It's Saturday midday and I am back on ... track...

Just as I took up my watch early this morning the moon came up late at 4am and to my surprise the sun, once again this amazing burning orange ball, came up at 6am and the angle difference between the two is no more than 70 degrees here when you look at the sun on the horizon and moon above.

The 3 Marias, also known as 'Orion', normally behind us, have moved up straight above now. The 3 Marias being 3 stars closely aligned which have been a marker for us since we left Honolulu.

Sea life has been very sporadic, some birds, maybe 7, and some, to Micky's dislike, trying to catch a free ride with us. And then, of course, more than enough flying fish.. and every time it's still funny to see them fly with their tails low and their heads high, fast and far. Here they are the size of my palm and so far the biggest ones I have seen; found one big one on the deck this afternoon.

Morale on board very good. Micky wants to get up the mast once again to check out the wind vane as it's still not functioning but will have to wait till we are anchored off. He still does the watches to perfection as well as the kitchen chores and would probably even do so if the boat were upside down. Unfortunately deprived of some sleep again because of ....me... having ticked off the boxes for 'sea sickness' and 'food poisoning' found it a 'must' to go for the 'stomach virus' !! Djeeeh don't know where and how I caught this 'particular friendly one' but could def. have done without. When at sea in that state you just want to get off the boat... one thing is for sure, it works much better than the lemon diet! Today doing much better and the sailing is just fantastic, like ... the seriously perfect conditions. Good wind, white horses everywhere, waves shorter than normal and more bumpy, blue blue ocean, very sunny, nice and hot and some nice woolly clouds in the sky. Cruising 260 degree, double reef, half jib and doing 7.5-8 kts. The nights however are def. cooler and then the deck is most of the time humid. Even Micky, since last night, has gone soft and taken to wearing some 'long' shorts..

We have just discovered land again and each time it is the same thrill. Another 22 nm to go and our curiosity is growing bigger by the mile to discover once again a new unknown land for us ahead. We will arrive in the capital city of Vanuatu.. Port Vila. The island seems long and lean, quite flat, very green with big trees and lots of green grassy patches, and from afar we see the white sandy beaches. We are passing by on the south side, the harbour is easterly wind safe on the west coast... exciting !

Flag ceremony on board has just gone up.. one for Vanuatu and one yellow one for quarantine... as we are arriving after office hours we will be quarantined till Monday morning and thus can't leave ship just yet..