G'day all!

The wind gods have obviously gone to work somewhere else (Auckland, from what I hear) because we are still motor-sailing in light and variable winds through the middle of this big fat high pressure system.

We've had more than a day of the engine, calm seas with a gentle swell, engine noise, nearly total cloud cover, no dolphin or whale sightings, the diesel rattling away and the odd sea bird flying by. Our biggest excitement was around noon yesterday when a Gulfstream biz jet passed by us at deck level just a few boat lengths off our port side. The pilot, speaking in a heavy French accent, called us on the VHF radio and asked us where we were headed and if all was well on board. I responded with a yes, excepting the lack of wind.

So, we're taking advantage of the easy sailing conditions to enjoy some good food, a bottle of wine with our meals, and lots of reading. We've got a bit of food to get rid of before we meet with the Australian Quarantine officials.

Our 24-hour run was 207 nautical miles, and we anticipate landfall near Brisbane, Australia tomorrow afternoon, depending on how soon we get through this wicked south-setting current we're experiencing. At this writing, we had 160 miles to go to our waypoint off Moreton Island.

Time to get back in the galley and make some more food disappear.

Cheers, George, Ellen and Neil