Burnet Heads

I had intended leaving White Cliffs anchorage about 0630 this morning, it would have meant fighting the incoming tide up the remainder of the strait, but I figured I could still get to Burnet Heads in daylight. As it was I woke at about 0300, it was a lovely night, a bright moon, no wind and more importantly the current was in the right direction. I was underway by 0320 and had a good run up the northern portion of the strait with 3 knots of current behind me all the way. Navigation was not a problem, all the nav aids are lit and the moon was very bright. Venus and Uranus also were bright just before daylight. 

I reched the northern end of the strait about day break and within half an hour the wind came up to about 20 knots on my port beam to start with then swung around to astern. So I was able to shoot  across Hervey Bay at an average speed of 6 knots, arriving in Burnet Heads about 1330. There was a heavy swell coming across the bay, so it was a very rolly trip. I had to spend most of the time at the helm, Charlie, my auto pilot finds heavy swell a bit difficult to cope with, so I only used him for short periods to have a break. We used to call the auto pilot "George" in the RAF, but mine is named "Charlie" after my father.

Burnet Heads harbour is only very small, not much room for manoeuvering, and with the strong wind blowing it took 4 attempts at anchoring before I was satisfied.

I shall spend at least 2 days here, there are still stong wind warnings out for waters north of here, so I will wait until they abate a bit before moving on.