Looks more like we will stop at Minerva reef to wait for better weather.  Light head winds followed by strong winds off New Zealand if we go on.  Normally a deserted reef but I suspect with we read the weather as better to stop so will a lot of the other dozen or so boats around us!  ETA for the reef is this time tomorrow.

Would expect to need 2 days at least for weather prospects to change.

Great sail last night with the moon right through to 4:00 am.  Wind is waxing and waning more than usual which leads to adjustments of the windpilot and weather helm.

Position: 22°7’S 177°3’W [-22.121,-177.055] local 16:00, GMT 03:00 1st November 2009
24hr run: 143 miles by GPS
960 miles to Opua, NZ.
Wind: SE 10-16 knots Sea: SW swell 3.0m with other swells on top
Sky:  30% cloud cover.  Wind waxing