Along with Kukka (a Malo 39) and Wombat of Sydney (Beneteau 47.7) we turned our backs on the East Australian coast yesterday and set sail on a line of 56deg true for Noumea. The East Coast Current was running fast against a strong SSW breeze and the resulting chop and confused seas caused all three yachts to reduce sail. We were still making over 6 knots and had a fast night sail, sadly with no moon. Wombat pulled ahead as expected, leaving Kukka and Destiny relatively comfortable in 3 metre swells with 25-30 knots over the beam. This morning it has shifted a little east and eased off to 16 to 23 knots, and we are sitting on 6.5 knots boatspeed with full main and half genoa. Our cockpit is reasonably dry with all the clears on, certainly dry enough to sit on watch in these conditions without fear of an unexpected drenching. At this pace we would see Noumea in 6 days or less, but the breeze is forecast to lighten and move east later in the week so we will see how that works out. Beef casserole last night for dinner - Shauna cooked a couple of big batches before we left - very comforting to the digestion in lumpy seas. We're in sun with part cloud this morning, and that always makes one feel optimistic and positive; a bit to rough to troll a line however - maybe when things settle somewhat. Cheers for now from us