Position: 25 48.97 S 153 02.78 E
At anchor Pelican Bay
Wind: SE, F2 - light air
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: sunny, warm
Day's run: 57 nm

We ended up getting to anchor last night off Tyroom Roads, K'gari, at 1844, well after sunset but fortunately with still enough light to see the shore. I was grateful for the opportunity to have a relaxing evening and to enjoy a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

I was feeling well refreshed this morning however we did not get underway until 1115 as high water was not until 1630 and we needed a good meter of tide to negotiate the shallows of Sheridan Flats at the mid-point of the Great Sandy Strait. I calculated that by leaving around 1100 we should be approaching the shallows at around 1400 and by then should have enough tide to get over the sand bars. There was no wind to speak of and with all the narrow channels to negotiate it was going to be a day of mostly motoring.

My calculations were on the mark and at 1400 we were approaching the shallows. There were a three boats ahead of us (always reassuring that others have made similar calculations to one's own) who were talking to each other on the VHF radio. One was a shallow draft catamaran, one was a deep draft Benetaeu, Pure Fun, and one, Cadence, reported having a similar draft to Sylph. She was calling the depths to the Benetaeu - very useful information as the sand bars in this section of the strait are shifting all the time. The chart is updated very infrequently in these small boat channels so cannot be relied upon, rather one has to trust the marks though one is never sure just how far off the marks one should be. Cadence, the boat calling the depths, reported touching bottom as she approached the western most buoy marking the shallowest spot in the channel. I approached Cadence at minimum speed hoping I might find slightly deeper water outside of her but ended up touching bottom as well. We were close enough to say hello, which I did.

Sylph had only touched gently so, with the making tide, after waiting for five minutes I put the engine ahead and we slid over the sand bar and were able to continue. Cadence had done the same thing so I tucked in behind her and allowed her to sound the way. Thirty minutes later we were clear of the shifting sand bars and in relatively well charted and marked water again, so could relax a bit. We continued motoring until 1600 when we were clear of the narrow channels and, with a gentle breeze blowing out of the east, I set sail and at last shut down the BRM.

We sailed close hauled on the port tack and were able to lay Pelican Bay where I intended to anchor for the night. At 1730 we once more handed sail and flashed up the faithful BRM to motor in past several other boats at anchor to find a secluded spot further into the shallow parts of the bay. At 1750 we let go the anchor in four meters of water.

The plan is to get underway at first light tomorrow so as to get out over the shallows of the bay before the ebbing tide drops too low. Looking at the minimum depth on the sounder as we came in and the tide tables, in theory we should have no problem getting out but, as mentioned, the charts are not updated very often in these shallow bays and with the shifting sand bars they cannot be relied upon, so it is always good to have a bit of tide up one's sleeve in the way of insurance (excuse my mix of metaphors).

Once out of the bay we will make our way up Tin Can Inlet to pick up a mooring near Mary Lee again. I have spoken with Mark and we are planning on catching up tomorrow afternoon. I look forward to a bit of a gam between a couple of old sailors.

All is well.