Noon Position: 32 50.5 S 152 56.2 E
Course: SSW Speed: 7 knots
Wind: N, F4 - moderate breeze
Sea: slight Swell: NE 1 m
Weather: overcast, warm
Day's run: 167 nm

As well as having a fresh following breeze since leaving Ballina, we have also enjoyed a significant boost from the East Australia Current, making better time than I was expecting. According to the log in the last 24 hours we have sailed 132 miles, which is a respectable day's run for Sylph, but over the ground we have covered 167 miles, an extra 35 miles which works out to a current of 1.5 knots - very helpful indeed.

This forenoon the wind has faded to a gentle force three and we now have the code zero up, as well as the main and the jib poled out to starboard, for a very comfortable 6.5 knots. We still have seventy miles to go to Port Stephens. A trough is expected to pass over us later tonight so I am expecting variable conditions between now and when we get to Port Stephens, including a period of fresh S to SE'lies. I have my fingers crossed that the wind will be on the gentle side of fresh, and more in the SE than S. My plan is to stay off the coast a bit so that when the wind turns against us we might have a better angle to make the entrance to Port Stephens.

In the meantime, we continue to enjoy some pleasant sailing with the wind aft, slight seas, and a low swell.

All is well.