Well we decided to have a "lay day" yesterday, and how lucky we did! It was a strong wind warning so we vacillated and didn't go, but to our good fortune. Firstly we found (and fixed) a problem with the HF Radio - some faulty connections, then we found and fixed a leak that was rather troubling, but our crowning joy was from Paul and Tracy from Cockatoo who dropped over late afternoon to say hello. Paul mentioned he was an auto-electrician,,,,,,,,to which I said, "you should never say that - do you know anything about autopilots". Well after a couple of oysters and a glass of water Paul said where is it, we spent the next few hours of his time diagnosing and VERY cleverly substituting FET's and Diodes, until it all worked again. How lucky were we, it would have meant hand steering all the way to the top and across the Gulf probably all the way to Darwin until I could get a new unit for it.

Today then, Sunday 8th, up at 3.30am to leave at 4 right behind Cockatoo heading towards Escape River near the top of Cape York. Twenty five plus knot winds and flying only the Genoa gave us good speeds - and to our great joy - the autopilot drove the whole way!!!! perfectly !!! We had a quick trip arriving at Escape River entrance at about 1400 . Today there was a nice swell and a very quick trip running downwind all the way.

Escape River is pleasant we are well tucked away past the pearl farm, but there are lots of Pearl mats and buoys to avoid on the way in!

So far so good, and thanks to Good Samaritans who have eased our way forward.

Tomorrow all going well we head up and through Albany Passage as we pass our way around Cape York.

The weather is pretty ordinary at present, full cloud cover, twenty plus knots of breeze, but warm and tropical.

Catch you in a day or two.