Position: 37 50.55 S 144 55.33 E
At anchor Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip
Wind: W-NW F4-6, moderate breeze with strong winds in thunderstorms
Sea: slight Swell: nil
Weather: cloudy, passing thunderstorms with rain, mild
Day's run: 55 nm

Every thing worked out yesterday pretty much as hoped with the exception of having to motor in the near calm conditions for most of the afternoon. We arrived off Port Phillip Heads at 1730, right on slack water. After circling to let a large ship go in ahead of us, we were able to set sail to a breeze filling in from the SE, then sail in through the quiescent Rip, up the Western Channel on the flooding tide, and most of the way to Melbourne before the breeze abandoned us once more just south of the brightly lit City. We motored the last five miles to Hobsons Bay, to our usual position just west of the largely dismembered Princes Pier, and at 2356 dropped anchor in six meters of water.

Overnight I have enjoyed a nice long uninterrupted sleep and this morning, arising late, have done a few boat chores, mostly related to the engine. I have cleaned the sea water strainer, topped up the oil and had a quick look at the fuel system to see if I could identify where an air leak might be, which I believe is the likely cause of some starting problems. Unfortunately, I still cannot see where the problem is and figure the next step will be to dismantle the injector fuel lines, replace the copper seals, and then reinstall the fuel lines. A chore for another day.

The wind is now fresh from the NW with passing thunderstorms. The forecast is for the wind to back into the south this evening and freshen tomorrow. Not wanting to be caught on a lee shore, I plan on weighing anchor after the thunderstorms have passed, when hopefully the wind will ease and the rain will have stopped. Then we will move alongside the Ferguson St Pier in Williamstown. Here we will be able to do some essential domestics, namely some shopping, the laundry, and fill up the water tanks.

All is well.