It has been very windy overnight but we are nice and snug here behind the St Kilda breakwater so I felt comfortable to leave Sylph to swing at anchor while I once more made the trek to visit my brother and his family. This afternoon I returned on board to find everything secure and in good order.

In rowing ashore yesterday afternoon I came across an interesting old boat, a timber craft, the hull appeared freshly painted and in good condition, but above the gunwale is another story. I presume that originally she had a conventional coach house but now it looks more like a tent, with sloping sides down to the gunwales covered over with painted canvas. While the canvas is freshly painted it does not appear that the canvas is sticking to the deck too well, which I suspect is rotting away underneath. The mast has two great blackened timbers, they look like they were salvaged from a fire, in a tripod arrangement, clearly needed to keep the heel of the mast in place. The rigging is telegraph wire held in place with bulldog grips, just like telegraph poles. The cockpit is a collection of odds and sods roughly nailed together, a cleat on the starboard side, presumably in lieu of sheet winches, is made of aluminium loosely held in place by two odd bolts and the cleat on the port side is a roughly hewn triangular bit of timber held on even more loosely by only one bolt. The companionway is open and it looks as if she is used as a live aboarder, but I have seen no sign of a dinghy or any activity. Very curious, I suspect her owner is something of an individual but perhaps not one to be particularly envied. I can only hope that whoever he is (I would certainly think I am correct in assuming that the occupant is male) that he is happy.

More strong winds are on their way so I think I had best stay on board tonight.

Meanwhile as the sun sets about forty small penguins are swimming around in two tight flock just outside.

All is well.