We're approaching the Dundas Strait, which will take us to Darwin tomorrow morning. We've had a terrific trip from Gove, especially last night when we had a truly magical meeting with a family of dolphins. It was a gorgeous night with a cloudless sky and wonderful silvery moon: there was unbelievable blue phosphorescence in the water. We were sailing happily along at about 5 knots (only 5 because the Dundas Strait is a critical tidal gate which one must time accurately) and Mie was asleep in the saloon (we 'hot-bunk' when on passage, a peculiarly accurate term!) when she was woken up by the squeaks and clicks of dolphins heard through Hygeia's hull, something we've rarely noticed before.

There on the starboard side, outlined occasionally by the phosphorescence, was a family of 4 or 5 dolphins - not at the bow, not at the stern, but directly in front of us as we looked over the edge of the cockpit, literally three feet away. They were playing and gambolling and showing off to us, and clearly aware that we were all participating. Every now and then one of them would jump right out of the water and smack down into the sea, I'm sure trying to splash us, which they did. This all went on for about half an hour, and we were absolutely gob-smacked. When they left they left us with a tremendous feeling of happiness.

We arrive in Darwin circa 1000 tomorrow - we'll be up all night negotiating our way through the rather complicated route in through the islands.