Position: 27 47.2 S 153 22.6 E
Alongside Montauk Tavern, Jacobs Well
Wind: F0 calm
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: clear, warm
Day’s Run: 15 nm

Yesterday’s major chore was changing the BRM’s oil. This should have been a simple job but as O'Flaherty's rule states, “Murphy was an optimist.” I got everything ready and attempted to evacuate the oil out of the sump with the purpose-fitted extraction pump but to no avail – no oil was coming out of the pump. Initially I thought there might be an obstruction in the sump drain but eventually I worked out, to my relief, that the problem lay with the extraction pump. So, off with the pump. I pulled it apart and came to the conclusion that the plastic diaphragm that acted as the piston was too worn to create a seal and therefore any suction. After much contemplation and searching through what various material I had to hand I eventually came across some neoprene stick-on non-slip pads, one of which I managed to turn into a workable diaphragm. The pump duly reassembled with my make-shift fix, I was delighted to find that it worked and I could complete the oil change.

This morning’s tasks were to add another coat of paint to the small areas that I had recently de-rusted, and to go ashore to top up with a few fresh supplies. This was all done by midday. I had intended to remain at anchor in Southport for another night but with the main chores done for the day and the tide due to turn at 1300, there seemed no good reason not to start our transit of the Broadwater this afternoon. So, at 1310 I flashed up the BRM, weighed anchor and once again started heading north.

The day’s passage has all been done under motor, with the aid of the jib in the way of a bit of an assist and to reduce fuel consumption. Overall it has been a relatively uneventful day, with the exception of the last little bit when we managed to find the bottom with Sylph’s keel as we negotiated a shoal section just before reaching our destination for the night. I confess that in my rather impromptu and lackadaisical plan for the day, I had forgotten about this shoal patch and had not worked out what tide I needed to clear it. Consequently, as we approached it I simply slowed down and hoped for the best – not exactly the most seamanlike approach. Unfortunately, there was not enough water and we literally ground to a halt. I was not overly concerned as the bottom was soft sand, we had touched gently, and the tide was flooding so we would eventually float off. In the meantime I tried various manoeuvres to work our way off, in fact gaining freedom at one point only to go aground again as I tried to find a non-existent deeper channel over the shoal. After the better part of an hour the tide had risen sufficiently for us to drift over the narrow shallows and continue on our way.

By this time the sun was low in the sky and, as we were now heading west, in our eyes. Fortunately we did not have far to go. Our destination for the evening was a pub which has a pontoon out the front (or back depending on one’s orientation) which is free to patrons. I duly tied up to it at 1730 and with a sigh of relief shut down the engine.

I am pleased to say that despite a change in ownership the pub (now named Montauk Tavern) is as relaxed and comfortable as had been my previous experience when passing through this way. Sylph and I were made to feel welcome with no paperwork or other red-tape – a very nice change from the norm of today’s highly bureaucratic world – and I have subsequently enjoyed a nice meal ashore.

Tomorrow we will continue on our way towards Moreton Bay. The tides are a little awkward at the moment, a contributing factor to our grounding this afternoon, but at least there are no more shoal patches that we have to negotiate on our final short leg to Brisbane. My current plan, if it can be called such, is to worry about the next little bit after I arise tomorrow.

All is well.