Noon Position: 32 26.4 S 152 33.0 E
Course: NNE Speed: 5.5
Wind: W, F5 - fresh breeze
Sea: moderate Swell: SE 1 meters
Weather: sunny, mild
Day's run: 106 nm

Our fair breeze did not last for long yesterday afternoon, fading to a flat calm shortly after getting clear of North Head and we ended up motoring for an hour and a half before finding a light breeze sufficient to fill Sylph's sails and keep her moving. Around 1900 the wind started to freshen and by midnight we were down to two reefs in the main and a 50% of the jib. The wind was quite variable during the night as we worked our way past Newcastle, dodging a ship entering harbour as we did so; but, expecting the wind to freshen to gale force later in the day, I left the two reefs in the main and adjusted the jib, rolling some out or back in again, to suit the wind strength.

We have enjoyed a good day's run with the freshening NW to W breeze, and at midday we were just off Sugarloaf Point, cutting inside of Seal Rocks so as to have the best angle to the breeze once around past the headland. Now the coastline trends more to the north so we are sailing on a close reach, trying to stay close to the coast so as to have lighter winds and smoother seas, thereby avoiding the worst of the gale further out to sea. So far so good.

All is well.