On route now to New Caledonia. Will probably stop at Lifou Island today. We need to have daylight and correct tide with us to enter Havannah pass on route for checking in at the capital of Noumea.

Weather has amused us. Big banks of clouds and then strong sunshine. 20-25 knots of wind for an hour or so and then 12 to 17 knots for the next few hours. Sometimes stronger wind coincides with cloud coverage. 1 knot of current from the west and then 1 knot from the SE. Keeps us on our toes.

Moon is certainly waning. Only just rose before sunrise at 5:30. Its crescent shape looks like a very comfortable hammock for the man in the moon to swing gently in – typical of the tropics and reflects the layback approach here!

Making excellent progress will have just the one night at sea.

We are told we might see whales. Some sightings by boats in Vanuatu.

It was sad saying goodbye to Vanuatu, we felt quite one of the family when we left. Position: 20°23’S 167°14’E [-20.38,167.23] at 07:30 GMT+11 , BST 20:40 26th August 24hr run: 168 miles by GPS; 170 by log. 34 miles to Lifou, New Caledonia. ETA at 5 knots: 14:13 Sat 27th August Local Time Wind: ESE 15 knots Sea: SE swell 1.5m Sky: 0% cloud cover at the moment