Day 5: Double Island Point – Garry’s Anchorage, Gt.( Sandy Straights) - Flingtime

Well, this was it, the 'dreaded' Wide Bay bar crossing. High water was at 14:55 which is not perfect; the morning being better as the sun is behing the you. Everything was checked; the fuel bladder was at least half full and Urangan is the nearest supply as we were not planning to visit Tin Can Bay.
The esky still had frozen block ice after 5 days so no need to transfer the cryovac meat to the fridge.
We reviewed the crossing instructions and checked the waypoints again. We also set up the iPad Navionics with the same, just in case.
The weather was forecast to be W-SW at 15-20 knots with seas 1.7-2.2metres.
In reality, the day was warm and sunny; our first day in shorts! The TWS was 8kn WSW and we set off at 11:25 and hoisted the main and jib. A dolphin pod was frolicing in the bay and the sandstone escarpments were scenic. The wind soon picked up and we were making 6kn. At 12:20 the wind was a steady 20kn so we put in the first reef. Aim was to cross at high water minus 1 hour (13:55). A mile before WPT #1 the skipper called the Coast Guard to advise intention of crossing the bar. We were advised that conditions were good. We decided to motor in as the wind was still tending SW, arriving at WPT #1 at 13:40. We soon after arrived at WPT #2 but could not see the Inskip light. Called up the CG and they advised that their Cooloola Rescue vessel was nearby so they could guide us in. They were soo nearby and we followed them in. We did not pick up the leads until we had more or less arrived. The nav marks here failed the Over 50's test. Windscreens ferry windows etc were more visible than the marks. We could easily see how the bar could get angry in adverse conditions.

We had to motor towards Garry's Anchorage as the ebb tide was strong. Arrived at 18:00 and it was getting very chilly; 10C.
There were a few boats at the anchorage which was comfortable. We moved to the side of the channel, reasonably close to the shore, and dropped 20 metres of chain.We had a sumptuous dinner of BBQ steak, sweet potato baked with garlic and rosemary, plus zucchinein tomato with thyme (the herbs were still garden fresh).
The anchorage was as tranquil and as calm as a millpond. Mangroves lined the shore so we setup all the screens. The mozzies were not bad, maybe it was the wintery conditions?
It was a half moon and the Dingoes howled at times; quite mournful and eery.

Navigatrix spent some time carefully planning tomorrows passage as tidal currents need to be optimized to the maximum extent.
The bottom line was that we had to have an early start and be well  underway by 06:00.