Dec 08, 2005 – 0912hrs UTC

0912hrs 08 Dec 2005 UTC 44’00”S 135’43”E Ref 631

DB: DMGDistance Made Good; More here 152 GPS 159 DTG 481 Margin 643+32=675 day 110, 19 to start, 10 to TI. We are well within range of TasCoast Radio in Tasmania on HFHigh Frequency – usually refers to HF radio which is long range digital radio that Berrimilla used to send all but a few of the logs on both circumnavigations. The radio was connected via a Pactor 3 digital modem to Alex’s laptop and used the Sailmail software application called Airmail to send emails and pull in emails, weather and GRIB files. Airmail also supports Iridium satellite telephone messaging and Alex used this as backup when the HF radio died approaching England. 4483 and we are listening as I write for one of the locsl BOGers to call us from his BrolgaBerrimilla is a Brolga 33 designed by Peter JoubertJoubert, Peter: mechnical engineer, specialising in fluid mechanics, now retired. Highly respected sailor and designer of the Brolga and other yachts; many mentions but see 115; Pete’s meeting with him, 122. For specs, see here after the RYCTRoyal Yacht Club of Tasmania twilights. If no hear, we’ll try to call TCRTasCoast Radio in Tasmania. If we get through, it will be the first voice contact since Cape Town except for Satphone calls and only the third since Falmouth – the other was a one sided conversation with a bored deck officer in a passing ship south of Africa. I don’t think we’ll hear them – but we did hear a boat calling Mersey Radio from Sydney Heads so we’re back in the ballpark! We have our fingers firmly crossed but it does look as if the wind will hold for the next few days and blow us home Watch this space!