Dec 11, 2005 – 1030hrs UTC

1030hrs 11 Dec 2005 UTC 43’42”S 145’11”E Ref 641

With exquisite delicacy and timing, the ExaminerShe who asks awkward questions of the crew and tests them with difficult tasks. has dropped a 25 knot-- Speed: definition of speed at sea. One knot is one nautical mile per hour. The nautical mile is about 1.15 % longer than the "statute" mile used on land. A knot is about half a metre per second. -- A knot is also the result of winding a rope around itself or another rope to make a join or a loop . easterly on us – I have no idea where she found it – it’s blowing directly from SE CapeThe southernmost point of the main island of Tasmania to us – could not be more on the nose than it is in every sense. We are now heading north east in the hope that it will back to the NE and give us a reasonable angle for theCape.

It will add at least a day to our arrival at RYCTRoyal Yacht Club of Tasmania and that’s if we get lucky. A strong NEasterly around the corner would add even more so we are keeping the fingers crossed. Malcolm is on his way down to wave us in – we have arranged to get a message to him in the morning.

So the start line recedes again, just when it was looking good. PPPPPrudence, Patience, Persistence and Perseverance and we’ll Prevail.

I missed the fix today because we were doing all the necessary to get sorted to take this on. We made the numbers, but that’s all I know. Now 77 miles to go, vmgVelocity made good – loosely, speed in the right direction. 3.5 kt so at least 20 hours, I suspect, unless the wind changes.

Nik – suggest you send me your mobile number – just in case.