeding.

After crossing the Entrance Channel, then a course of 111 M will put Mud Is to port. The push from the rising tide dies around Mud Is. In N Moreton Bay, the flood tide enters from the N (between Bribie and Moreton Is). Some flood tide enters at the South Passage (between Moreton and N Stradbroke). So the tidal current around Mud Is (and that latitude) is whatever it is.

After clearing Mud to port and St Helena to stbd, you've to decide whether the N wind is worth aiming S to pass Peel to port and then head S down to the Main Channel (i.e. what Ann refers to as the Jacobs Well channel) or, after clearing Peel to port, to cross east to the Canaipa Passage with N Stradbroke on your port hand.

The strength of the N wind between Mud and Peel, and how it has developed or not, might be decisive.