There's going to be a c@#pload of water coming out the next few days - see whats left on the weekend

Looking forward to windsurfing there after the storm. Just gets better and better

Saw a bit of video (a quick bit from a news network) - looks like not much left of the trees, see how the runoff shapes whats left!

Good session today - 5.3m + freewave. No sticks in the water, only some trees on the end of the land-mass.

Launched from the Motorboat club - sailed straight across the Bar. Some smooth water and some waves to jump. Could stand up waist/chest deep in most places.
Sailed around the old lighthouse tower. In this pic there appears to be land nearby... that land is now a good 500m further away.

It seemed to be shallow the runs from the entrance to the Green marker and that pink float

AusMoz said..

mathew said..
Good session today - 5.3m + freewave. No sticks in the water, only some trees on the end of the land-mass.

Launched from the Motorboat club - sailed straight across the Bar. Some smooth water and some waves to jump. Could stand up waist/chest deep in most places.
Sailed around the old lighthouse tower. In this pic there appears to be land nearby... that land is now a good 500m further away.

What's all the colours represent?

Speed at that point on the map

John340 said..
Matthew, what tide would you need to launch a wind foil (with 1m foil mast) from the motor boat club, through the channel, out to sea?

It would be possible to use a foil (ding or sail) in a super-low low tide - the centre channel is plenty deep enough. There are quite a few ding'ers sailing outside the Bar.

If the wind is South-East to East-South-East then you can easily sail up and down the longest length of the inner channel. You would need to tack-upwind from the launch site, or walk across the shallows (just on the northern side) of the motor-boat club. Then a few more tacks-upwind to sail out through the Bar.

If the wind is SE to Southerly, then no need to tack upwind from launch, just point high to avoid the shallows - then shorter runs on the inner channel obviously.

In other words, iff you are in the middle of the channel, you are good to go.


The only time a foil could cross the coastal-sandbar ( as I have shown in all of the tracks crossing the southern edge of the sandbar ) is at high-tide. There is easily waist/chest/shoulder depth in most places. That said, the depth - at high tide - changes very quickly... you'd want to pay attention.

John340 said..
With the main channel heading SE out to sea, the waves breaking on the northern bank of the channel might be very good in a winter SWer

That is a really good point - I didn't think of that ... will keep that in mind as the Westerlies are just starting to kick in

Gestalt said..
latest photos are online from blueys and it looks like northern tip of bribie island all the way to the southern end of pelican waters is gone.


woah... we now have an insane area to play, 2.7km worth

Really need some wind to test it out

A lot of the passage is very shallow now, even with a fin. You really have to know where the sandbanks are if you want to commit to a speed run!!

Surfinfreak said..
A lot of the passage is very shallow now, even with a fin. You really have to know where the sandbanks are if you want to commit to a speed run!!

The depth isn't too much of a concern - just be aware of changes in depth. The real issue is the hidden sticks that just barely show themselves (and definitely cause some damage when you hit them).


It is going to be hard to make use of it as a speed run. The best wind tends to be when there are storms, which also bring rain. The rain does two things, both of which are bad news - sticks and contamination.

I was checking the powerboat club cam today cause well, let's not mention Sunday..

you can clearly see trees half buried around the original breakthrough banks. So that's a worry cause at higher tides they would be submerged just below the surface.

last time I sailed golden beach flats, a month or so ago, I was hitting the bank in the middle of the run and my fins only 30cm so that area is getting shallow too

looks like the door is shutting on the bar area being sailable. temp measure are about to start that will see the wave area filled with sand to create sacrificial sand dunes.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/101293/bribie-island-erosion-and-breakthrough-review-part-2.pdf

there is another review under way for a more permanent solution to the residents freaking out and my gut is that we will eventually see a large rock wall with groins meaning the bar area becomes no longer sailable and may impact the wind in the area. that's a guess but is certainly how other coastal areas have been treated.

Thanks for the update. Can anyone report on how the old East West channel that worked on a northerly is going now? Up near the shelter shed and hire place.

Avoided low tide at Golden beach yesterday and went for the Channel. Fun session . Pic doesn't reflect current position of sandbanks.