Finally! Nasdaq finished our Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint early this afternoon - possibly the slowest sprint ever. Those 4 degrees (240nm) of latitude, which would have been a good day's run in a straight line and favourable conditions, actually took us 2.5 days and 350nm of slow tacking and drifting thanks to light winds or head winds and the stupid East Australian stupid Current.
The wind had slowly built overnight so that we needed to reduce sail in the rising sea state, and keep all the hatches closed resulting in the full sweatbox effect in the accommodation.
Along the way this morning, as we were avoiding the current by hugging the coast, we were at least treated to a show: The Gold Coast Dolphin Display Team was out rehearsing their next performance. After balancing beach balls on their noses and some throw-and-catch, it was time for some acrobatics: forward and reverse somersaults out of the wave tops, then two adults held up a flaming hoop between them for a juvenile dolphin in an Elvis costume to leap through. Unbelievable stuff!
Otherwise life onboard Nasdaq continues as normal: somebody found yet another Christmas cake stashed away in a galley locker this morning, so the Marie Antoinette diet continues. Everybody is looking forward to arrival in Airlie Beach, where we can crack on with the jobs list before getting some downtime.
Cheers,
Rob.