Noon Position 22 07S 151 16E
There has been no let up in the SE'lies. We continue to struggle south against them, under sail whenever we can and sometimes under power to try and gain a few miles. The direction of the wind has been relentless, even with a steady trade wind pattern you often get the breeze shift into the NE with the afternoon sea breeze effect, but despite this being forecast in past days, it has not happened and the battle against head winds continue. The sail handling has been going on night and day, tacking, wearing, setting and handing sail, since leaving the Whitsundays, we have managed to get down past Mackay and are currently well to seaward of Shoalwater Bay. At the moment Duyfken is under all sail and hard on the wind and the large container vessel "Nysted Maersk" has just crossed close astern, steaming to the north at about 25 knots. A real contrast in technologies. The forecast is not good; the strong ridge is once more forecast to establish itself along the Queensland coast, with the headwinds to again freshen. We have a long way to get south and the days are ticking away.
Gary Wilson
Master
