40 NM South of Efate
05 July 2010
John and Shauna
We've had an almost faultless downwind sail from Havannah Pass - two days of gentle to moderate S to SE breezes with swells on the whole under two metres. Destiny has done very nicely - we've had out our full main (sheeted in just a little despite being on almost a square run and our staysail sheeted in well - this is a surprisingly good configuration for Destiny when 160 degrees or so off the breeze, providing there is enough strength in it. We're closing on Efate and should have her in sight by noon, and hope to be in Vila outer harbour by 1500. Vanuatu Customs function well from 0930 until about 0945, so we don't hold much hope of rousting them out to clear us in until tomorrow - they don't like to leave the office much after lunchtime! So we'll anchor in the Quarantine area and they'll probably appear to do our paperwork in the morning. Kukka are about 12 or 14 NM behind us - they'll likely get in a couple of hours after we do, and so will clear in tomorrow also.