Date & Time: October 29, 0700 (Brisbane time) Position: see the map on our blog Course: 251 M

Days at sea completed: 2

Distance sailed in the last 24 hours (nm): 184 Distance sailed total (nm): 354 Distance to go (nm): 440

Wind Speed & Direction (knots): ESE 14 Waves (ft): 4

Two days of the passage are now under our keel. We have had great wind the last 24 hours. During the day yesterday we consistently sailed at over nine knots, making just under one hundred nautical miles during the first 12 hours. Overnight the wind softened, and we reefed down to have better sleep shifts, knocking a bit off of our 24 total. But, I will take an easy one hundred and eighty-four mile day anytime! The sea conditions have been pretty good, but from time to time we go through a wave set that throws the boat around a bit. We've had strange, confused seas out here ever since leaving Vanuatu.

The current has been quite interesting. In general, it has been mostly with us, adding about one knot to our speed. But, for hours at a time, we will be in a completely different current, either from the side, or even against us. I'm sure that this also is contributing to the confused seas.

Everything on board is working well, we are eating good meals, and generally enjoying the passage - as much as you can with very limited sleep. I've been on shift for a couple of hours now and Dee is down below on her sleep shift. The sea is quite flat so she must be getting a great rest! I wasn't able to nap at all yesterday and was getting quite exhausted by the time my sleep shift started. Lucky for me I slept like a log for five hours and feel very refreshed.

In about thirty miles we pass just North of Argo Bank. It's about six to ten thousand feet deep all around us, except for this bank that shoals up to nine hundred feet. Of course, that is not a hazard for running aground, but depending on the currents, this could mean confused seas. It is always nice when we pass these things during daylight hours so I can keep my eyes open for any excitement.

Early this evening we are expecting an increase in the wind and seas. The grib files are not predicting anything significant like a gale, but I am expecting twenty-five knots or so of wind on the stern quarter. It should be just enough to make it interesting onboard! After that, we expect a softening wind all the way to Bundaberg. My routing software even says a hundred miles or so of motoring is in our future before we reach land in two to three days.