Playing in the Sandy Straits

We’ve had a very sociable couple of weeks in the Straits, firstly with Ross Cooke, and then with our cousins, Kathy and Nev Lord, who live at Tin Can Bay. We took them to one of our favorite spots in the Straits, Garrys Anchorage, for a couple of days.  Kathy loves fishing and had a line in the water most of the time.  However, the fish just wouldn’t co-operate.  She did manage to land a small whiting that was only marginally larger than her lure! 

Garrys Anchorage

 Kathy fishing

 Nev fishing

Greg had more luck though and fed us all with the 67cm flathead he caught! The crabs were around but all too small or female though we did manage to catch a couple of legal sand crabs for lunch on their last day with us.

Greg's flathead

When they left, we contact Sunny Coast friends, Gabriella and Peter, who came up for an overnighter last weekend.  Their very excited young 7 year old son, Ruben, had a ball especially when sitting in the helm seat while we were sailing down Tin Can Inlet!

 Greg with Gabriella, Peter and Ruben

With the school holidays coming up shortly, we’re hoping to lure our son and his family here too!

Underway at last

We finally cut the tap root and left the pontoon at Mooloolaba on the 6^th August.  With our sailing mate, Ross Cooke, on board, we had an excellent sail most of the way north to Double Island Point.  The wind decided to die about an hour south, so we ended up motoring the last little way.  We tucked under the Point in Wide Bay, found a nice calm anchorage and toasted RA as he sank below the horizon!

Approaching Double Island Point

Our first whale of the season off Double Island Point

 Greg on watch as we rounded the Point

 A beautiful and calm anchorage under the Point

 Speccy sand blows

 Sunset over Rainbow Beach

The next day, we crossed the Wide Bay Bar via Fisherman’s Gutter, our first time using this route.  The water was so calm there were no breaking waves on the entire bar - the calmest we’ve ever seen it!

Ross Cooke on the helm

We’ll spend the next 6-8 weeks playing in the Sandy Straits visiting old haunts and exploring new ones.