What a beautiful sailing day it was today. The sea state good, blue sky, fluffy white clouds and the breeze 8-10 knots, but perfect with our gennaker so we were averaging 6.5 most of the day. No sea sickness and I got to have a shower (outside of course), so I feel clean and smell good. The full body treatment today, legs shaved and body scrubbed my body, so smooth as. I think it energized me or so the body lotion I use says that's what happens when I use it. I have offered it to Neil to get energized but he turned down the offer. We got to see another glorious sunset and they are truly beautiful. The orange, red and yellow glow in the sky makes the sky directly above the sunset turn an aqua green colour, then above that it is turquoise and then the indigo blue sky is on top. We sit and watch the sunsets every day and of course every day they look a little different. What else is there to do while at sea. We did 139 miles yesterday, but today I think we could get closer to 150 if we continue with these conditions. The only problem is that late this afternoon the wind has turned north east and so we are currently aiming a bit south of our destination on the rhumb line. Hopefully the winds will come back around and we will be on track again to head west.

We got a surprise this afternoon when Don looked out and saw a fishing boat. I always feel a little nervous if I see a power boat near us so far away from land, but we radioed him as he didn't have AIS (legally he is supposed to for his size of vessel) to see if he had nets trawling behind him as he was reasonably close off our port side. He replied to our radio call and said we would be ok if we kept to our course and wished us a safe journey. It is so unusual to see a boat so far out here as he is over 1000 miles from French Polynesia and over 2000 miles from South America.

Today as I felt good, I baked and made us some red velvet cupcakes which will last us a couple of days. Not sure how rocky tonight and tomorrow will get, as we are supposed to be getting some stronger winds over the next few days.

It is one of my oldest friends (old as I have known her since our school days) birthday tomorrow on the 5th May. Fran, I know you are keeping track of where I am, have a fantastic birthday and look forward to catching up when I eventually return to Perth. I can't believe it is May already and a busy month for birthdays for me as it is Neil's, my daughter Jessica and some good friends as well. I wish I could be with you all to celebrate, but I am always thinking of you. We just hope we will be on land to celebrate Neil's birthday on the 17th (I think we might all throw ourselves to the sharks if not on land by then). We don't do presents while sailing, instead we try to do something nice together for the day. For anyone else reading this blog having a birthday this month, happy birthday to you also from Echo Echo!

Our current position is 07 degrees 01.248 minutes south and 119 degrees 39.357 minutes west. Our current heading is 248 degrees True and we actually want to be heading 260 degrees True. We have 1162 miles to go to arrive at Hiva Oa.