Noon position: 38 56.6 S 144 05.8 E
Course: ESE Speed: 5.5 knots
Wind: SSW, F3 gentle breeze
Sea: slight Swell: SW 2 m
Weather: sunny, mild
Day's run: 129 nm

We have enjoyed a pleasant sail since departing Portland. The wind was initially light from the WSW then freshened and backed into the WNW. By early evening we were running with the wind off our starboard quarter, jib poled out to starboard, and by 2000 the wind had freshened to force four, touching five. Expecting a weak front to pass through around midnight, I put a reef in the main. Running with the jib poled out and the wind from the WNW was also pushing us further south than ideal; however, the front would bring SW winds which would then allow us to bear away for Cape Otway without having to gybe.

I awaited a little anxiously for the front's arrival as even weak fronts can have some bursts of gusty winds. At around 0100 some showers announced its imminent arrival and I was relieved when the wind shifted without any fuss into the SW as expected. With the new wind direction, I dropped the pole and set the jib to port, beam reaching to make good a course for Cape Otway.

We passed Cape Otway at 0700, the vestiges of the front having moved on leaving clear sunny skies behind it, and we continue to beam reach, now under full main and jib, to the gentle to moderate SW breeze. I am pleased that I managed to solve Sylph's engine problems, at least for the time being, and that we have been able to continue on our way and make use of the pleasant sailing conditions.

As mentioned in yesterday's post, the forecast is for light variable winds tomorrow and likely Monday as another high pressure system passes over Bass Strait. On Tuesday we are going to have some headwinds for a while, but nothing too uncomfortable (I hope), before a cold front passes through late Tuesday, bringing some strong but favourable winds with it. Our ETA off Twofold Bay remains sometime Thursday or Friday. By next Saturday, the long range forecast is for near gale force winds along the NSW coast, but if we hug the coast they may well prove excellent for making good time towards our destination.

All is well.