34 TUES. 3 MARCH, 1953 ON DECK AT 6:15 A.M. TUBUAI ISLAND IN SIGHT, BEARING 270° AT 6:30 A.M. LAT. 23°-23' S LONG. 149° 26' W. 5 MI. LONG (E+W) 3 MI. WIDE. WELL WOODED. MT. TAITA 1309' (E.END) TONARUTU 1024' (S.W. END) SAILING DIRECTIONS (VOL.II 1940) POP. 500. BARRIER REEF, PARTLY SUBMERGED, SURROUND ISLAND. THE AUSTRAL ISLANDS ARE A SCATTERED GROUP OF 5 ISLANDS - FRINGING CORAL REEFS 335 MILES DUE SOUTH OF TAHITI. 7 PEAKS AT WEST END OF ISLAND. SOME REMIND ME OF THE GLASSHOUSE MTs. NEAR BRISBANE WITH THEIR FANTASTIC SHAPES. SOME GOOD DUCK HAWK CLIFFS. LAT. 23°-35' S; 150°-23' W COURSE - VARIOUS DIST. 364 ST. T. 24 H. AV. SP. 15.16 KT. WIND VAR. 1-2 SEA - LOW SWELL S T.T. 12 D 17 H 35 M. TO BRISBANE 3088 MI., FROM BALDOR 4647 2:15 P.M. 6 TROPIC BIRDS (WH.T.?) 11:15 A.M. WH. BELLIED, DARK HEADED + UPPER-PARTS PETREL (MED. TO LARGE), OFF TUBUAI; 2 TROPIC BIRDS, 3 LONG-WINGED + TAILED BIRDS SLOW GRACEFUL FLYERS - COULD BE FRIGATE BIRDS - LOW OVER WATER PART OF TIME - SOME SAILING (NOT TERNS). SEVERAL LARGE FLYING FISH BROKE OFF BOW (10-12") BRILLIANT DEEP BLUE, WHITISH WINGS. 2:45 ANOTHER PETREL (AS ABOVE) WH. STRIPE EXTENDS FAR OUT ON UNDER SUR- FACE OF WINGS.