Noon 2627.21 15859.14 and our first reef in the main

DTDDistance to Dutch (Harbour) 5275 so vmgVelocity made good – loosely, speed in the right direction. 137. Not bad. Signs of real progress – we’ve made good 554 miles from Sydney, and 621 through the water, so we’ve lost a bit in the current. Still, nearly 10% of the journey and on schedule.

About to pull in a weather fax from Charleville. Really getting a good push north from the big high over mainland Oz but there’s a little low forming just ahead of us that might become interesting. Today, 15 – 20 kts, occasional showers with gusty blasts underneath. Put a reef-- As a verb – to shorten sail, to use reefing lines or other techniques to make the working part of a sail smaller and so reduce its power as the wind rises. --- As a noun, (1) the part of the sail that has been shortened, folded or rolled. May be referred to as a slab or a slab reef which is a particular way of forming a reef. -- As a noun (2) – a bank of coral, rocks or other obstruction usually close to a shoreline and potentially dangerous to sailors. in the main for the first one, just in case, but no dramas. Took it out, wind came in a bit, put it back. no point in boring you with this.

Empty bit of sea. Wonder who has been here before us. Somewhere north of here, more or less on a line from Tahiti to Cape York, we will cross William BlighWilliam Bligh – Sailed with Cook and later given command of HMS Bounty. Most famous for his 1200 mile open boat voyage after his crew mutinied.’s track to Kupang in the Bounty’s jollyboat. Poignant in all sorts of ways.

Wxfax in – low doesn’t look too threatening yet but – things can change very fast and we’ll watch it.

Great cake Jeanne – thanks. Pete, had a contemplative drop of The Brew for lunch – rather noiceAlexism for quite a lot of things which taste good or are going especially well. Ta. Do you remember how many you put in?

Time to sleep.