[password] pilot25041
[position] 13 14.85s 163 06.5w
[status] Wednesday 22nd August mid afternoon ........ and we're safely here in Suwarrow atoll, over the past 48hours we've had every combination of sails set (full/reefed main, genoa or gennaker) and engine (port/stbd or both) assistance to maintain a 7kt average to get us here in good daylight and through the unmarked pass into the lagoon. The sea was a variety of different and beautiful blue colours as we came through the pass, which although not marked is nice and wide despite the chart plotter indicating our positioning approx 200m north of where we actually were. There are 5 other boats in the anchorage ...... 4 monohulls and one other catamaran, this is a National Park and the 'ranger' is due to visit us a bit later to complete the check in formalities.

We've had fabulous sunsets and sun rises, cloud and rain squalls surrounding us, the moon has gradually got bigger to light the long night time periods on this ocean passage. The wind has been predominantly from about 110-120 degrees magnetic, so we've spent large periods of time since yesterday with a gull winged sail set up, which is not easy to maintain with often 2-3m following seas, as we corkscrew down the waves. Apart from some drying out required in the two rear berths, everything else is pretty shipshape.

The chef still hasn't decided the menu for dinner tonight, yesterday we had fresh potato & onion soup for lunch and last evening we had roast chicken dinner, whilst the night before it was beef stir fry and egg fried rice, which all the crew seemed to enjoy!

Position. 15.00hrs FP time. At Suwarrow, 169nm 24hr run.
[weather] 15-20knts from SE, 1.5m swell from the East, 10% cloud cover.

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