Southport to Mooloolaba 4th June 88.7 nm

Yesterday we left the Southport Yacht Club and anchored in “Bums Bay” next to the Seaway for an early getaway. High tide was 5am and we needed to exit the seaway on the high tide.

After an uneasy night sleep we were woken by the alarm at 4am. The wind was no more than 5 knots but we could still here pounding surf on the beach. It did not sound any worse than when we walked to the beach and viewed the swell. The big storm from the south that was forecast with gale force winds did not eventuate. Maximum wind speed was around 25 knots and it abated to less than 10 knots by nightfall. The swell was predicted at 4 metres but because the wind never reached gale force I also never expected the swell to reach 4 meters. The locals would never exit the bar when 4 meter swells are running.

We departed “Bums Bay” at 4.30am and motored down the seaway. Everything was calm. We exited the Seaway leaving the rock walls protecting the channel and it was calm with little wind. Swells were no more than 1- 2 metres. Thinking this is going to be easy I started plotting the course to Cape Morton. I had my head down concentrating on the GPS when Peter who was watching ahead with a sliver of moon shining on the sea spotted white water. I immediately altered course back to the East and proceeded warily. Then suddenly from nowhere a huge mass of water was closing in on us. The wave was black as it was shadowed by the moon. All I could do was steer directly into the wave. We rose up and the wave left us high out of the water and we crashed down. I really thought the mast would break. Our hearts were pumping with adrenalin and I looked behind and the wave broke and white foamy water shone in the lights from the Gold Coast buildings. I looked forward and another wave was coming only not as big as the first. We rode up over the top of that and fell more gently down the back. Another 50 meters and we were in deep water and the swell was back to normal.

 Leaving the Southport Seaway

 The conditions that never reached predictions on the previous day and the dying wind gave us a false sense of security. My big mistake was ignoring the forecast of 4 meter swells. What I did not take into account was the severity of the storm further to the south that generated the 4 meter swells which came despite the lack of wind.

Let that be a lesson to me for the future. Never discount the forecast swell when storms are further a field.

It took some time for both Peter and me to stop shaking and settle down.

The further along our course the wind increased along with the waves. We saw wind speeds above 25 knots for most of the morning and swells easily reaching 4 meters.

 Swells were around 4 meters. You can never capture it properly on camera.

We were treated to some magnificent flying/gliding from an albatross which kept passing the stern of our yacht. It was a highlight that such a graceful bird would choose us to demonstrate its flying prowess without flapping a wing.

By 1pm we rounded Cape Morton and set a course for Mooloolaba. The wind decreased and the swell decreased but we were still able to sail the entire distance apart from the exit of the seaway and the entry into Mooloolaba.

The Seaway Bar crossing was the scariest moment I have had on this yacht. I really thought we had done some serious damage. Everything seems to be ok including the numerous bottles of wine in the bilge. If we had of been 5 seconds later the wave would have crashed over the yacht and things may have turned out a little differently.

We were lucky.