[password] bulletYIT
[position] 28 15.9 S 178 55.2 W
[weather] 10knots WSW, calm seas ,50% cloud cover, baro 1017
[speed] 5.5 kts
[heading] 020t
[status] Our noon update on day five of our trip comes from a position 75nm nw of Raoul island, bearing 317 magnetic. We have been sailing for 4 days and 2 hours and crossed the halfway mark to tonga by 40 miles or so. A good days sailing with wind on the beam. Gradually throughout the afternoon yesterday the wind dropped off until we had to crank up the motor at about 1600 hrs and motor sail. The wind came more on the nose and the sea state settled and became quite smooth without the SE swell that had been mixing with a SW swell. This made things much more comfortable and had us all spending more time below. The two swallows from earlier reappeared and bravely landed in different spots on the boat. They looked quite knackered with one flying inside the cabin before being chased out by Carmel wielding a flare gun and cleaver. The birds found a spot cuddled up together, balanced on the lifelines looking inside our cabin. We put some biscuit crumbs outside for them. The wind ca
rried on dropping towards sunset. We had become aware that Toronui was pretty close to us within 20 or so miles and another yacht called 'Enough' appeared on our AIS as darkness fell. We all ate a very tasty dinner of Loren's lasagne down below together, enjoying the flatter sea state. At 2100 the wind dropped right off and we furled the jib, only to put it out again at midnight as the wind came back again on and off. We cut the engine and sailed through the night. Dolphins visited us on two occasions during the night. We couldn't really see them well but their breathing and blowhole sounds were right beside us. Moon is on the build so the nights are changing. Much warmer now too, with an amazing deep blue colour to the water. Morning brought a sad and suspicious discovery of two dead swallows on the side deck. Carmel pleads innocence and an enquiry is pending. Craig dug out his world band radio and we listened in to the short wave morning check in of yachts to gulf harbour
radio. Got Toronui's position. The we checked in with 'Enough' who were heading to Tonga and about 5 nm to the north of us. After that Toronui called us on vhf for a chat. We had some more of Craig's scrambled eggs, wind came up and motor went off. Perryn checked in with Wendy on Toronui via vhf. Wind is building nicely to 10 knots just forward of our beam now and we are slipping along beautifully with a lovely motion. Glad the motor is off! Lunch time...
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