Whittley Club Weekend 21st to 24th March 2008
A report direct from the water to you, by Les Tuton on board Monty
Easter 2008 on the Broadwater at Southport was generally fine but a few showers passed our way most nights.
About 14 Club Member boats visited Marine Stadium on Good Friday and we gathered on the eastern bank between 4:00pm and after dark enjoying a few drinks and lots of conversation.
Once again two of the Bribie boats, Ella Bella and Hooked On Water, ventured south on the Thursday before Easter and their trip to Peel was about 2 hrs longer than normal as they punched across the Bay into a strong south easterly. I understand that the trip was still worth while made even better by the overnight stop at Calypsoe Bay Marina at Jacobs Well where they met up with Trust Me before travelling on to Marine Stadium Friday morning.
For the weekend we were also joined by two more new outing attendees in Lazy Lizard and Reel Time. Reel Time made the trip down by water from Cleveland and did the trip home by trailer but that’s another story. Lazy Lizard made the trip from Rudy Marrs and this time they caught up with the whole crew before we went to Budds Beach. Back on Australia Day they made the trip to Marine Stadium only to arrive just after everyone else moved on to Budds Beach.
Saturday ten of the boats went in convoy up the Nerang River right through to Nerang but seeing there’s no decent anchorage there we went back and dropped anchor between the Pacific Highway bridge and the railway bridge just downstream, where there’s plenty of width and plenty of depth for that many boats. There’s also a decent park on the south bank where you can stretch your legs and relax. The boats made their own way back to Southport depending whether they stopped for morning tea or lunch up river. It was interesting to see members from Qld Transport counting boats as we past beneath the various bridges. Coming back some boats pulled up at Budds Beach while others went straight back to Marine Stadium where we all reassembled for drinks and a chat on Saturday night before having tea on our own boats.
Sunday morning a number had to head home while yet others met other family members for a family day on the Broadwater. Those remaining relocated to Budds Beach and by Sunday night our numbers reduced to just six boats but two of the other boat crews reverted to land lubbers and sixteen of us all took up Wayne & Rhonda’s recommendation for Outback Jacks Restaurant just upstream of the main bridge over the Nerang River in Southport. A very enjoyable night was had by all.
So as I write this we’re all heading home by different routes and over different times. We’ll be home on Tuesday, the Bribie guys will get home by Wednesday with various stops enroute. All in all it’s been another great weekend.
Les Tuton
24 March 2008
