Noon Position: 34 28.6 S 150 57.6 E
Course: N Speed: 3.6 knots
Wind: NE, F4 moderate breeze
Sea state: 3 - slight Swell: NE 1 meters
Weather: overcast, mild
Day’s run: 106 nm sailed, 57 nm made good

It has been a long 24 hours, with variable conditions and a near constant two knots of adverse current.

We made reasonable progress during the afternoon, with the code zero set to a gentle E’ly allowing us to average close to five knots despite the current. In the late afternoon we reached Cape St George, the southern headland of the promontory sticking out into the Tasman Sea behind which lies the magnificent Jervis Bay. Here the wind faded and the current strengthened so we motored for a short while until the wind freshened again allowing us to continue sailing.

It took us five hours to get past Jervis Bay, which is not unusual as the current tends to accelerate about a knot around this jutting headland. At midnight we were clear into the Shoalhaven Bight and were able to crack sheets a little to the freshening breeze. By this stage we had changed the code zero for the working jib and put a precautionary reef in the main as there were some rain cells about; I did not want them to catch us unawares on a dark moonless night. This ended up proving an unnecessary precaution, for by 0300 the wind had faded to force two and we found ourselves flopping around in a short swell from the NE, going nowhere. For the remainder of the night, we motored when there was not enough wind to maintain steerage way and sailed whenever the breeze allowed. We made very little progress in the right direction but at least we avoided going backwards.

This forenoon at last a decent breeze has filled in, force four from the NE, a headwind but at least it allows us to sail.

The forecast is for the wind to go light and variable tonight, so a repeat performance of last night, with more motoring required. It is only forty miles to Sydney Heads but I expect it will take a further 24 hours to make this final leg.

With light variable conditions, adverse current, lumpy seas, and only short periods of favourable winds, I think this has been the most difficult passage I have completed between Adelaide and Sydney, and I have lost count of how often Sylph and I have travelled this route.

As ever, we press on.

All is well.