Update on Wide Bay bar

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4 posts
31 Mar 2015 6:38am
Hello all , my first post , so please forgive my ignorance.
I will be looking at crossing the Wide Bay Bar , hopefully within the week .
Presently sitting in Mooloolaba.
I'm hoping for some recent advice.
eg best tide , wind etc.
Is it Noosa beach an acceptable anchorage.
Is it compulsory to inform authorities.
Cheers , and Thankyou .
Darren

DAMA
DAMA
QLD
239 posts
QLD, 239 posts
31 Mar 2015 9:53am
Noosa can be ok depending on swell and wind direction , your best bet would be head direct to Double island and anchor in behind headland.
then catch the last of the rising tide to cross wide bay bar,
call tin can bay VMR for latest waypoints and bar condition ( prior to departing mooloolaba)
Crusoe
Crusoe
QLD
1197 posts
QLD, 1197 posts
31 Mar 2015 10:42am
Yeah I've anchored at Double Island Point and found it best if you keep as close to the point as possible (once in the protected area) and get as close to the beach as you can. The further into the bay you go the worse the swell/roll becomes because it wraps around the point and expands to encumber all. I also use a rocker reduce (miss named rocker stopper) to reduce boat roll. Not much of an anchorage in any sort of swell.

The Bar.
- Look at your forecast swell for the day and take heed. Below 2m should be ok. Anything that hints at 3 meter don't go near it (well I wouldn't).
- Your charts and GPS will indicate a line to follow on the first lead in (coming from the south). For me this line is now too close for shifting sands and I keep another 100m to the N/E of it. Keep your eyes peeled and you can easily see white water and shallows and for f$#k sake don't cut the corner (as marked on your GPS/Chart). If you see some power boat scooting around, look and learn.
- There is normally plenty of water but the conditions on the bar seem best when the tide is flowing in (as usual). I would plan my crossing for 3/4 - 7/8 high tide. The swell can stand up something horrible with the tide against it.

I have been across in mill pond conditions and also surfed waves (ye ha). This by no way means that I know what I am doing.

Here is a picky of some racing guys heading into the swell and probably wondered later if they made the correct decision.





cisco
cisco
QLD
12365 posts
QLD, 12365 posts
31 Mar 2015 12:02pm

Coast guard Tin Can Bay are very helpful and would have the latest information from the trawlers that work out of there. One of their mobile phone numbers is 0419 798 651.

They will text you the latest way points. A morning entry is best. Night time can be dangerous.

We broke all the rules last time we entered by coming in on a dead low tide at midnight. Weather was calm but it was nerve wracking and could have been disastrous.

A morning entry on a rising tide is the way to go. After about 3 pm the sun will be in your eyes making it difficult to pick up the leads on Inskip Point.
4 posts
31 Mar 2015 7:01pm
Thanks , All good advice , looking forward to it , but always a bit of the jitters.
Guess that's why we love it . Cheers .

MorningBird
MorningBird
NSW
2711 posts
NSW, 2711 posts
31 Mar 2015 11:17pm
cisco said..

Coast guard Tin Can Bay are very helpful and would have the latest information from the trawlers that work out of there. One of their mobile phone numbers is 0419 798 651.

They will text you the latest way points. A morning entry is best. Night time can be dangerous.

We broke all the rules last time we entered by coming in on a dead low tide at midnight. Weather was calm but it was nerve wracking and could have been disastrous.

A morning entry on a rising tide is the way to go. After about 3 pm the sun will be in your eyes making it difficult to pick up the leads on Inskip Point.


Just remember the Coastguard people may have been doing Meals on Wheels the previous year and may not know anything about boats. They aren't supposed to give advice just tell you the facts.

As Cisco notes they did give us advice when we crossed Wide Bay bar last year. On reflection, while we were ok and not in any serious danger the three of us weren't comfortable. In some respects we were lucky and I wouldn't cross the bar in the future based on Coastguard advice of the conditions.

As Cisco says, do it in daylight and on a flood tide. Remember also that the tidal flow doesn't turn at the change of tide as there is the over run to consider. Do it at least 3 hours after low tide when the tide should be flooding and watch the conditions for half an hour before you start the crossing.

Those sand bars aren't far away and if there is a swell running the southern sand bar is nasty and very close.
cisco
cisco
QLD
12365 posts
QLD, 12365 posts
1 Apr 2015 2:49am
MorningBird said..

Those sand bars aren't far away and if there is a swell running the southern sand bar is nasty and very close.


Yeah!! You can see the damn things in daylight.
4 posts
1 Apr 2015 6:00pm
Crikey , I was hoping to cross this weekend (Sunday) but the wind and weather is all over the place . (Seabreaze)
Changing from northerlies to easterlies within short time.
Not good for trying to hide at Double point for the night either on Sat night. High tide mid morning .
Only plus , is the swell is small and probably quite managable .
I'll watch the weather sites and make a decision .
Things could worse than having to hang around Mooloolaba.
Got a coffee club discount on our latest Coles docket , wish it was 2 for one at the Surf Club .
Cheers Darren
RiffRaff
RiffRaff
WA
265 posts
WA, 265 posts
1 Apr 2015 6:35pm
Hi Darren
I am not seeing anything to be concerned about with the weather. I crossed around this time last year in similar weather to what is forecast for this weekend.
Just take your time sit off and have a good look. the leads were very inconspicuous so you will need to follow the waypoints from Tin Can Bay MR.
During the day you can see the breakers there is nothing to be concerned about.
The photo posted previously from what i understand was in severe conditions and on the wrong tide. They were coming out not going in.
Cheers
Riffraff
Franrick
Franrick
289 posts
289 posts
3 Apr 2015 4:31pm
I came out over the bar late last year and the Tin Can Bay VMR couldn,t have been more helpfull.
As Cisco says, they will text the three waypoints to your phone. They also have very good printed sheets if you get the chance to call in and say hello.
I have used the bar only a few times in the past but never had any problems.
As others have said, the inside of Wide Bay is a good place to wait for thr right conditions.
4 posts
5 Apr 2015 7:29pm
Well we did it, thanks to all good advice here and of course the Tin Can Bay coast guard.
Crossed the bar on Friday arvo after a reasonably rough trip north from Moolloolaba .
pulled into to Double Island head to anchor , but decided it was to rough with the Easterly and saw another boat heading for the bar , so took our chances .
Coast. Guard said a guy had just been over and said it was the worst crossing he had in 10 years. I was beginning to be concerned as I had no idea what to expect.
As it turned out , I believe he crossed as a squall went past close by and picked up the swell substantially .
i was lucky , as a large game boat went passed as I dropping sails and gave word to the coast guard that was rough , but no breaking waves if you took the right track.
No breaking , however was quite big breaking surf around us and We managed to surf one in that we believe was about 3m . Boat handled it well and we were over. After the 2-3 m swell all day , we felt prepared .
Thanks to all, no big toilet trips after all.
Cheers Darren
Watermark
Watermark
NSW
103 posts
NSW, 103 posts
6 Apr 2015 10:07am
Hi Darren out of curiosity how much does your boat draw? What size boat? We had some friends last year cross the bar and they said it was interesting!
cisco
cisco
QLD
12365 posts
QLD, 12365 posts
6 Apr 2015 10:39am
Great that you made it through OK Darren. By the sounds of it your crossing was a challenge to say the least. I have been lucky as my 4 or 5 crossings have all been in calm weather.

If you are coming into Bundaberg be sure to look me up.
Crusoe
Crusoe
QLD
1197 posts
QLD, 1197 posts
6 Apr 2015 10:42am
Well done FlyingColours and glad to here all is okay. It also sounds like you've also become another unofficial member of the WBBWRC. (Wide Bay Bar Wave Riders Club). It's good to find out how your boat handles in these conditions and have a happy ending.

Hey Watermark, when I've been through I've never seen much less than 18ft of water when sticking to the channel but I sure some of the locals or the VMR could clarify this.
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