Noon position: 23 05.0 S 151 14.4 E
Course SSE Speed 6.5 knots
Wind: NNW, F4 - moderate breeze
Sea: slight Swell: NE 1 m
Weather: sunny, warm
Day's run: 145 nm

We have made excellent progress in the last 24 hours, with the wind shifting into the north and freshening, allowing us to run wing-on-wing for an average speed of six knots. Apart from our excellent progress, the only event of interest was overtaking our friend in the Wharram catamaran at three o'clock in the morning (we got close enough to recognise her with a spot light).

However, all good things must come to an end and according to the forecasts we will lose the wind sometime tomorrow, ahead of a SE'ly change. By then, with a bit of luck, we should be down in Hervey Bay. From there I figure we have two options. One is to call in at Bundaberg, a nice stopover which I have not visited for a very long time. The other is to continue down through the Great Sandy Strait. The up side of going through the strait is that we continue making progress south, the down side is that it will involve a lot of motoring. Also, getting out through the Wide Bay Bar can be hazardous if conditions are bad. However, another plus for option two is that I would then have the opportunity to drop in on my friend Mark in Tin Can Bay and see how work on the Mary Lee is coming along.

Actually, having a closer look at the forecast, a third option occurs to me, which it to keep on going. The SE winds are expected to be around 10 to 15 knots and then back around into the NE on Sunday.

For now we push on making best use of the fair winds.

All is well.