Hoping we've cracked the HF email upload for our sail blog after a week of dodgy propagation, bad connections, and timed out uploads. (Thanks Mike R for your tech support!) We are zooming along with 15-25kt wind on the stern quarter. Downwind sailing sure is a lot quieter and faster - we've done 130NM in the last 24 hours.

At this rate we anticipate being off the leads to Gizo Harbour around 8pm Wednesday night. However, depending on conditions and actual time of arrival, we will heave to about 20NM short and get some rest before heading in at first light Thursday morning.

We've skirted aroud several big rain squalls today, and are anticipating a few more tonight. Sliding down the swells has been fun - nearly surfed down some of them! One of the things we find surprising is the variability of the sea states - often changing every 5-10 minutes for no apparent reason.

More news once we've checked in and cleared Customs, hopefully by Thursday afternoon.

Ciao for now.