For those at the (far) northern end of the Gold Coast: I Sailed that channel behind Crab Island again on Saturday.
I was somehow blessed with 90 minutes of NE 15+ knots, lit on the 7m, top of an incoming tide, sunshine and my family playing on the beach. It's only taken 5 years for this ideal to come true. (5 years already???)
Getting into the channel only took about 2 tacks upwind, which is easy on an incoming tide, and a squeeze across a shallow bank, perhaps 50cm deep but water clarity is perfect so you can see all the rays scatter before you.
Once in the channel it is clearly visible and you can do long runs from Ephraim Island all the way down to practically Shearwater. No boats, OK maybe a houseboat. Crystal clear water. The run is 2km+ and pretty flat.
Rigging on Centenary Drive is excellent. Grass. A tap. Toilets even. Plenty of parking. Bit of dog **** though. Couple of steps down the concrete bank to the beach, not slippery.
Very tidal though, same as shearwater but needs a high tide too. I guess if there's wind there's a 25% chance it's a high tide and it's going the right direction. Special occasions.
Crab Island is just south of the marker:
www.google.com:443/maps?q=centenary+drive+qld+australia&hl=en&ll=-27.898866,153.41918&spn=0.050975,0.079737&sll=-27.897254,153.402153&sspn=0.006372,0.009967&vpsrc=6&hnear=Centenary+Dr,+Hollywell+Queensland+4216,+Australia&t=h&z=14
