Yesterday a bit before sunset I was in the cabin looking back into the cockpit when I noticed a pole sticking out of the water. I jumped out to see that it was a telegraph pole bobbing up and down vertically so I assume something heavy was on the bottom end. Concerned there might be more I took a lookout on the bow for a while. I had been motor sailing at around 6 knots and had passed the ugly thing within metres. Can't imagine what damage to the hull something like that would cause. I restocked my second ditch bag and went over the abandon ship procedures a couple of times in my head just in case.

It was a mostly quiet night until rain came out of nowhere at 2am and persisted till about 9. It was not the tropical torrential stuff however there was a bit of lightening. Thunder was coming 7 to 9 seconds later so I stuck the battery jumper leads back in the water from the mast. When the rain eased the wind picked up so we are now sailing without the motor at a respectable 5.8 knots SSW. We still have not made enough easting for the entrance to the Coral Sea for the crossing to Cairns but as I prefer to motor sail at night while solo so will keep on this tack till sunset. Plenty of sea room still for a 80 miles tack.

While I was doing some deck work for this new tack I saw a pilot whale. Then another. They were just 20 metres off the port side bow. The work I was doing meant I could not leave the deck to take a photo. As I looked back I saw about 15 of them all in a pod. Thinking they might be around for a while I took my time to make sure things were right but that was the last I saw of them. They just vanished.

With this stronger wind we have a bumpy ride and a few things have flown around the cabin. (Got into some bad habits in the first 2 days as it was so flat). One of those items was spray container of windex. Not only did it fly but it cracked open so I now have a cabin of windex fumes and due to the occasional wave coming over the boat don't have the option of opening a hatch to clear it.

Just passed 6 degrees 55 mins South which is the furthest south Yarramundi has been. It took Adam and I over 4 days to get almost this far without the engine and with the engine have done it in half the time.

David