We are sailing along in 8 to 10 knots of breeze with our asymmetrical spinnaker and a single-reefed main making about 6.5 knots over the ground. We've got a reef in the main because it has an extensive repair on it so we don't want to stress it at all. So far, it's been a very nice passage. Days have brought about 10 to 20 knots at decent angles, and nights have not been squally, seas have been less than one meter except for a few hours early this morning and the day we left. We've found bits of pumice on deck - there was some volcanic activity in the Kermedecs not far from here about a month ago, so there is pumice in the water. Some bits are quite large rocks, others are fine like gravel. Another boat mentioned on the net this morning that last week, during the rough weather that came through while we were in Tongatapu, the waves were throwing the rocks up so the crew was getting pummeled by rocks in the cockpit! Talk about adding insult to injury ... or injury to injury I guess! The mellow seas have made it possible for us to eat quite well: for lunch today we had seared tuna and rice, mahi and baby bok choi in ginger garlic sauce for dinner last night, the uniquitous tuna melt for lunch, and popcorn for a late night snack. Tonight, I think we'll have salad and pommes de terre sautees. An added incentive to eat well is that New Zealand doesn't allow any fresh or dried food (including popcorn and beans) into the country, so whatever we don't eat we'll have to throw away. At this point, we are looking at a Monday, November 19 arrival in Opua. We've been traveling within sight of another boat, Aleris, and talking a couple of times a day on the VHF discussing our weather strategy. It's fun to see their masthead light through the night and their sails in the morning. We've been keeping pace with each other without really trying. In a couple of hours we'll douse the spinnaker and probably put a double reef in the main for the night. All is well on board, we'll keep you posted.