Can you guess from the post title? There was a little altercation between Anui and Fitzroy Reef and we are now in the shipyard at Gladstone!
Just a week ago, we were taking drone shots of the sinuous passage in and out of the Fitzroy Lagoon, oblivious to what was awaiting us after a bout of windy weather!
The access channel is a narrow inverted S which can get tricky to negotiate with brisk tidal flow, the light, the position of the sun, and a wide catamaran. We have done it dozens of times without hassles, but not last Monday on Bastille Day of all days! As we were coming out early in the morning, our meander went askew, we heard these horrible crunching and scraping noises, and just when we thought we were clear we hit a lump, bent a rudder post, and lost steerage in the process.
Chris thought she was at fault, having been nervously calling out to go to starboard to avoid Reef ledge #1, or was it #2? Wade was not certain … We had the sun in our eyes for that section and could not be entirely sure what we were looking at! It is quite telling though that in a week Fitzroy Reef claimed two cats in exactly the same way, at the same time of day as well as a large motor-cruiser.
The black line shows the track we should have followed and the current channel markers. There used to be at least another one, but it has been missing for a while; it really could do with two more at the bottom end of bommies 1 and 2! So visitors to Fitzroy Reef, beware of its lagoon entrance, especially in low light.
Once free of rock ledge #2 , the loss of steerage was a major risk since we were still drifting way too close to the rest of the reef and had little control over our direction. On a cat the two rudders are linked by a pole. If one rudder is jammed, you can’t turn the wheel, which leaves only your two engines to maneuver out of harm’s way. Once out of immediate danger, you then have to disconnect the pole from the damaged rudder, so you can steer with the unimpaired one. If both rudders are jammed, well, that’s a worse position than what we found ourselves in! Gotta be thankful for small mercies.
The minute we hit the reef, cruising plans to the rest of the Capricorn and Bunker Group evaporated. Chris was on the phone to Gladstone straight away to find a spot to be hauled out while Wade was trying to get us in deep water and on a safe heading. There are very few places along the East Coast which can haul out a catamaran with a beam of over 8 meters. At 8m20 wide, we need a Sea Lift or a trolley on a rail to take Anui out. Thankfully a few calls later we were booked in at Gladstone Port City Fabrications to be winched out on a trolley as soon as the previous catamaran, claimed by the same reef three days before Anui, was fixed!
The next challenge was to get to Gladstone: 60nm of hobby horsing straight into wind and chop, with dodgy steering, no autopilot (not operational as connected to the damaged rudder), and a painfully slow speed. The engines got a workout, and we took half an hour shifts at the helm, to keep our heading and concentration! Have we told you we don’t much like hand steering?
After a while the windy and choppy conditions eased, and it got easier. Nine hours later we were anchoring at Facing Island a few miles from Gladstone Port.
Bengie was relaxed, wondering what all the fuss was about!
We did not sleep much that night, replaying that video of our ill-fated exit out of the reef, trying to figure out how two seasoned reef hoppers could have gotten it so wrong. In retrospect we have scraped bommies four times, twice on Take It Easy, and now twice on Anui, each time in poor light… you’d think we’d learn!
Here are some aerials of the Gladstone port and the shipyard area for the two wounded catamarans!
It will be another expensive exercise to slip our home, get the rudder post repaired and the bottom of both rudders and dagger boards re-glassed as well as antifouled after the scraping. But it could have been a lot worse.
We are at Gladstone for a while. There are worse places to get stuck in. We’ll see how long it takes to get the work done. But first, we have to get on the slip, which will happen once the other cat has been fixed… and as usual things take longer than hoped.
Sv-Anui 
Sounds a bit harrowing! Glad you made it to safe port without further incident! Kind regards Jane
Yes, never fun!
Oh no! Such rotten luck. It’s the GBR telling you to never take it for granted. We came way too close to catastrophe at the Fitzroy Reef entrance some years ago. I had underestimated the tidal outflow and we had to push in against 3.5kt current whilst trying to maintain steerage through the S-curve with no turning back! I’ve avoided it ever since. I
hope Anui is repaired and back in the water soon.
Chris & Suzanne
Discovery II
So true, Chris & Suzanne! We feel a bit stupid for getting caught out but that’s life on a boat! And the crazy thing is that we went through this entrance back and forth several times in the past few weeks. As you say, can’t get complacent.
So glad you escaped safely to Gladstone! Hopefully the rudder post can be straightened and the rest of the damage is cosmetic.
Low light and reefs are such a tricky combination… Enjoy exploring the Gladstone region – some pretty areas to the west of there!
Yes we stuffed up but should be straight forward to fix… just time and money!
Oh boy, I knew by the title that something went very wrong, I hope Anui is repaired very soon, guys! That must have been VERY scary!! I would have worried right away about sinking. At least you can re-provision and take care of other things I suppose. 🙏🏻
Hi John, the damage is to the rudders, the lowest point – no damage to the hulls and no water ingress. The good thing: a forced rest and lots of walking to pass the time while we wait to be hauled out.
Oh, okay, good news on the hulls!! And the walking too! I’m so glad you guys are safe. 😊😎🙏🏻
Oh sugar . . . and a number of other words the Higher Ups would not pass! The best laid plans so, so haywire . . , and expensively so ! Sorry to read – at least you did get the Anui and yourselves safely back ashore . . . Well, you do show two lovely photos > love the sunset arrival in Gladstone and am surely going to keep that unreal photo catch of one of my fave friends wondering what all the fuss is about . . will be keeping my fingers crossed . . .
Yes, we stuffed up, but we are safe and the boat will be fine. Bengie jumped off and had a walk along the jetty – first time in a long while!
We feel for you! Hoping all goes well, quickly! x Trish
Thanks Trish… a pain but it will be okay.
Hi Chris and Wade,
How unfortunate. Thanks for your frank and detailed account of what happened.
Hope all goes well in Gladstone- at least they have a comprehensive range of services.
I note you have anti fouling rudder on your list. This was missed on our ( shared) boat Antidote when it had rudder damage last year in the Whitsundays ( uncharted rock near Hazelwood Island) and we eventually had to get a diver to attend to it temporarily in Moreton Bay prior to booked haul out.
Antidote is currently en route between Townsville and Cairns where we will pick her up on August 16. Hope to catch up with you guys again soon, either here or on the coast somewhere.
Best wishes
Hi Meredith
Sounds like you will be cruising much further north than we intend to this year!
The mishap is annoying but things like this happen. Might see you as you make tracks south either on the water or on land! Enjoy your time on Antidote.
Oh my, what a scary disaster! I’m glad both of you and Benjie are safe. Hearing the scraping and crunching sounds are not sounds you want to hear.
Hope the repairs and the availability of the slip come quickly! Please take care.
Thanks Esther. Repairs next week hopefully!
Oh no ! What a Bastille day!?!
Murphy’s still around doing his dirty work 🥴, but as you say it could have been worse. Well done for getting safely away from the reef with busted steering. Stay safe sailors…
Yap, not our best day but hopefully we will be fixed after next week!
“In retrospect we have scraped bommies four times, twice on Take It Easy, and now twice on Anui, each time in poor light… you’d think we’d learn!” – reminds me of my last failure to keep the rubber side down while cycling. Resting and recovering a strained shoulder ligament kept me off the bike for months, and out of the surf for longer. Almost all prior similar incidents included a wet surface and a corner. My first thought was to practice slowing down in the wet, but I’ve settled on a simpler policy of not riding in the wet, as I don’t think I will actually slow down enough (surely after a few decades of riding I would have learned that if I were going to!).
All the best for a happy time while Anui is repaired!
Yes as we promised ourselves last time, we should not go in the wrong light. At least it’s only Anui with the damage, neither of us got hurt apart from our pride and our wallet!
Yes, another difference is that when you get into the lagoon, it’s really nice, so it may well be tempting to try with less than ideal conditions. In my case, it’s almost always a lot nicer riding in the dry than the wet, so easier for me to stick to my resolution than for you to yours.
Except that we were getting out of the lagoon to go somewhere else, but yes, we get your meaning!
So sorry to hear the news. I am glad you got out of it safely. At least you are in a great area, I hope the repairs come quickly and go well
Thanks Colin… we have been waiting our turn on the slip… was supposed to happen last Friday, then today, Monday. Now who knows, as the cat currently on the slip discovered more damage with water ingress and had to be hauled out again. We are investigating other options to drop the rudders while in the water so we don’t have to get slipped. More info in the next post!
Fingers crossed for the three of you. Watch out for the cheeky Kookaburras around the cafe. One swooped and nabbed the bacon out of my roll as I was about to take a bite!
😂
Yikes! Glad you are safe and the damage was not as bad as it could be.
I hope you get is sorted out soon.
All the best
Phil
Hi Phil, frustrating and a long process to get a new rudder shaft made but as you say, it could have been a lot worse.
Glad that you got out of the reef intact and that you found safe harbour and repairs are in train
Yes it could have been worse. Long story with the repair… still there 6 weeks later!
I read about you planning on coming back to Victoria. Let me know when your are on the way back. It would be great to catch up and share stories of adventurous lives now and into the future
We have only just got back from a small (for us) motorbike trip along the Rhine. I will soon write it up.
We will be back some time in December and move back in Jan Juc for 6 months. Beyond that, not sure at this stage, but unlikely to stay in Victoria. We’ll be in touch!
Yes I see you are thinking of Northern NSW. Good choice. We have become grand parents. A whole new adventure! Look forward to seeing you both when you get back.
If you need anyone to do stuff this end and we can help let us know
Thanks Mick!