Day 11 = 115 nautical miles. There's a few reasons why we're not going faster than we are. Our destination is directly downwind of us. One. We've got two headsails up and one of them is just plain too small. The sail hanked on the inner forestay is undersized and we should have gotten a bigger one for this purpose. Two, We could use the spinnaker pole and 'pole out' the bigger genoa to get more sail area but for one...hydrovane doesn't like to be over powered (and we wouldn't want THAT). And in this cross swell that hits up every 7-10 seconds, DEBBIE doesn't want to risk life and limb to help Don hoist the spinnaker pole (scaredy cat). He and Linz were able to do it last year but I am not Linz, he's big and strong. I just don't think I can do it in these rolly conditions. I believe these rolly conditions are caused by the northern and southern hemisphere swell patterns coming together...it will probably get worse before it gets better. Well, we didn't say this would be easy. We're having a great experience out here but it is challenging. Here's a few more reasons why we're not going faster: One - We're crusiers not racers. (Of course all slow boats say that!) And two - We don't have to get to Australia until Christmas. Don told his mum we would be there for Christmas and I said Don...what if we don't make it? Won't she be awfully disappointed? He said, "At least she's happy now". :) Speaking of mum, Isabel, in Australia. Don asked the folks on the Pacific Seafarer's Net if they could do a phone patch for him. They did and last night he was able to speak to his mum on her birthday using the single-sideband radio. Don's definitely become a HAMster now. We both passed our General license exam last February but he is becoming the geek of the family.