Position: 33 52.16 S 151 14.0 E
Moored Rushcutters Bay, Port Jackson
Wind: W, F3 gentle breeze
Sea state: rippled    Swell: nil
Weather: sunny, mild
Day’s Run: 54 nm

The wind died completely around midday leaving us drifting on a glassy sea for a couple of hours; however, at 1400 a light air started to fill in from the East. I set sail again - the light air combination of main and code zero, and we started making way again at a couple of knots. By sunset the breeze had freshened to force 4 which had us making a comfortable four knots. By 2000 the wind had backed around into the NE so, in addition to the code zero, I poled the jib out to port which makes for a good spinnaker substitute with a lot less messing about. At 2245, as the wind continued to back into the North, I dropped the code zero and gybed. By 2300 we were broad reaching to a moderate NW breeze, making good close to six knots.

The breeze continued out of the NW for the remainder of our short passage to Port Jackson but as we approached the Heads the wind faded and backed further into the West. I tried to tack into the Harbour, but we were down to less than two knots and by this time I was keen to get to a mooring and get some sleep. I flashed up the BRM, handed sail and we motored into Quarantine Bay where at 0240 we picked up a public mooring for the remainder of the night.

I enjoyed a peaceful sleep, arising at 1000. After a late breakfast I hoisted the main, slipped the mooring and unrolled the jib, sailing off the mooring to a gentle W’ly breeze. We close reached up the Harbour arriving off Rushcutters Bay at 1230 where I started the engine and handed sail to motor the remaining half mile to our RANSA mooring.

It has been a pleasant sail up to Lake Macquarie and back. My main mission of visiting my friend Max has been accomplished and I enjoyed the added bonus of a fun race with a new friend.

And now it is time to focus on getting Sylph ready for our voyage to New Zealand.

All is well.