00.00hrs Progress was great as Aileen went on watch. No other yachts in sight. The wind was a solid 25/28 knots SE.
Distance traveled..........................................614 n.miles
Distance to go to the Barrier Reef...................364 n.miles
Distance traveled in last 24hrs........................214 n.miles
03.00hrs Aileen went to the large bunk and took the moon with her, now we only had a sky full of twinkling stars. We have still a great breeze and magnificent night sailing.
09.00hrs RADIO CALL ............ Crazy Horse & Ocean Jasper are still well ahead, even though the distance is reduced to approx 50 miles or so, that means we took back 10 miles or so during the last 24 hours. Kalliope III is still 10/15 n.miles behind, the rest of the fleet range 30 miles to 250 miles behind.
11.00hrs Skipper and Scotty set about and repaired all the holes in the blue spinnaker with spinnaker tape. Magic stuff!
Aileen was kept busy going through the presses and lockers and ditching anything likely to be confiscated on arrival in Mackay. The rest we are trying desperately to eat... On that subject, Aileen decided to try Margaret's recipe for chocolate cake, and while she was in the Galley, made some scones as well.
12.00hrs Distance traveled in 4 days...........................702 n.miles
Distance to the Great Barrier Reef...............................295 n.miles
Distance traveled in the last 24hrs...............................199.4 n.miles
13.00hrs Eating time again, even though no one is really hungry, we are going to stuff all the food we can manage into our bellies rather than throw it over the side or let the customs guys take it home for themselves. Bloody Bureaucrats. We had light crispy crackling and pork, plus cinnamon biscuits and cottage cheese, plus some of Aileen's scones.
14.00hrs Beautiful sailing weather, wind on the beam, and we are doing a nice 9/11 knots, meanwhile, Aileen is examining the weavels in the various packs of flour. We eventually decide against cooking any of them, as they have too much protein in them for our delicate systems.
18.00hrs Even though we are sailing along merilly, all predictions are, the wind will ease big time overnight so we went for the repaired blue spinnaker, skipper was gagging to put it up and see how the repairs worked out .....and we did it before it got dark. It looked great and gave us an extra 2 knots. WOW!
During the day, we changed the card in the chart plotter, that's the one in the cockpit. We inserted a card for Australia. As we said before, these things are in credible, and the detail amazing, down to the marina's and depth of water around marina's. It all makes for much more pleasant and safe sailing, and gives us something to look at all day.
20.00hrs Dinner consisted of Lasagne and pea's. God we must have a ton of frozen pea's in the deep freeze. This was quick and different, and was followed by some of Aileens freshly made chocolate cake with raspberries, ice cream, and all covered with chocolate sauce... yuum, god, we are going to be like the 3 fat ducks!!!
23.00hrs The wind was still holding up, great stuff, just more beautiful night sailing again.
The watches :- 21.00hrs / 00.00hrs .............................Aileen
00.00hrs / 03.00hrs ..............................Scotty
03.00hrs / 06.00hrs...............................Skipper
06.00hrs / 09.00hrs...............................Aileen
That's it from the 3 fat Ducks.
Signed :- Stephen Hyde ( Skipper )