Mixture of motoring and sailing. All sails up in squalls to sail, all sails down to stop flogging in lulls. Squalls were lasting 2 hours now a good bit longer – perhaps we have found the permanent wind. Got out the big reacher yesterday to try and sail in 10 knots of wind but the sight of it chased the wind away – a lot of effort for nothing.

First flying fish on the deck. Should pass Hunter or Matthew in daylight tomorrow. May have to slow down soon to arrive at Port Resolution in the light. Sunrise local time is 06:03 and sunset 17:22.

Position: 24°27’S 172°35’E [-24.451,172.591] at 11:27 GMT+12 , BST 00:27 9th May 24hr run: 124 miles by GPS. 340 miles to Port Resolution, Tanna, Vanuatu. ETA at 5 knots: 06:03 Thurs 12th May Vanuatu Local Time Wind: SE 4 knots Sea: SW swell 3.5m Sky: 90% cloud cover with 15-20 knot squalls in rain showers