At 8 am this morning EST the boys untied the ropes and set off from Robe harbour bound first for Queenscliffe in Victoria, on Port Philip Bay and then non-stop to Auckland.

Robe was a good stop. After sailing through very difficult conditions crossing the Bight they arrived hungry and tired but happy. There were a number of jobs to be done on board, little things mostly plus the big task of getting the fuel to feed into the engine properly, and all was done. Parts ordered came quickly and even a para-anchor arrived from Albany in good time for them to leave after a good rest (thanks Jenny!).

Today they have finally had some really good wind coming from the right direction. It’s pretty much the first time since they set off nearly three weeks ago. This afternoon they passed in close to Rivoli Bay in SA and Southend. Tomorrow they should pass in front of Portland and during the night, Port Fairy and then by Sunday be heading around Cape Otway and around and up into Port Philip Bay.

Hopefully the wind will keep up going the way they need and this part of the trip won’t be hampered by strong head winds or wild storms.
When the boys got into Robe and we could actually have a good chat on the phone, instead of the short exchanges we needed to have on the sat phone with its funny little delays leaving you saying the same things over and over, each time slightly more loudly!, we got to talk about the weather they had encountered in the Bight. They were shocked to hear that the storm that had lashed them as they sailed, had gone on to do so much damage in country Victoria. They were very appreciative that considering all it could have done that it had impacted them so little overall.

They set off again this morning fairly raring to go, looking forwards to getting into Queenscliffe. A surprise will be awaiting them there, but shush! don’t breathe a word of it!