Thursday 12th July 2012 - Our departure from Brisbane.

Mingo and sea calf ready to depart.

Farewell Scarborough Marina

Andrew motoring out of Marina

It is now Thursday 12^th July 2012 and the weather has been so calm over the last few days but has been pouring with rain.  We were hoping to have sunny blue skies on our departure from Brisbane but like a friend said “ Your in a boat, they get we anyway”.  So we spent the morning filling the boat with water, putting the push bikes on, making sure everything including sea calf were tided on properly and at 1330 hours with only 4 hours on our new motor we decide to head off waving goodbye to Scarborough Marina, in the overcast and drizzly day – "but the rain level out the seas", so was so smooth.  We are so excited and head north into Moreton Bay and into Bribie Passage, making our way to Caloundra.  Visibility was not good by the time we reached the passage as our clears upstairs don’t have wind screen wipers.

Here we go.

Bribie passage is very narrow and renowned for being quite shallow so we have timed our passing at high tide. So three hours after leaving Scarborough Marina and we  are slowly at a speed of 12km manoeuvring through Bribie passage at a place called “ The Skids”.

Bribie passage at high tide

Suddenly the motor alarm sounds and we immediately shut the engine down and feel like crying when we try to start her again with the sound of a large “Clunk” but no joy in getting started.  Oh shit again!!!!!.  We are now drifting into shallower waters….

Andrew pushing Mingo back into deeper waters after drifting.

Andrew trying to Manouevre boat

Andrew then jumps over board and is waste deep in water as the boat is getting shallower, he is trying to pull and push her out but no success.  It is now 5pm and temperature is approx. 10 degrees and he is soaking wet and having no luck.  Andrew then gets into the sea calf and tries to use her as a tow boat but with no proper tow hooks and only a 15 horse power motor, the tinny is just spinning.  Andrew has now spent the last hour and a half soaked and tried just about everything and it is now dark!!!!

One last final try.

Andrew comes inside and we both discuss what to do next.  Luckily we are now members of the 

Redcliffe Coast Guard, so decide to give them a call to arrange to be towed back to marina.  Next high tide is 0530 hours and then 1630 hours the following day.  Andrew speaks to the Commander of the coast guard who them asks the mandatory safety questions and says will get back to us shortly.  After a number of other phone around and radio calls, it has been arranged for the coast guard to rescue us at 0430 hours on Friday 13^th July 2012. 

We are devastated and have no idea whats happened, we have a brand new motor in the boat and are on our trip of a life time, 3 hours out of marina and it’s a TOTAL DISASTER.  All we can think about is the money that has been put into this trip, selling all of our belongings, now unemployed and no Plan B.  We never expected this to happen.  We have a very sleepless night now anchored in the middle of Bribie passage. Hoping that its fixable but the sound of the CLUNK was not good.

Being towed by Redcliffe Coast Guard

Up at 0330 hours the next morning and three cups of coffee later, the coast guard arrive just after 0500 hours and tow us 4 hours, 40km’s back to the Marina.  Was a slow trip and the coast guard were brilliant, pulling us behind them.  About 30 Min's away from the marina, they sidle up beside our boat and then tie themselves onto the port side of us and manoeuvre us into the marina.  Yes we are now expected to give them a donation.

A not very happy Andrew with Coast Guard towing us.

Coast Guard Redcliffe boat and Radio control centre.

 Redcliffe coast guard put an article on Facebook and Twitter regarding saving us from "The Skids" dated 15.7.2012 under Coast Guard Redcliffe QF3.  We didn't expect this would be how we made our name.....