Noumea is slowly getting closer. For the past two days we have been battling a strong easterly wind which is the direction we are heading, so we are motor sailing, enabling us to stay on a more direct course. The seas are quite confused as there had been a wind blowing from the South East for quite a few days, so the swell is still rolling in from there. Combined with the waves from the strong easterly wind now blowing leads to seas a little like a washing machine. Inside the cabin, it is very rock n' rolly! You have to be very careful moving about the boat as it is easy to be thrown around. We have scored a few bruises and apparently when we arrive there is to be a 'bruise' competition between the other two boats sailing with us...the criteria being the biggest,the most colourful and in the most unusual place!! As there is no shipping at all this far east of Aust we are able to spend more time inside the cabin and let the autopilot do the work.. we just pop our head up from time to time to make sure it's still on course.. However, at night we go back to our 3 hr watches but with the weather being so uncomfortable it is more pleasant being down in a cosy cabin during the day. We must be getting our 'sea legs 'as we are able to do this email and a little reading without feeling too quesy. Our appetites are slowly returning, but with the motion of the boat being what it is..we are just heating up canned foods rather than preparing anything from scratch. Having a shower is also proving a challenge trying to maintain some balance and hold the shower rose simultaneously ! Hopefully by the time we write the next blog we will have reached our destination!