Whales!

Dear all,

The subject says it all, today we were graced by a pod of whales, most
likely humpbacks, but they didn't come too close. It was lovely to them is
there natural environment, graceful and undisturbed apart from some sailors
from the UK! Even better to see some live whales after a close encounter
(almost T-boning) with a dead whale floating on the surface a few nights ago
at twilight. These were the first whales we have seen in over 17,000 miles
of sailing apart from the snorkelling trip to the Great Barrier Reef!

We have less than 700 miles to go after a superb sail through the night,
beam reaching with full main and yankee, touching 7 - 8 knots most of the
night. Now the wind has shifted to the East and died leaving a moderate
swell that just knocks the wind out of the sails, So we have resorted to
motor sailing with the genoa and yankee poled out. The sound of the main
sail crashing from side to side was so bad we had to take it down!

Our position at noon today was 12 44S, 108 47E

Take care,

Lots of Love,
Ocean Lady