Welcome to the winter edition of Rescue magazine and what a great job our Editor Richard has done. Since the last edition, Covid restrictions have eased and we are almost back to normal, albeit with Covid Guidelines still being followed. However, QF6 is not immune and we’ve had 9 of our members succumb to Covid, resulting in the cancellation of our May Flotilla meeting. Luckily, all except one recovered quickly and without complications, which is a reminder to us all that vaccinations do work.

Except for the weekend of 14/15 May, QF6 operations were maintained over the last 3 months, even with the Covid outbreaks, ongoing floods and the large swells causing havoc
to our entrance. For the first time in anyone’s memory, QF6 assists to vessels in Open Waters were cancelled due to the dangerous bar conditions. This decision was not taken lightly, but in consultation with the Water Police and our Squadron Commodore.

The Pilot Boats also cancelled operations, so the Mooloolah River entrance sand build-up also caused major disruptions to shipping and our fishing fleet. Hopefully, short-term and long- term solutions will be implemented by the Queensland Transport and Main Roads Department, who are responsible for our harbour and its entrance.

A Hydrographic Survey was completed on the 17th of May, which showed the safer paths over the sand bar. The enabled QF6 and Poseidon Pilots to return to normal operations, although much work is still required to get the entrance back to its design depths. See the related articles in this edition.