Noon Position: 38 05.3 S 144 45.4 E
Course: S Speed: 5 knots
Wind: S, F2 slight breeze
Sea state: 2 - wavelets Swell: nil
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s Run: 17 nm

I have enjoyed my short stop in Melbourne catching up with my brother Mark. I figure I could hardly pass Melbourne by without dropping in to share at least one meal and a bottle of red with him (we managed to fit in two). But now, if Sylph and I don’t make tracks and grab the next weather pattern to continue, we would likely be stuck in Port Phillip for at least another week. So, this morning at 0645 I cast off from the Ferguson Street Pier (a great facility for the passing yachtie) and motored out of Williamstown Harbour. Once out in the bay, we set sail and initially were making good about four knots into a gentle SSE breeze, but as the forenoon wore on the breeze faded. At 1030 I tried the code zero but fifteen minutes later we were down to less than two knots - down code zero, on BRM.

Slack water at the Heads is at 1555 and then 2215. Ideally, I would like to make the earlier time because that will give us another six hours in which to make some southing overnight before a strong SW breeze picks up sometime tomorrow afternoon. If I can make about forty miles to the south of Port Phillip then when the strong winds arrive we will be able to bear away to the east to run before it, which will be a lot more comfortable than if we have to close reach along the coast to get around Wilsons Promontory. So we continue to motor until we get to the Heads or the wind picks up sufficiently for Sylph to make good at least four knots.

All is well.