Beached Boats Tell of Care Needed near Mooloolaba

by Rebecca Marshall, Sunshine Coast Daily/Sail-World on 24 May 2008 The care needed by cruising yachts in the entrance and approaches to the popular stopover harbour of Mooloolaba were underlined this week when two powerboats were involved in separate serious incidents and grounded in the Point Cartwright area.

In the first, the 65-foot long line fishing vessel called the Magus ran aground in a marine incident at Buddina Beach, off Point Cartwright.

It is believed the vessel was travelling north towards the entrance to the Mooloolaba Harbour when it struck a sand bar close to the shore about 9pm.

The vessel was grounded with five crew members on board. Large waves pounded the vessel, putting the crew at risk as they attempted to leave the ship.

Point Cartwright residents witnessed the incident and responded immediately.

Officers from Kawana Waters police station and the regional duty officer attended and assisted the residents by securing a line to the vessel and pulling the crew safely to shore. No one was injured. Water police officers were on scene the next morning to co-ordinate the salvage effort.

Police thanked the residents who assisted in the rescue.

In the second incident, a Warana resident on his morning walk called police when he came across a 30-foot cruiser washed up on shore near beach access 37, about 1.5 kilometres south of the Kawana Surf Club, about 6am today.

No one was on board and a police spokesperson said the cruiser, named The Islander, has so much water damage that it was unseaworthy.

Police have contacted the owner – a man from Cannonvale, near Airlie Beach – who said the boat was supposed to be moored at the Kawana marina.

Police are investigating the possibility the yacht was stolen or used unlawfully.