26th and 27th May Mooloolaba to Wide Bay Bar 65nm

Billabong departed Mooloolaba Marina at 10.30pm on the night of the 26th May. We had to negotiate the Mooloolah river bar on a run out tide. It has recently silted up and a dredge has been booked for dredging on 2nd June. About 6 yachts had run aground there recently because a few sailors have not looked at the Notice to Mariners web site to get critical updates.

Motor sailed all night past the lights of Noosa and along the coast to Double Island point when the sun came up at 6am. We made the bar crossing at 7.30 am. It was one of the easiest bar crossings I have had. The "mad mile" was benign and no rocking.
The winds were light and variable and the swell was approx 1 meter.

 Isabella following us through the Wide Bay Bar

Some waves were evident  but over all it was a good crossing

Billabong was anchored in Pelican Bay by 8 am and we had a nice breakfast and laid down for a few hours sleep.

Caught 7 whiting which were pan fried and had for dinner.

Tomorrow we head North through the Great Sandy Straits to visit Kingfisher Resort. Maybe a beer and a pizza in the sports bar!!