July 13

Throughout the night we had wind in the 10-16k range from the ESE. By 3am the wind had diminished to 10-11k and our speed was down to about 5k. By 5am the wind was only 7-8k and we started the motor and began to motor sail.,

At 7am conditions remain the same with the wind from the SSE or even South at 7 to 9k. We are motor sailing with the sheets close hauled and making 5-6k over the ground. We are hoping the wind comes back to the SE or ESE as our speed is poor now. Seas have calmed down quite a bit and the swell is about 3-4ft from the SE so at least we are more comfortable. Skies are mostly clear with patches of clouds visible in all directions. If we cannot increase or speed significantly soon it is unlikely we will arrive before Friday night.

At noon conditions are fine with clear blue skies and no clouds. Hardly a cloud can be seen in the sky anywhere, except far to the North. Wind remains calm at 7-9k from the ESE and we continue to motor sail at 7k over ground in calm seas.

At 11pm conditions remain fine. Wind is 8-10k from the ESE and seas are very calm. The sky is clear and no cloud cover is evident except to the North. Forecasts for Thursday (tomorrow) from the Australia Bureau of Meteorology call for winds of 10/15 from the East/Southeast North of 15 degrees South (we are currently at 14S) and 5/15k from the NE or NW South of 15S. Cairns is at 17S. We should reach 15 degrees South in another 10 hours so we are expecting calm conditions to continue with a possibility of wind shifting to the NE or even to the NW over the next day. We now expect to reach the GBR between Noon and 3pm on Friday. Cairns is another 33 miles or 6-7 hours farther, so we will most likely arrive after dark.