[password] rachel25
[position]36 31.723s 138 48.012w
[status] On passage to Valdivia, Chile from Auckland NZ. Day 19. Ana here, again. A day of apprehension. We have been expecting a frontal system with winds in the high 30s to pass over us from the NW, so have been looking over our shoulder all day long, ready to reef down at a moments notice. Happily we've heard tonight from Bruce, our weather advisor, we have outrun the thing.

After so many days at sea, we've formed a good working team. We take turns of a shift where we sail the boat, and do what is necessary to keep the boat moving eastward, in a safe manner. There are 3 x 4 hour shifts during the day, starting at 6am, and 4 x 3 hour shifts from 6pm. However this all goes to pot if the weather and sea state are such that the wind or auto pilot can't cope, and we need to hand steer.

Not a lot to see out here. The only living thing we saw today was a Sooty Shearwater, which has taken to circle the boat intermittently through the day. Silent, with the agility of a fighter plane.

Thank you so much to those that have sent messages. It means a great deal to us to hear from you.

[speed] 8.0 kts
[heading] 090 true
[weather] Wind NW 18 knots. 0.5m waves. Sky 15% cloud. Baro 1015,
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