Day 8 since setting out again. We are making our way up the endless chain of islands that dot the east coast of Australia on the inside of the Great Barrier Reef. Last night, anchored in a small bay on the northern side of an island called Hexam, protected from the SE trade winds. A restless night which is usually the case with me when my future depends on a piece of metal about 45 lbs weight holding in some unseen substance 25 feet below the surface. From the moment it goes down, I begin a sort of lament, a refrain that last the entire time. It goes something like this:"I hope she holds, Oh how I hope she holds!". Well, we were all glad for, in fact, she did. Set out at 6 AM -it was a day where none of the islands coordinated with the timing of our passage. The first appropriate one was too near, the next, too much current, the next too far, that one too deep etc etc.. So, I threw all the calculations to the wind and as the sun sets on our day I plan to sail all night and get to an 'appropriate island' in the morning. Goodnight to all