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Koala - 4th Dec: Whale, did you see that!?



We were having a fun morning this morning trying to get the boat to sail down wind in 4-6 knots of breeze and a 1m cross swell when we finally decided that our (virtually insignificant) VMG may be slightly better on the other gybe, so we busied ourselves with setting up the boat for the gybe. It's a bit of a palaver what with poled out genoa and preventers on the main etc. Just as we finally rolled into the gybe, we looked out at the patch of water that we would have been in if we had not gybed, only to see a group of about 3 whales sleeping, sunbathing, or enjoying some kind of love in on the surface about a boat-length and a half away! I'm not sure what type they were, but they were not particularly massive. I would guess at Minke whales. They seemed perfectly happy, although I am not sure what response we would have had if we had ploughed straight through their little gathering! By the time I had finished the gybe and made it down the companionway and back with the camera, I think our photographic evidence is going to be a little weak, but hey, it was quite an experience!

Last nights supper was a great success. Best meal of the voyage yet I think. Flat breads, dhall, and a tomato and onion curry. Didn't manage a beer with it as you can only hold on to one thing at a time and by the time we had finished eating, neither of us had any room for beer.

The night shift started well but got a bit light and slatty and bangy towards the end, so sleep was not great. Our good progress yesterday afternoon with the assymetric meant that even with the light winds overnight we had a daily run of about 100 miles. We are going to be struggling to get anywhere near that today unless some wind appears from somewhere soon. Although there is a current of 0.3 knots out here today apparently, which is worth 7.2 miles for the 24 hours. It all counts!

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