Sorry everyone. Bill arrived 0300 on Wed 28th February. I drove from Out Of The Bag at Maryborough arriving at Port Of Bundaberg about midday expecting formalities would be over only to find that Customs Officers had not arrived until 11a.m. I sat with Bill while Customs went on with their procedures. The sniffer dogs were on Moonlight and became a bit interested in a bag we have had for many years while travelling. The dogs were likely confused by all the smells associated with the grungy down at heel looking bag. Apart from that all was good onboard, although I am still sweeping up dog hairs from their time onboard. Wednesdays the Quarantine Officer does not work so at about 3pm Bill was escorted back down to Moonlight on the Quarantine Dock by the Customs Officers and I had to drive back an hour and three quarters to Maryborough. On Thursday 1st March I drove back up to Port Of Bundaberg arriving at 11a.m as the Quarantine Officer was just finishing up. Then it was the turn of Wayne whose job it is to prepare the paperwork to import Moonlight into Australia. Finally we were able to relax on Moonlight and catch up

at 1700 abeam of Cato Reef

COG 253 True

SOG 6.6 knots

Distance to Go 192 All Good Onboard

AT 1500 the Coast Watch plane, Border Force boys, over flew Moonlight and called Bill on the VHF Radio. Bill said it was good to see them. Shorty afterwards a big squall passed over leaving west winds behind.Probably good to speak to someone too after a solitary week at sea.

Good sailing conditions overnight.

COG 240 True

SOG 4.8k

Been lots of work in light conditions main up, main down, main up, down up, to reduce flogging of main in light conditions and seas. No doubt Bill will be tired by all exercise.

COG 240 True

SOG 4.9 knots

Motoring since 0400

All Well onboard

Moonlight at 1800 Sunday 25th is now in Australian Waters.

COG 250 True

SOG 4k

Slow sail, short chop making sails flog. Annoying and hard to sleep

Distance to Go 311 nm

Lovely day of sailing

COG 240 True

SOG 5 knot

22 nm to belona Reef

DTG 420 at 1800 24th Feb

COG 258True

SOG 5k

Distance to Go DTG 548

Sailing

All well onboard AWOB

COG 260

SOG 5.5k

Reaching speeds 7k overnight

Clear skies

Distance to go 607nm

Reaching comfortably

AGOB

Wind dropped at 0400 left shitty seas.

COG 260 True

SOG 4 knot

0700 24th Feb Distance to go 479 Motoring

Best speed overnight 7.1 knots

Every mono's dread zephyr wind, big swells with short chop on top

COG 260 degrees True

SOG 4.5 k

Distance to Way Point off Bundaberg 790

Bil was motoring at the time of report, sails up and down all day again No wind at time.

All Well Onboard

Course over the ground 266 degrees

Speed over ground 4k

Sailed overnight headsail only to stop main flopping flogging around

67nm to Petrie Reef

126nm to Grande Pass

Should clear New Caledonia reef area (over top of New Cal) late Thursday.

All good onboard

0700 local time Bill reported

COG 259 True

SOG 4 knots

Motoring with gentle breeze starting to fill in

All Well onboard

Distance to Waypoint 731

Last night when he passed Petrie Reef there were big overfalls and a current against him 3knots, it was bit rough and spooky as it is New Moon so pitch dark difficult to see anything. Conditions settled when he had passed the reef.

Been motor sailing most of day, very hot. Tried ever sail combination to catch any wind assistance. Probably pleased sun has gone down.

At 0600 Aus Eastern standard time, that means Qld time

COG 256

SOG been averaging 4 knots in light NE during night. Currently Westerly wind

Seas 1/2 metre smooth

Distance to Bundaberg 950m

Squalls light up to 12 knots

We were towed on to a mooring this afternoon in shallow water off Irriki Resort where it is very calm and sheltered, as the engine will run, which we are grateful for for the charging of the batteries, but it will not go into gear. No it is not the gear box apparently according to Vijay the mechanic. He will dive on the prop tomorrow as he thinks it is a problem between the stainless prop and the bronze propellor corroded connections. He will be here at ten a.m. tomorrow so we’ll know more then. He says he will use a net in the event that he drops something. In the meantime Bill is having a lovely messy time servicing the winches -he’s onto the third one - but he’s pleased with how they run after he’s cleaned them up. He has two to go.

Anchored Port Vila at 1500 local time.

Pooped!

31 days, 4 hrs 3026nm (divide by 31 days....hmmm... slow!)

Probably had fireworks here last night, darn.

Lovely sail today.

Beaut sunrise first day of the year!

Sailing down wind poles out headsail Bill off watch probably suggest spinnaker when he comes up.

18nm to end of Efate then 20 up to Port Vila.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all. We trust it will be a good one full of health, happiness, good times, family and friends!

Much love Bill & Gene

240nm from Port Vila

FYI hand steering only.

Thurs am early bracket holds new u beaut auto pilot attach very dodgy way, came loose...sigh... no indication til failed. Will be straight forward repair. Meantime exhausting job steering esp since lots rain and wind.

AWOB

End week 4 not too flash

Going nowhere 2days Xmas & Boxing Day

Total week 480nm worst day -4nm!

Wind arrived Wednesday pm in 18hrs did 216nm

Moonlite sails well in wind

Heading 220T ENE 8k

Squalls about lots lovely rain this am

Gonna stop Port Vila, Vanuatu then whooska says weather guru Mark, Aus

Wind again end 27th day

Wind SE10k 5.5k seas 1m 80%cloud

Course 236T

Going to stop Port Vila Vanuatu

Lovely night, gentle breeze

6k

Moonlit water, stars, calm sea,

Listening to Xmas music on radio national NZ

Watching for Santa.

Love to all

Merry Christmas to Alana, Ahlia, Juliette, Margaret & Kevin, Simon & Kirsten, Cooper n Pippa.

Merry Christmas to Ben & Lucie, Renee, Emily, Eloise & Joseph, Marcelle & Max, Maija, Amelia & Aria. Claire & Rob, kids & grandkids.

Merry Christmas to all the lovely friends near and far, wish we were there to share the prawns n ice cold beer. See you soon.

Gene n Bill

End week 3 21 days + 28 days from Panama

Ghastly week. 515nm but kept away from low.

Last few days squal lots wind, rain.

Sunny now, hatches open.

Lay 'a hull' last night n drifted 12nm probably more than sailed during the day.

Quite comfy.

Sailing nicely now.

3.2nm to date line.

COG 225 SOG 6.2k NNW 18k 1.5m seas

75% cloud

1750 to Bundy

Diabolical night. Heaps of rain n wind.

Pouring rain not a breath of wind.

Good overnight, no squall then 1 massive shower

Progress slow yesterday squalls n lulls all day.

50k in 1 but short duration

End 18th day out of Marq

2123 astern

Slow progress trying our patience but necessary as low below us affecting wind

Consistent wind NNW direction, strength up n down.

No squalls, 1 rain shower.

AWOB

Plenty food water gas to cook but wish for landfall Aust.

Looking Nth cloud higher lighter thinner. Looking Sth cloud darker thicker esp on horizon.

Last night lots of stars, wonder if be the same tonight. Hope so.

00 00 UTC 14/12

End of week 2

COG 273 SOG4k, slow!

10% cloud, less than 1m seas

Weeks distance 871nm

Due North of Tokelau by 100nm

Enjoy the school holidays!

End of day 9 passing above Northen Cooks.

NNE8k managing 4.9-5k despite light breeze.

Hot sunny

AWOB

Long way to go yet

End week 1 out marq.

Week run 962nm

Thanks Sue n Brian 4 message

Congratulations Renee Hons 2018

Had to slow down, reduce sail. big following sea was uncomfortable. Better now tho.

Check Sth n West of us 25nm Karoraina Island.

Explains the birds.

4700m deep here

266T 6k ENE

1738 to go

Underway 24hrs @ 11 11 utc 2pm local 1 dec.

266T 6k, E18 2m seas 10% cloud

distance to next way point off Samoa 2155

Daily run 156

Anchor down!

27days 4hrs 50mins

Interesting scenery

Small village

Checking in and resting!

299nm to go but wind eased overnight. Progress a tad slow but as it is only Wednesday morning we should make Friday eta.

Last 4 days 166, 166, 161

wind died at sunset, veered NE before midnight gybed, last 24hr 136nm

Wind return breakfast.

255T

6.5-7k

437nm

Looking forward to getting to Nuku for wifi & emails, fresh fruit & veg and a still bed to sleep in!

End Week 3 total 1100nm av 157/day.

Pos at 1900 18.11.17 5d54.3S 125d15.5W

COG 255T SOG 8.6k E 22/22k 1.5-2m swell 10% cloud

900 to Nuku

Daily run 166

Sailing wind on wing

Reef hail & main

AWOB

Bacon n egg blast chased eggs round pan

Difficult to sleep, good speed but rolling, noisy in follow sea.

Seas really testing

Some good 2.5m and why is it always has to be a rogue one closer to 3m! Just when think need to take another reef they soften off again.

1900 UTC 15th Nov,AWOB - All Well On Board

1547 to go

Dreaming of Steak!

At the end of 15days COG 251 T SOG 7.3k Wind SE 12k

Past halfway 1850nm

AWOB All Well On Board

Not much sunscreen used this trip. It's cool out here.

Interesting fact : after 2 weeks OOTB 1860nm Moonlight 1800nm but on week 3 OOTB did 1500nm! Not sure Moonlight can match that!

Happy 17th bday Hazel. Happy 71st bday Bill.

Long lazy swells, light SSE breeze, spinnaker flying. Clouding over again...sigh.

2257 to go a end of 12th day

1900 UTC

Thanks for all the bday wishes. Bill got peppermint chocolate & red wine.

Thanks Mark for weather update we look forward to a good run next week. Hope we make sweet spot. LOL

Slow night, breeze died down, not much this morning either.

Back to doing 7k

11th nite out finally clouds gone. You should see the stars, sky absolutely clear. Very bright stars shining path on sea. Stunning. Will Cross equator tomorrow!

1900 UTC 6th Nov 2017

COG 250 T

SOG 7

wind SSE 15k

1-1.5m seas

70% cloud, finally some sun.

AWOB (All Well On Board)

Day run 155. Current with us now for 2 days instead of against.

2745 nm nuku hiva

FYI crochet going well.

Awob

UTC 1900 3/11/17 4deg 09.61 N 88 D 38.89 W

COG 251 T SOG 5.6k

Wind S 18k 1m seas 100% cl last 4 days

3176nm Nuku Hiva

All well onboard. 2137 UTC 1537 Saturday 28th Oct Panama time

Anchored behind the Protection of Amador Causeway. Moonlight had green fur on water line from Shelter Bay marina and many fish yesterday eating it all way. Boobies would dive down with a great splash right beside us after the fish. Big noise. Lots of fun. They dive quite deep. A few fishing pelicans too. I love the way they hit the water in a steep dive and bob up very quickly cos of their fat body. There is a new dingy dock now at Isla Perico for getting ashore. Huge improvement from last year when we tried to stay dry getting ashore after tieing the dingy to a rickety collection of floating polystyrene platforms, half sunken dinghies, and a few drums cobbled together. It was a miracle if you kept your balance and your feet dry. The anchorage area is called Las Brisas (breezes). There are a lot of local boats, yachts, fishing boats, big posh charter boats and work boats in the area. There is a bus service or you can take a taxi to the city via the Causeway.

We are at The Flats. We are the only boat here at the moment. It is ten thirty p.m. Wednesday. The Measurer is coming tomorrow to measure and inspect Moonlight. We arrived in the dark. We have been here a few times before, twice with OOTB once to be measured and once to start the process of going through the Canal. Bill did two in Blue Dream as well. Therefore we were familiar with the lay of the land as it where, so coming in with many ships everywhere was not a problem.

Going to The Flats this afternoon, to be measured tomorrow.

Moonlight is just behind the little island you can see. It is a small but very sheltered marina. You can see the marina complex and the dirt road to the little village of Cacique.

Moonlight is sitting at Panamarina at Panama On the Caribbean side waiting for us to arrive, Transit the canal and sail her across the Pacific. Sue and Brian on Sea Rose are right near by, as are George and Rebecca on C-Level and Corrine and Gerwald on Bellatrix are expected any time soon.