Shoaling in the Bowentown entrance has resulted in the channel marker being removed and the harbourmaster advising boaties their GPS marks may now lead them into danger.

'The bar entrance has shallowed considerably which means that waves across the entrance can be more dangerous than usual,” says harbourmaster Jennifer Roberts.

The Bowentown bar.

'A half metre swell in the open sea will produce waves on the bar of well over one metre in height.”

Sand banks on the bar have moved changing the entrance channel.

'We have removed the yellow special mark that marked the bend or ‘hook' in the entrance channel as the previous channel is now no longer safe to use,” says Jennifer.

'The suggested passage across the bar at present is using the northern entrance around Mussel Rock, however, this entrance is also shallowing and extreme caution is required.”

'The safe water marker outside the bar will remain in place for now, but will be monitored closely and may be moved if necessary.”

She thinks the changes are a combination of gradual movement over time, plus some recent heavy weather.

'No-one remembers anything like this – these big changes,” says Jennifer.

'It has suddenly moved more than anyone remembers. It's normally a gradual thing.”

Boaties crossing the Bowentown bar inwards or outwards are advised to call Coastguard on VHF channel 85 and log a bar crossing report. They also need to advise Coastguard afterwards when they have safely crossed the bar.

The Bowentown Boating and Sport Fishing Club is hosting the Gallagher Open Water Sport Fishing Competition on Saturday, June 25, plus the town v country shield.

Club vice commodore Rose Orr says they are expecting about 50 boats to cross the bar on Saturday morning, weather permitting.

She says the southern channel shifted suddenly a couple of weeks ago, and none of their GPS coordinates are even close now.