0330hrs 29 July 2003 UTC: 02S27, 176W44

Course 215T, speed 6kts, wind E12, swell E 1m, sea temp 25.3C, In/Out temp 31/30C. What joy, the South Pacific has turned it on for us at last. Fast and easy we speed across a very wide, blue expanse under a few puffy white clouds. Last night was fabulous, cooler with brilliant stars - there was the southern cross to welcome us back to our home hemisphere. We have just 3 weeks total sailing to get home and 420nm to go to Tuvalu.