View Full Version : disaster - capsized on Caloundra Bar 31st Dec
Jeremy
03-01-2003, 06:05 AM
Coming in through the Caloundra bar at 11am we were hit by a wave from behind a capsized. My buddy and myself are OK and suffered only bruises and scratches. The boat was taken back out to sea on the outgoing tide and we spent about 3 hours in the water before being finally towed back in by the coastguard (who were fantastic). The hull is essentially OK, all fittings are destroyed, the motor will be a write off as I could not get it started to flush it. I also lost 3 rods and reels and all my terminal tackle to over $2000.
I have crossed the Caloundra bar 30-40 times over 3 years, and the bar has recently developed a nice deep channel most of the way out on the south side very clost to Bribie. I do know the correct technique for coming in, but I probably had become a bit complacent, didn't take it seriously enough and made an error of judgement.
If anyone was up there then on since then and finds any of my gear - rods and reels, anchor and rope, charts, rod holders, lures etc etc - I would be very grateful for their return.
Jeremy
bugman
03-01-2003, 06:35 AM
Jeez mate, bad luck - glad to hear your ok and at the best now you'll have some great stories to tell the grandkids. - Doesn't make up for the lost gear though.
Coming back in over the Noosa bar yesterday close to low tide I missed the deeper water (mind you there's only .3 of a metre between deeper and shallower water. Came through the main breakers ok but then the water disappeared and I was 5 metres too far right. Motor dug in stopped my movement then stalled. Small wave swung me to the left and side on. Next wave hit me side on and luckily had already broken. Nearlly rolled me but ok. allowed me to get motor up and started and pointed back out to sea.
Then crashed my way through about 6 breakers trying to get back out. Got out and had a very large drink of a water and quite sit down before having to go back over again. No problems second time but it's one of those things you never forget.
Bad luck again mate - You weren't alone there was someone else who went over on Sth Passage yesterday as well.
Bugman
Wesley_Pang
03-01-2003, 07:23 AM
Jeremy,
Good to hear you are OK. Sorry to hear about your motor and gear, but at least they can be replaced.
My brother and I were in front of the Caloundra Bar around noon yesterday. We launched from Bribie. It was a bit sloppy in front of the bar.
I didn't have any luck with the TLD20 I bought off you on the Longtail. Picked up a couple of spotties though.
Wes
Jeremy
03-01-2003, 08:57 AM
Hi Wes,
I am glad I had sold that rod and reel and didn't have more gear out with me at the time.
Hi Bugman,
I saw that on the news. Seems he had mechanical trouble and broke down on the bar. I have heard more stories from friends of recent near misses also.
For everyone reading this, don't think it can't happen to you. Treat every bar crossing with respect, don't take out gear you don't need, make sure you and your crew can swim, make sure you know how to operate your EPIRB and flares in the dark with your eyes closed. Also make sure you have sufficient insurance for your boat and gear.
It has been a wake up call for me, hope this story can serve as a wake up call for others also.
Jeremy
Lucky_Phill
03-01-2003, 10:54 AM
I'm sure there are quite a few people out there been in a situation like Bretts and yours.
I'm not going to place an ad here, but seriously, if you have a boat that allows you to cross bars regularly, and are a little unsure, please give Bill Corten a ring ( 3286 3647 ) and you will be amazed at , firstly, what you're doing wrong, and secondly, how much experience this guy has and is willing to pass on. The bar crossing course is a couple of hundred bucks and you get to go in his boat all day jumping the sth passage bar. Money well spent, could be lifesaving ?
Brett left from Noosa that day and I left from Mooloolaba, for one reason ( ok 2 ), that is Mooloolaba is the safest bar on the east coast. ( I have never gone out from Noosa and also the 4 banger lets me travel that little further and not hurt the back pocket.)
It is a sobering thought that one of us came to grief.
Let's all have a safe new year. ;)
mackmauler
03-01-2003, 11:26 AM
I've had a few close calls, usually take my boogie boards out, bad days bar crossing could be a good days surfing.. chin up Jeremy, if your out of action for a while just message me and we'll organise some fishn out there..
Rob
Heath
03-01-2003, 12:58 PM
Jeremy, glad to hear that you fellas are ok.
As long as you & your mate are here to tell the story, then you'll learn from the experience.
Now just one question,
How did a wave get you from behind?
When we cross a bar, we always come in on the back on a wave. Just wondering for my own benefit how you came to be in that situation?
Jeremy
04-01-2003, 03:12 AM
Phil,
I thought I knew what I was doing to the extent I had become complacent and wasn't taking the crossing seriously enough. I certainly wasn't unsure at the time, but I am considering doing a bar crossing course to increase my knowledge.
Heath,
I started coming in through the main channel on the back of a small wave which dissipated a bit and I could see some very chopped up water in front of me. I wasn't sure if this was pressure waves or shallow water, so I hesitated a bit while I considered what I should do. I felt and saw another wave building from behind which was only around 0.5 m so I decided to let it pass under the boat and ride that wave in. It kept building and then carried the boat forward until we were surfing down the front of the wave. At that point I was gone and there was nothing I could do. It took about 2-3 seconds from my decision to let it pass until the boat was surfing, and then 1-2 seconds until it rolled. Critical error of judgement in hindsight. Maybe if I had applied power, I might have outrun it, but it might have been the same result anyway. It turned out the water I rolled in wasn't that shallow, as my aerial was broken off 2' above the console which makes it about 1.8 m from the keel.
Rob,
thanks for the offer. Don't know how long it will be until I am back in the water, but got a bloody shock yesterday at the prices of new outboards
http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm24.gif
Jeremy
skippa
04-01-2003, 05:15 PM
Jeremy,
Sorry to hear of your disaster on the Caloundra bar.
I can recomend Bill Corten's Bar course, he does them from South Passage Bar and for a couple of hundred $$$ (I think) money well spent. As said earlier, you drive Bill's own boat and whilst the weather was very ordinary on the day I went, we always felt quite safe.
You will find his ad the Bush 'n' Beach mag.
Cheers,
Skippa 8)
Sniper
06-01-2003, 05:41 PM
Jeremy,
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Mate, I live here in Caloundra and if I hear of any gear being found I'll let you know. Its a prick of a bar cause it can change in a tide. Friends of mine are lifeguards here and they have seen it change during a runout tide. Catches a lot of boaters out. Well if I hear anything, I'll be sure to let you know.
Regards,
Bill
Jeremy
07-01-2003, 03:34 AM
thanks Bill, I'd appreciate that.
Jeremy
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