know much about the ins and outs through the reef, but windabandi would be my pick. Seen quite a few yachting anchor there overnight. If you have a sw or easterly breeze it provides good protection.

jealous.

Thanks Muppet, I agree that Windabandi is a lovely spot and definetly my preference - I was just hoping to ascertain the best way in and out and whether its feasible in all tides conditions giving we will be out early in the morning and back in the evenning so cant really be tide dependent.

Call me conservative but I really dont want a bent prop or worse ruining my holiday!

Hey mate, camped at winderabandi a few times and launched/retrieved our boat off the beach there. It's only a 16ft runabout tho so piece of piss for us to do it. I've seen guys launch a few bigger boats there, up to 7m Ali's but havnt seen them retrieved there, think they go around to lefroy to pull them out. There's a dodgy gap a few km's to the north of windy, but it's pretty dodgy, I wouldn't recomend it. I went through there twice but probably won't again. Your cruising along in 6m's of water and there are coral bombies/pinicals which rise straight up to just below the surface. Then you got swell lines rolling through there too. Havnt seen it on anything over a 2m swell but I reckon it would break through there occasionally. I havnt tried to get out through the reef any further north then that. We just go through the south gap, much safer. I have actually snuck across the reef straight out from the point a few times between the 2 breaking waves, but only on a high tide, pretty shallow tho, wouldn't consider it on a low tide. 

I havnt targeted billies out from there before but talking to other guys who are camped there they always get stuck into them. And yes deep water is very close in. 

Also massive marine park to the north and around the point so just keep and eye out for that. 

Hope that helps somewhat

 Thanks Paul,

Will take heed to your advice re getting out of Windabandi via the northern gap in the reef! Looks easy on Google earth but I also suspected with a few swell lines rolling through some of those bombies could get a bit shallow right at the wrong time..

So in your experience it was deep enough between Windabandi and the reef to sneak around the point and out to the south via Lefroy bay in most tides?

Appreciate the info thus far.

Winderabandi Point is the most sheltered anchorage, but access to/from Lefroy Bay at low tide will be an issue for you in that size boat. Tide up, no problem. There is a passage out to sea just north of Winderabandi, but I don't like it -been going there for a long time and only ever used it a couple of times. If going north, I prefer Cardabaddaman Passage, but that is suss in any kind of swell.
The passage into Lefroy is good any virtually any amount of swell--you mentioned it appears to be split--not really :-) The north side is definitely the way to go out, deep all the way, just watch for the lumps just inside and slightly north. You have to give the shallows that run well out there (the "reef section in the middle" you referred to) a wide berth if approaching from the south, it can break a very long way out there, with deep water right off the back of it. Just make sure you travel well north, then come back around and you will be good. My C-Map NT charts mark it all quite well. I'll see if I can mark up a google earth with paint to show it.

I have marked another alternative if you are camped at Winderabandi and the tide is high--you can follow the blue track straight over the coral and into a deep gutter, which you can follow south for a bit until you turn out. This is actually viable in any swell , as the passage into, and the water inside of, the gutter is 10 fathoms deep all the way. Just don't turn too soon, there is reef all the way until you hit the end. DO NOT try this if the tide is anything but high--it is normal for us to go to sea this way and return through Lefroy.
If you are traversing from Lefroy up to Winderabandi, when you get to the big flats south of the point, stay right on the edge of the sand where it drops to the coral, it is the safest place--don't try to pick your way through the coral if the tide is down, it will ends in tears.

Right up in the corner of Point Billie is quite sheltered from the sou'east through to sou'west, but not as good as the bigger point.

One thing worth knowing about that stretch of coast--about 16 miles north of Winderabandi you should see Boat Passage marked on your charts--this is a real passage, safe in the biggest swell, if you ever get caught out. The run back inside the reef is long, but easy to traverse if you keep your eyes open.

That would be great thanks Ranmar - think I understand what you are saying re the Lefroy passage but a google earth/paint map if you get the chance would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

I have a C-maps card so will check that also - the Navionics chart was a bit limited on my main plotter.

 Legend thank you Ranmar - all queries solvered!