Position           20:56.05 S 164:07.44 E                              

Date                1200 (UTC+11) Friday 02 October 2015

Distance run    in 24hrs 45mins 143nm over the ground, 145nm through the water

Trip total         143nm over the ground, 145nm through the water

To go to           Kupang Indonesia 2653 nm

This trip I will be writing the diary as at midday and as it was 45 minutes to that hour day 1 is 24hrs and 45 minutes long, must be a leap month.

The bay at Timbea, 10nm NW of Noumea, possibly our last anchorage for some time

By taking a leisurely start we had enough wind to sail gently towards Passe Uitoe, 10nm from Timbea.  A quick burst of motor to help is through the pass and we were back in the open ocean and the Coral Sea.  Better wind than forecast took us along on a gentle reach until the wind disappeared on cue at 2000 so that we motored overnight until the wind reappeared at 0700 an hour after dawn. 

An insomniac Mate arising at 0800 meant that we were able to put the cruising chute up as the conditions were ideal.  Not having used it for some time there was the inevitable tussle getting sheets the correct way around obstacles.  It did however go up without tangles or issues at the first time of asking.  The forecast shows rising winds later on Friday so no doubt this outing will not be for more than a few hours.

First outing since October last year and pulling well in 14 knots true, 8 knots apparent

The wind from directly astern