18.30S 158.08E  Sunday 3rd  August – 2000 hrs leg time.    Our day as ‘net controllers’ yesterday -  a voluntary exercise which involves calling each boat by name at the leg time 10.00am roll call, noting their position and wind speed/conditions and reporting back to the Rally organisers in a special format by email.  This way we all know where each other is in case of emergencies or problems.  Five yachts are already in Mackay, Australia including Our Island, the only Australian contingent, who have offered to host the welcome party when we arrive and treat us all which is incredibly generous. Again at 1800 the radio is opened up for ‘chat’ after a two minute silence in case of emergency transmissions.  From the sound of it, everyone is having a cracking sail across the Coral Sea although the wind dropped off a bit yesterday.  Today we are roaring along at 8 knots over the ground.

With yesterday morning’s light winds it was the perfect day to re launch our cruising chute but after much hard work: unpacking it from under the bunk, yanking it snake-like in its snuffer bag through the front hatch, hoisting it up on the halyard to its zenith to get it operational, we were lying back in the cockpit smugly admiring our efforts when the whole sail silently and mesmerisingly split right across the middle in just 7 knots of wind and floated into the sea!  You hear of racing boats ‘blowing out their spinnakers’ and your imagination runs riot conjuring up the excitement of the moment – the boat keeled over, the seas biting at the gunnels, the colourful sail billowed in the wind and the force of the elements ripping through the clothe – but I’m afraid ours ‘blew out’ with a slithery sort of whimper rather than a bang! One more repair for the sail makers in Mackay.

The other worry is the water pump on the engine is leaking again which does suggest we have some serious damage –  we think we must have blown the head gasket - just hope it all holds up until we get there, particularly through Hydrographers passage. 

It is a near pitch dark night - the stars are out to lighten the way - but my instruments tell me I will only have 10% moon and I did see her setting as I came on watch at 2000 hrs – we’re just blessed that we have not had any squalls or rain yet. We have 10 - 15 knots from the SE forecast for the next four days - perfect.  Tonight, with between 15 and 20 knots of wind we are careering along.  We have around 500 nautical miles to go so if we can keep up at least 120 miles a day we are hoping to arrive on the 7^th evening or 8^th morning……and my sister and her husband have already left Sydney to meet us…….

The Australian flag is made on one side – so fiddly with the stars you know -  we have our on line visas confirmed and we have informed the port authority of our imminent arrival so we are nearly prepared……….