Noon Position: 31 2.3 S  153 01.3 E
Course: North.  Speed: 6 knots
Wind:  SSW  F4. Moderate breeze
Sea: moderate. Swell: SSE 2 meters
Weather: sunny, mild

We have enjoyed an excellent twenty-four hour run of 165nm, for an average speed of just under seven knots, which, given that we have likely been pushing against the East Australia Current, I am well pleased with.  while the wind has been mostly fresh from the south west, on the down side, it has also been very gusty with rain squalls passing through every hour or so, requiring alterations of course and the trimming, reefing and unreefing of sail. For much of the day we were running square with two reefs in the mainsail but once round Sugarloaf Point a little north of Port Stevens, we were able to alter course to the north, tuck in close to the coast and get a bit of a lee from the land. This put the wind just aft of the  beam, a broad reach which, with the smoother seas, made for a much  more comfortable ride.

Now we have left the squally weather behind.  The sun is out and, with the wind in the south, we are once more running square, but under full sail in the more moderate breeze. This morning Kate caught sight of two large humpback whales that breached just off the starboard bow. We soon left them astern but not before capturing few snaps of their slapping tails.  The brief encounter more than compensated for the discomfort of the previous night.

All is well.