[password] pilot25041
[position] 29 0.00s 158 48.9w
[status] we followed what now seems the standard approach of reefing both sails just before dark as the wind gradually increases, the sea seems permanently confused with a large swell from the south @ 15sec intervals acting against an astern swell every 5secs! The wind for the last 18hrs has been interesting; 8-20kts, with a 60 degree difference in direction cycling through up to 10times an hour, making holding a consistent course difficult, since late morning it seems to have stabilised more and we're sailing at 50 degrees AWA, making 060T towards Raivavae.

Still no signs of Pzazz or Toranui over the last 40hrs, when they were behind us, we assume they are also fairly hard on the wind, trying to make best course for Raivavae as the wind progressively goes to a more easterly direction.

The good news is that we now have 670nm to run, all crew in fine spirits and in line with the latest fads of "haute cuisine" we had "deconstructed cottage pie" for dinner last night. Position 13.00 nzst. 162nm run in 24hrs.
[speed] 8.2kts
[heading] 060T
[weather] wind 25knts ESE, 1.5m swells from both the S & E, 80% cloud cover.

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