68 1928 Yacht "France" Jan 1st cloudy and passing showers, with moderate breeze in fore-noon. Increasing to fresh breeze and squally in afternoon. from Position Lat 3°51'S, long 154°27'E. wind very variable and strong squalls in night, necessitating frequent shortening of sail. Beating to SW all the time. Jan 2 Dull, overcast and rain, wind variable in direction and force. from Position 3°17'S, 154°47'E, a strong NNE current had set us to this position. Sighted the Uganis (Goodman Is) at 1 P.M. and also Table Isl later. Beating to the SW against variable winds and heavy rain showers. Jan 3 Similar weather conditions continue. In Beck away in small boat shooting sea birds all morning. from Position 3°38'S, 154°43'E, the island (Goodman) in sight all day. Light SW breeze but no rain to day. Jan 4 Balm and light variable Southerly to SW by airs, fine and clear. In Beck away with small boat shooting birds. from Position 3°11'S, 154°59'E Jan 5 In Beck away again in late afternoon. Weather conditions remain as yesterday. from Position 3°4'S, 155°18'E In Beck away after sea birds during the day. Jan 6 Balm and light airs, a light northerly breeze started in the fore-noon. from Position Lat 3°18'S, long 154°55'E Goodman Isl of the Uganis group was a beam as 6 P.M. / 20m distant: the light northerly continued all night. Vessel pumped out daily as required. 69 Yacht "France" Jan 7 Light, but steady, northerly breeze. a moderate NE swell makes the vessel roll a lot. Steering south for New Id. from Position 3°56½, 154°51'E Jan 8 Wind freshened up at midnight and by 2 P.M. was blowing strong, reefed mainsail and outer jib. At daylight Buka Isl lat SE and bearing to the northward. Wind falling light. Started the engine at 8 A.M. and ran it till 12/30 P.M. Steering for the south of New Ireland. Breeze fell away again, so started the engine at Jan 9 2/30 A.M. and steered for Cape St George. at daylight at 6 A.M. Breeze started again at sunrise from SW and rapidly increased to gale force. close reefed fore sail and main sail and stood to the SW. Vessel plunging and labouring in a rough cross sea. Making a lot of water in this weather. At noon we were 20 miles south of C. St George. Shook out the reefs at noon, weather looking much better, but had to take them in again at 4 P.M. Steering in towards the coast of New Britain the wind easing up after 6 P.M. Jan 10 1 A.M. tacked ship to northward. The wind increased again at sunrise and ship driving into head sea. C. St George in sight, weather low at dawn, so we are making little headway. At noon the cape was to windward of us, which gave us fairly smooth water, the wind falling light all afternoon and finally ceased. Started the engine at 5/30 P.M. and steered for Lanisso Bay and anchored at 7 P.M. in Lavina Bay in 14 fms. A fine night, some strong puffs over the land. Vessel pumped out daily, or hourly as required