Short stop in Noumea

Hi everyone,
We have stopped very briefly in Noumea. The flogging of the early part of the trip from Fiji tore the main sail in 3 places which really needed to be repaired. We are doing that between rain showers now - a big job with sail cloth, gaffer tape and sikaflex! If all goes to plan we will be heading off tomorrow (with luck!). Our extra crew have decided to leave us here as the motion of the ocean did not quite agree! Loretta was an amazing help in some very ordinary conditions. Thank you very very much. All OK though, they are well and comfortable now and even managed to eat some of my scrambled eggs and bacon this morning!

As for family commitments - the great news is that I now have a new neice! She shares Peter's birthday (18th) and is really far more important than a sailing trip. From Peter and I, a very big congratulations to Martin and Jody (more Jody really!). Jody - you won the race! Can't wait to get home and find out more, and maybe even plan a trip to see my new relative. Such big news was great to have out here!!

For those weather watchers - yes, we know about the low pressure system just to our west. The plan is to head out and see what happens! Perhaps run a bit south and then across the front of it and back into the trade winds. The wind for the past few days has been awesome - 20 to 35 knots of wind, giving us a constant 10 to 12 knots! If we can get back into that grove after leaving here - Australia is about 4 days away!...if the sikaflex dries!

Our French is not very good, but the people seem nice and our short stopover should be enjoyable. Peter just found the last 2 Corona's, so we are having a belated birthday drink for him. So got to stop an get on with that. Catch you all very soon in Aust.

Just out of interest...Chiefmakembigfire - is that you Benny? If not we are confused.