Sunday 09 December 2012

Overnight from Liapari we had a great run, after an initial lack of wind and a few frustrating tacks. As the night wore on we dodged several thunderstorms and settled into a 60mile tack - going in exactly the right direction for us! Into the wind, of course - but not complaining. We only had between 8-12 k all night but IM loped along easily, giving us another daily run of well over 100NM.

The boat log had stopped working on the way from Gizo to Liapari (the through hull paddle wheel that gives us our boat speed through the water.) Tony dived on it before we left Liapari, but after 40NM in the Vella Gulf it stopped again. So this morning we unpacked our beer and soft drink locker under the port saloon berth to investigate further. The little sea creature nestled in the log was quickly evicted and the log refitted. During the locker re-pack we discovered several precious aluminium cans had leaked, one beer, one coke, apparently corroded with small pin prick leaks, perhaps caused by stray salt water, despite the careful packing in hockey/football socks. So we will have to monitor that more closely and up the drinking pace - would rather have enjoyed it than clean it out of the bilge!

Now that we are clear of the higher mountains around Gizo and Liapari our HF radio propagation is improving, so I am hoping to upload this via the HF again. We have been able to get very clear weather faxes and also listened to the 9.00 pm world news on Radio Australia last night. Not good to hear about the typhoon in the Philippines. Thinking of you Ellen and Kjartan in Davao, Mindanao. Hope Samal Island is safe, and still a secure haven for boats this season. Over and out for now, off to have curried sausages and vegetables for tea. By 10 pm tonight we should be clear of the Strait and out into the Melanesian Basin! Hope your weekend has gone well!