Sorry everyone. Bill arrived 0300 on Wed 28th February. I drove from Out Of The Bag at Maryborough arriving at Port Of Bundaberg about midday expecting formalities would be over only to find that Customs Officers had not arrived until 11a.m. I sat with Bill while Customs went on with their procedures. The sniffer dogs were on Moonlight and became a bit interested in a bag we have had for many years while travelling. The dogs were likely confused by all the smells associated with the grungy down at heel looking bag. Apart from that all was good onboard, although I am still sweeping up dog hairs from their time onboard. Wednesdays the Quarantine Officer does not work so at about 3pm Bill was escorted back down to Moonlight on the Quarantine Dock by the Customs Officers and I had to drive back an hour and three quarters to Maryborough. On Thursday 1st March I drove back up to Port Of Bundaberg arriving at 11a.m as the Quarantine Officer was just finishing up. Then it was the turn of Wayne whose job it is to prepare the paperwork to import Moonlight into Australia. Finally we were able to relax on Moonlight and catch up

at 1700 abeam of Cato Reef

COG 253 True

SOG 6.6 knots

Distance to Go 192 All Good Onboard

AT 1500 the Coast Watch plane, Border Force boys, over flew Moonlight and called Bill on the VHF Radio. Bill said it was good to see them. Shorty afterwards a big squall passed over leaving west winds behind.Probably good to speak to someone too after a solitary week at sea.

Good sailing conditions overnight.

COG 240 True

SOG 4.8k

Been lots of work in light conditions main up, main down, main up, down up, to reduce flogging of main in light conditions and seas. No doubt Bill will be tired by all exercise.

COG 240 True

SOG 4.9 knots

Motoring since 0400

All Well onboard

Moonlight at 1800 Sunday 25th is now in Australian Waters.

COG 250 True

SOG 4k

Slow sail, short chop making sails flog. Annoying and hard to sleep

Distance to Go 311 nm

Lovely day of sailing

COG 240 True

SOG 5 knot

22 nm to belona Reef

DTG 420 at 1800 24th Feb

COG 258True

SOG 5k

Distance to Go DTG 548

Sailing

All well onboard AWOB

COG 260

SOG 5.5k

Reaching speeds 7k overnight

Clear skies

Distance to go 607nm

Reaching comfortably

AGOB

Wind dropped at 0400 left shitty seas.

COG 260 True

SOG 4 knot

0700 24th Feb Distance to go 479 Motoring

Best speed overnight 7.1 knots

Every mono's dread zephyr wind, big swells with short chop on top

COG 260 degrees True

SOG 4.5 k

Distance to Way Point off Bundaberg 790

Bil was motoring at the time of report, sails up and down all day again No wind at time.

All Well Onboard

Course over the ground 266 degrees

Speed over ground 4k

Sailed overnight headsail only to stop main flopping flogging around

67nm to Petrie Reef

126nm to Grande Pass

Should clear New Caledonia reef area (over top of New Cal) late Thursday.

All good onboard

0700 local time Bill reported

COG 259 True

SOG 4 knots

Motoring with gentle breeze starting to fill in

All Well onboard

Distance to Waypoint 731

Last night when he passed Petrie Reef there were big overfalls and a current against him 3knots, it was bit rough and spooky as it is New Moon so pitch dark difficult to see anything. Conditions settled when he had passed the reef.

Been motor sailing most of day, very hot. Tried ever sail combination to catch any wind assistance. Probably pleased sun has gone down.

At 0600 Aus Eastern standard time, that means Qld time

COG 256

SOG been averaging 4 knots in light NE during night. Currently Westerly wind

Seas 1/2 metre smooth

Distance to Bundaberg 950m

Squalls light up to 12 knots

We were towed on to a mooring this afternoon in shallow water off Irriki Resort where it is very calm and sheltered, as the engine will run, which we are grateful for for the charging of the batteries, but it will not go into gear. No it is not the gear box apparently according to Vijay the mechanic. He will dive on the prop tomorrow as he thinks it is a problem between the stainless prop and the bronze propellor corroded connections. He will be here at ten a.m. tomorrow so we’ll know more then. He says he will use a net in the event that he drops something. In the meantime Bill is having a lovely messy time servicing the winches -he’s onto the third one - but he’s pleased with how they run after he’s cleaned them up. He has two to go.

Anchored Port Vila at 1500 local time.

Pooped!

31 days, 4 hrs 3026nm (divide by 31 days....hmmm... slow!)

Probably had fireworks here last night, darn.

Lovely sail today.

Beaut sunrise first day of the year!

Sailing down wind poles out headsail Bill off watch probably suggest spinnaker when he comes up.

18nm to end of Efate then 20 up to Port Vila.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all. We trust it will be a good one full of health, happiness, good times, family and friends!

Much love Bill & Gene