Finally left Pittwater on Tuesday morning and had a pleasant motor sail to Newcastle. The highlight being the spotting of a whale playing around in Broken Bay. It was a very awesome, powerful looking creature..dread the thought that it would come up underneath us!!!

We are moored at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and have caught up with our friends Jim, Mary & crew from 'Aurora' who we met in the circumnavigation around Tasmania. They have been so helpful, lending us their car to do last minute provisioning, doing a few loads of washing and hosting us to dinner last night. We are sorry that our stay over in Newcastle has only being two days. However, the weather is looking good so today after clearing with Customs at 10.00, we head out to sea in the direction of New Caledonia. Two boats left yesterday so we will be trailling in their wake!