News Updates:
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Dec. 4^th 2008
Message received 03:08:52 GMT, Dec. 4^th
Dear Terry, I do not think my last e-mail went through as I have not had a confirmation in my system. We arrived safely in Langkawi around 1350 on the 2nd. December. All papers cleared. Three crew flew out Wednesday to their homes in Papua New Guinea. Vincent, Australian will fly out probably tomorrow as he has hurt his knee. I will put a longer e-mail together a.s.a.p. Cheers Helen.
Dec. 1^st 2008
Position 1200 hours Dec. 1^st ,Latitude 06.1104°N. Longitude 98.2122°E. 80.6 NM
Calmer weather not much shipping traffic in Malacca Strait as we near the west coast of Malaysia. About 24 hrs to go. All is well, cheers Helen
Nov. 30^th 2008
Message received 04:59:44 GMT, 30^th Nov.
Position 1200 hours Nov. 30^th ,Latitude 06.059°N. Longitude 97.0097°E. 92.1 NM
Lousy weather, rain, no visibility. Only approx. 40hrs to go.
All is well, Cheers Helen.
Nov. 29^th 2008
Message received 05:11:37 GMT, 29^th Nov.
Position 1200 hours Nov. 29^th ,Latitude 05.5885°N. Longitude 95.2996°E. 101.6 NM
Now heading east across Malacca Strait. Squally weather thunderstorms high seas. A group of 8 boats approached this morning around 0900. Seven of them were overtaken by high seas and detered any boarding attempt. Also they were probably at their limit of fuel usage. We are out of Indonesian waters now and averagng around 5knts. All is well, Cheers Helen.
Nov. 28^th 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. 28^th ,Latitude 04.4472°N. Longitude 95.0270°E. 139.7 NM
Weather much calmer and our mileage increasing for 24hrs everyone anxious to get to shore in Langkawi. Thanks for the news. Yes my sailmail failed about 3 weeks ago. Obama president! Tough times ahead? Thank goodness we do not have to go anywhere near Bangkok. There is a great deal of piracy occuring in the Gulf of Aden, particularly from Somalia. We have also been warned of pirates, Singapore Straits Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea, Top end Malacca Straits, Indonesia and more off African coast, Kenya and Tanzania. Our route does not take us near any of these areas other than the top end of Sumatra which we are now approaching (Banda Ache) The locals are in conflict with their government over independence! All is well, Cheers, Helen.
Nov. 27^th 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. 27^th ,Latitude 03.0851°N. Longitude 95.1443°E. 76.9 NM
With adverse winds, currents and seas we are making very slow progress. ETA Langkawi now Tuesday Dec 2 '08. All is well Cheers, Helen.
Nov. 26^th 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. 26^th ,Latitude 01.5968°N. Longitude 95.5186°E. 78 NM
Wind has abated but have not picked up speed yet !!
Terry: We wish you both a very happy 48th Wedding Anniversary. Kick up your heels and pop the bubbly. We will toast you both "When the sun is over the yard-arm"
Who won the American Presidency race? Won't make any difference to us here, but just curious! Love and best wishes. Helen and Ron.
Nov. 25^th 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. Nov. 25^th ,Latitude 00.5302°N. Longitude 96.3416°E. 106 NM
Crossed the equator 1825 hrs, 24/11/08. Special meal tonight Rough seas, high winds on the bow. Hoping to do better when winds abate a little. All is well. Cheers Helen
Nov. 24^th 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. Nov. 24^th ,Latitude 00.2405°S. Longitude 97.2344°E. 68 NM
Slow voyaging into strong headwinds and swell. Expect to cross equator about midnight 24/11/08. To be celebrated with a special dinner 25th Nov. All is well Cheers, Helen
Nov. 23^rd 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. Nov. 23^rd , Latitude 01.3203°S. Longitude 98.1028°E. 87 NM
Motoring into headwinds and high swell, 127nm to equator All is well Cheers Helen
Nov. 22^nd 2008
Position 1200 hours Nov. 22^nd , Latitude 02.4208°S. Longitude 99.0269°E. 124 NM
Passing south of Sipura island off Sumatra. Into the wind again and losing speed. All is well. Cheers Helen
Nov. 21^st 2008
Position 1200 hours 21^st , Latitude 04.1815°S. Longitude 100.1876°E. 105 NM
Wind has abated and we are back to the speed we want to try to meet ETA. All is well Cheers Helen
Nov. 20^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 20^th, Latitude 05.3264°S. Longitude 101.3653°E. 89.7 NM
Just passing Salat Sanding on west coast of Sumatera. Strong winds and swell, a bit behind in our ETA Langkawi.
All is well, cheers Helen
Nov. 19^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 19^th, Latitude 06.2604°S. Longitude 102.4945°E. 118.9 NM
Cooler weather, Cyclone Anika south of us heading East/south east 12knts. away from us.
All is well. Cheers Helen
Nov. 18^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 18^th, Latitude 07.3434°S. Longitude 104.2416°E. 138 NM
Rain and overcast as we pass south of Sunda Strait, all is well, cheers Helen.
Nov. 17^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 17^th, Latitude 08.1627°S. Longitude 106.3840°E. 137 NM
Still heading for Sunda Strait 137 NM to go. Wet and
cloudy but the rain is welcome as it cools the deck down.
All is well. Helen.
Nov. 16^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 16^th, Latitude 08.5705°S. Longitude 108.5197°E. 134 NM
Still sailing south of Java towards southwest Sumatra. Another 24 hours.
Overcast and sultry moderate seas light S.E. winds.
All is well. Cheers Helen

Nov. 15^th 2008
Message received 04:28:47 GMT 15^th. .
Position 1200 hours 15^th, Latitude 09.3569°S. Longitude 111.0217°E. 134 NM
ETA 12.75 days, eg. 28/11/08 0600 hrs. Hot, humid, moderate seas.
All is well. Cheers, Helen
Nov. 14^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 14^th, Latitude 10.1229°S. Longitude 113.0883°E. 126.3 NM (5.7 knts)
Thundery showers, rain. Quite cooling on decks and below. All is well Cheers Helen
Nov. 13^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 13^th, Latitude 10.4751°S. Longitude 115.1377°E. 157.3 NM
Light winds, humidity lower. Still motoring and averaging 5.93. Even if we hoisted sail, we may not go faster -
and could even go slower!! All is well, Cheers Helen
Nov. 12^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 12^th, Latitude 11.0290°S. Longitude 117.5583°E. 150 NM
Just passing south of the Lombok Straits. All is well
Cheers Helen.
Nov. 11^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 11^th, Latitude 11.1553°S. Longitude 120.3202°E. 167.6 NM
This was a 25 hr day as we turned the clocks this morning (we are now equal to Perth, Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, HongKong time). All is well, a slight breeze not quite so humid. Cheers Helen.
Nov. 10^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 10^th, Latitude 11.2502°S. Longitude 123.1694°E. 138.8 NM
Passing just below west end of Timor. All is well. Cheers, Helen.
Nov. 9^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 9^th, Latitude 11.2091°S. Longitude 125.3837°E. 126.8 NM
We are passing over the top of far Western Australia.
All is well. Helen.
Nov. 8^th 2008
Position 1200 hours 8^th, Latitude 11.0768°S. Longitude 127.4879°E. 134.6 NM
Coming across the top of Bonepart Gul. All is well.
Helen.
Nov. 7^th '08.
Position 1200 hours 7^th, Latitude 10.4791°S. Longitude 130.0222°E. 125 NM
Just passed over the top of Melville Island - Cape Van Diemen, Very hot and humid, sea like glass, all is well.
Helen.
Nov. 6^th '08.
Position 1200 hours 6^th, Latitude 10.4066°S. Longitude 132.0871°E. 132.5 NM
Nearly over the top of Darwin (Northern Territory) at this position 1200 hours our time (GMT 0326) 132.5 NM. covered for the previous 24hours. The weather on route is so hot and humid. We have large fans running everywhere. Ron and I have A/C in our dining room but the small one in our quarters failed just after it was bought in Suva, Fiji (Good Chinese workmanship !!) Crew have made themselves a Club Med. area fore and aft. Well deck, salt water shower, hammocks and temporary awnings. Aft deck awnings and hammocks. Hammocks were made for Pacific crossing but crew found the ship motion in a hammock made them sick. Here, sea calm. Trust all goes well. Helen
Nov. 5^th '08.
Position 1200 hours 5^th , Latitude 10.4902°S. Longitude 134.2487°E. 132 NM
Crossing the top of Arnhem Land. All is well.
Helen.
Nov. 3^rd '08.
Position 1200 hours 3^rd, Latitude 10.4760°S. Longitude 139.0336°E. 131.5 NM
Crossing top of Gulf of Carpentaria. Hot humid weather, calm seas no wind. All is well.
Helen
Nov. 2^nd '08.
Position 1200 hours 2^nd, Latitude 10.4494°S. Longitude 141.1563°E. 148 NM for 24 hours
All is well. We have transversed the Torres Strait, exiting around 0500 this morning.
Helen.
Thurs. Oct. 30^th '08.
We sailed from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 0900 on the 30^th October 2008. All the usual blips and problems but are now on our way to the entrance to the Torres Straits. Our position in Port Moresby 09.2857° S. 147.0863°E. our current position 09.2281°S. 145.3191°E. We should reach Bramble Cay - Bligh Entrance - to the Torres Strait later today if we maintain our speed. We have a mixed nationality crew again : Two from Fiji, One from Vanuatu, Three from Papua New Guinea, three Australians which includes us, nine in total. I will send the position each night as this e-mail by MF HF radio is less busy in the evening.
Trust all's well. Helen and Ron.

News Update:
Sat. Jun. 30^th '07.
Message received 09:46:47 BST 30th.
Arrived safely in Suva harbour 10:30. All is well. Barbeque this evening with celebratary drinks. Cheers Helen.
Jun. 29^th '07.
Position 1200 hours 29th, Latitude 19.2°S. Longitude 177.58°E. 90 NM
ETA at Suva now around 1200 30/06/07. All is well. Weather now calm. Cheers Helen.
Jun. 28^th '07.
Position 1200 hours 28th, Latitude 21.05°S. Longitude 178.146°E. 115 NM
ETA Suva 0800 Sat. 30/06/09. A rough day again today. Abating around 2000. All is well. Cheers Helen.
Jun. 27^th '07.
Position 1200 hours 27th, Latitude 23.03°S. Longitude 178.02°E. 125 NM
All is well. Clay pidgeon target shooting on deck today. Thanks for news on NZ challenge for Cup. We wait with bated breath!! Cheers Helen.
Jun. 26^th '07.
Position 1200 hours 26th, Latitude 25.06°S. Longitude 177.41°E. 94 NM
All is well. Two large Dorado fish just pulled in. Most important: What is the latest on the America's Cup Races? NewZealanders on board desperate to know if they have two races in hand against the Yanks. Cheers Helen.