Channel 7 Qld News on Monday 5.9.22 will be running a report on the Extensive changes to the Pumicestone Passage since the Breakthrough.
Certainly a lot of Debate as to How, n Where to Now.
The launch spot at the Cadets, is looking a bit sketchy - the concrete slab and ramp were sitting on a sandy base, that base has washed away... leaving only air beneath the concrete! Walking on it should be fine, but I wouldn't put any significant weight on it.
Low-tide is a bit of a walk, but not too bad. High tide is sailable from the shore.
Sailing through the gap is fun - it is quite shallow at about chest-deep for the southern-half of the gap. It is reasonably good starboard-tack jumping when the wind is SE. I haven't had a good SW'er there yet.
There are some submerged stuff which could hurt your gear. On the northern side, don't go too close to the sandbank and you will be fine. Another tree stuck in the new sandbank on the southern end, just on the outside of the bank (I dont mean the trees on the inside of the bank). There is a more-dangerous object which only becomes visible at dead-low-tide, so it sits just below the surface in most other tides... making it ideal to damage you/your-gear.... it is right in the ideal gybing spot about 100m from the southern end.... its best to sail further south to be closer to the shoreline before turning around.
The water-outflow is a bit fast when the wind is SW and an outgoing tide, so be wary. In the SW and SE directions, Happy Valley is downwind... its all sand along that shoreline, so there is somewhere to land if something goes wrong. And the current will take you past Kings Beach in the worst case. (Not that I want for that to happen to anyone... knowing your exits is a good idea.)
"2:04" - cameo appearance by someone!
Like what the old guy says " Gunna Bugger Caloundra UP Totally"
Great writeup Mathew.
Moz. Yep, Les' family has been involved with Caloundra since 1920s.
Has an immense knowledge of the Ocean and The Pumicestone Passage.