Hi Steve,
it is doable. However, there is a current NTM advising that the South bar has changed (extends further to the north than mapped) , so much so the outer leads will now take you straight over the south bar. You have to cross further to the north until the leads are adjusted.
i went through a few weeks ago, and even with a 1.2mtr draft I opted to go through the main channel, I was unsure of what impact there was on Fishermans to chance it.
SB

I have only crossed WBB twice, one out and one in.
Going out in my sisters Valiant 40 it had been blowing 30 kts from the SE for days before while we anchored in Inskip Pt. We ended up going out when the wind dropped to 20-25 from the SE. We had a professional skipper in charge and it was exciting to say the least. 2-3 metre standing waves inn the channel, some breaking off the top. The waves crashing on the south side were maybe 5 metres. On the north side a mass of white water and spume. It would have been impossible to come in without major surfing down the faces.
I came in one night with Cisco and Havefun in Cisco's Second Wind. It had been calm for days so we came in outside the most favourable tides. It was dark but I feel we still had 1-2 metre swells coming under us. As Cisco will attest (he was a tad concerned for awhile) it was also exciting to say the least with the little Lotus rolling maybe 45 degrees with the sea surges and powering down the faces.
From these experiences I would not attempt to come in or go out except in favourable winds and tides and only in the main channel. Yes, some passages will make people wonder what the fuss is all about. But it is a treacherous bar and is deserving of respect even in benign conditions.

Jode5 said..
I have crossed the bar many times and would not consider using the fishermans gutter. The fishermans gutter is used by locals with very good local knowledge. If you come into the gutter and find you can not get through it is a long way back to the main channel. Most of my crossings have been uneventful, but I only cross the bar on the last third of the incoming tide no matter what the conditions. You can get some big breakers stand up out of nowhere between way point one and two if you have a particularly big swell running. Plenty of people have been caught out thinking they are over the bar and a big one will stand up on them. The same coming in, people think they are still coming up to the bar because there is no white water round them, then all of a sudden they find themselves surfing down a wave. Coastguard Tin Can Bar are very helpfull, you should always log on with them prior to any crossing and if you have any concerns you can alway phone them before leaving Mooloolaba.
At this stage we are planning to leave Brisbane on the 4th of July to head north and wil be crossing the bar on the 5th, weather permitting. I have placed an order for 20 knots from the southwest.??

I have built in to the schedule to spend the night before at Double Island point so we can have a go first thing in the morning on the high tide.

Jode, I wont be there until a couple of weeks after you. Let me know how your order goes and I will try to get a copy and forward to the relevant authority.....

MorningBird said..
Yes, some passages will make people wonder what the fuss is all about. But it is a treacherous bar and is deserving of respect even in benign conditions.

I am not for one moment suggesting the WBB crossing has been made a mountain from a mole hill or doesn't deserve respect. On the contrary, I thought that my post indicated that even on seemingly benign days it still demanded respect and concentration.

On the upside, I heard over the radio today from Tin Can Bay CG, that the Inskip Point leads have now been repositioned and are 'in line' again.

EC31 said..

I have built in to the schedule to spend the night before at Double Island point so we can have a go first thing in the morning on the high tide.

EC31, I left Newport latish in the afternoon and sailed through the night to be at the bar entrance smack on high tide. Probably more luck than good planing but it worked for me (had 3 onboard running watch).

I've crossed WBB many times over the last 10 years. In recent years there has been occasional shoaling around the middle waypoint - several times we have needed to divert 100m or so north to avoid breaking water. I know the marks and waypoints have been adjusted, again, very recently - however in my view it would be foolhardy to attempt this bar at night without local knowledge.

MorningBird said..
I came in one night with Cisco and Havefun in Cisco's Second Wind. It had been calm for days so we came in outside the most favourable tides. It was dark but I feel we still had 1-2 metre swells coming under us. As Cisco will attest (he was a tad concerned for awhile) it was also exciting to say the least with the little Lotus rolling maybe 45 degrees with the sea surges and powering down the faces.
From these experiences I would not attempt to come in or go out except in favourable winds and tides and only in the main channel. Yes, some passages will make people wonder what the fuss is all about. But it is a treacherous bar and is deserving of respect even in benign conditions.

That experience is vividly etched in my mind!!!

We received a good report from Tin Can CG earlier in the day with them saying there was 5 meters of water over the bar on low tide but I don't think our sounder was working too well.

I had exited three times previously but entered only once before this time during the day. On that occasion it was mid to late afternoon and the leads on Inskip Point were just visible.

On this occasion with MorningBird and HaveFun it was 00:30 in the night, low tide, calm, clear but no moon. HaveFun was below with Navionics on his iPhone and calling the shots. Our approach from south was good and on line by the sector light on Fraser. We turned towards the channel right on the way point to find only one blue lead light and that is what caused the anguish.

This meant we were totally relying on the Navionics being accurate in putting us on the lead line and keeping us on it even though I steered straight at the one blue lead light.

The sea was on the port beam and the boat was rolling like crazy and yes at least 45 degrees of roll. This also meant there was not a lot of water under us. My many thanks go to HaveFun calling the shots from below and to MorningBird for his much appreciated moral support on deck.

I had only bought the boat three weeks prior from Lake Macquarie and we were only two days from home, so yes I was a bit concerned plus at that time of day there would not have been anybody up and about to hear a distress call.

Crossing the Wide bay Bar is a navigational challenge that I believe any capable sailor in Queensland waters should take on at some point. The reward of The Great Sandy Straits is well worth it. I hesitate to say that The Narrows inside Curtis Island are worth the effort but each to his own.

Regardless of how many times one has crossed the Wide Bay Bar, he that attempts to cross it without due caution may not live to tell the tale.

The local fishermen cross it at all hours but I recommend daytime crossings only. I doubt I will ever cross it in the dark again.

EC31 said..

EC31, I left Newport latish in the afternoon and sailed through the night to be at the bar entrance smack on high tide. Probably more luck than good planing but it worked for me (had 3 onboard running watch).

I am leaving Broken Bay on the 5th July with 3 on board, so will overnight to Southport with a stop for fuel (if required) in Coffs. I will only have 2 on board for Southport to Rosslyn Bay, so not planning on overnighting in that section. But all subject to weather windows of course. I have allowed 6 weeks to get to Mackay.
Jode, will give you a call when we get up that way. Plus any others that we pass on our way through.

we will probably cross paths. im leaving 1 july, give or take a few days. weather depending. over nighting to laurieton, spend a night there then overnighting to south port to spend a few days on the hard. 'plan to be at wwb about 10 july i reckon.

Sectorsteve said..

EC31 said..

EC31, I left Newport latish in the afternoon and sailed through the night to be at the bar entrance smack on high tide. Probably more luck than good planing but it worked for me (had 3 onboard running watch).

I am leaving Broken Bay on the 5th July with 3 on board, so will overnight to Southport with a stop for fuel (if required) in Coffs. I will only have 2 on board for Southport to Rosslyn Bay, so not planning on overnighting in that section. But all subject to weather windows of course. I have allowed 6 weeks to get to Mackay.
Jode, will give you a call when we get up that way. Plus any others that we pass on our way through.

we will probably cross paths. im leaving 1 july, give or take a few days. weather depending. over nighting to laurieton, spend a night there then overnighting to south port to spend a few days on the hard. 'plan to be at wwb about 10 july i reckon.

Think we will be about a week behind you up the coasts. Will be spending a week at Southport before moving on. I am sure we catch up somewhere up north.

I plan to stop at Laurieton on the way back tho.....

Sectorsteve said..
Scary! You were keen to cross in the dark. Another kudos for navionics. It saved me in the dark during a 50knot blow and rain when i had to find shelter. Couldn't see nought. Had to rely on it. Used it as anchor watch waiting out the blow after we moved
Im hoping wwb will be uneventful. Am scared of it and will be picking my times to go carefully.

It is only scary in the telling of the tale. At sea in a dire situation you do not have the time nor inclination to be scared. You have only one thing and that is living the moment, dealing with it and striving to survive it.

When you have consciously and purposely put yourself into a hazardous situation, you have obviously taken a calculated risk and believe in your mind that you can overcome the obstacles while not dismissing the possibility of your demise.

What worthy human achievement ever was there that had no risk of failure? None!

The navigation aid "Navionics" never saved anybody. Skilled navigators prudent use of the information it supplies may have saved some lives. We could have made the crossing that night without Navionics but the risk factor would have been higher.

I remember that we discussed whether to cross or not and based on the information we had the unanimous decision of the crew was to cross though it was night. If one had said NO we would have continued the safer option (maybe) of easting Fraser Island and rounding The Spit in daylight.

Gather all available information, do your sums, calculate the risk and make your decision.

Kankama said..
Gday Steve

I have run a few bars in my trips up and down the coast and the WBB is a bit different from the NSW ones. The NSW bars usually only have about 500m of rough stuff where you need to be really switched on. Then you are in and can breathe again.

The WBB is much longer - you may have your heart in your mouth for up to half an hour or more. It is very drawn out.

But the same rules apply. A bar that is vicious today can be benign tomorrow. You can always wait out the bar at Double Island Point until conditions improve. What is fine on our 38ft cat, that loves to surf, may not be fine on a Tophat. Also a very important factor is to not scare the crew.

To that end I often recommend that sailors deliver the boat up to Southport, or Tin Can Bay and then get a less enthusiastic loved one on board, and cruise gently from there upwards.

BTW - Pulling your boat out at the Boatworks is the best idea. I have never been treated so well and paid such a good deal as when I pulled out there. If only they could open a franchise in NSW.

cheers

Phil

Thumbs up to Boat Works. We pull Jo-De7 out there 5th June.
Last time we were there the owner Tony Longhurst can down the dock at 6.00am and asked if we would like a coffee while waiting for the travel lift to start work at 7.00am. How that for friendliness.

When i went into greenwell last December i crossed at the last third of the ebb tide. Winds were 25 sometimes a bit more. Waves were standing up. I was enjoying it. Surfing and going really fast and focussed on keeping the stern pretty square.
I had a full jib up. Probably too much in these winds but no furler and was in control so all good. Are you guys crossing wwb with headsails or any sails up? Surely it would help?

My boats crap under motor so i really try to avoid it unless its dead flat.
Ive got a downhaul on my jib and can douse that in a few seconds. If theres a sou wester or even a sou easter it would be near perfect for the wbbalthough ive not yet done it. Ill be a prudent guy here and going daylight, morning sun last 3rd of incoming tide like jode.

thanks soap pad :)

Jode5 said..

Sectorsteve said..
When i went into greenwell last December i crossed at the last third of the ebb tide. Winds were 25 sometimes a bit more. Waves were standing up. I was enjoying it. Surfing and going really fast and focussed on keeping the stern pretty square.
I had a full jib up. Probably too much in these winds but no furler and was in control so all good. Are you guys crossing wwb with headsails or any sails up? Surely it would help?

I forgot to mention earlier that I always cross with a mainsail up. If you are motoring into the wind the mainsail will behave better than the jib flogging it's self to death. As my boat has a furling jib it can be pulled out quickly if required. In a yacht it will also stop you rolling gunwale to gunwale.

My rule taught by a Master yachtsman, who skippered my sisters Valiant across WBB, is to cross any bar with the main up. It gives you options if the engine quits.

Don't have the jib up as it reduces your options if you get a head wind. You may not have seconds to douse it when needed.

nswsailor said..
Nobody seems to have mentioned the "Mad Mile" after the turn.

I got caught there on my first crossing in that I didn't have everything secure down below.

Had a bit of a mess to clean up at Pelican Point

As others have mention I have also taken evasive action away from breaking seas on the turn.

The thing with the WBB is to wait until you feel confident that the conditions are what you want,
thus I've spent several days at Pelican Point waiting for a window, but that's cruising!!

Where is Pelican Point?