The hopes of a second kite run didn’t materialize, the winds were right at the edge of our comfort zone for cruising, racing on some one else’s dollar sure. Oh well, no worries. Still making decent progress with a chicken rig, wing on wing, waiting on the wind to go more east as the sunsets.
What was annoying is now routine. Watching gauges, checking weather, looking for chafe and of course the hunting for what’s broke and we haven’t found it yet.
After end of the sailbag came untied from the topping lift
Napping and munching on snacks are the other part of passages. Christine reads and keeps up on the endless WhatsApp groups all chatting about the conditions and future weather reports.
Second day of collecting samples for citizens of the sea, we drag a collection device and pull in 3 samples that will be analyzed for the health of the ocean. Christine does the actual work I just want to paint eyes on the drogue and use it as a fishing teaser. But alas can’t mix pleasure with science. No we are not fishing on this passage, at least not yet, but I do need to break the bait board in at some point.
Mongolian pork over rice for dinner, new receipt will definitely make the rotation more often.
Wind gods were smiling on us. We pulled out our medium spinnaker and flew it all day long. Such a nice comfortable ride when the kites come out to play.
Well, it wasn’t without drama, cause nothing ever is. I rigged it all up went to hoist the sock and looked and felt wrong, brought it down. Felt like it was twisted or in the sock backwards. Re tied and re tried, still wasn’t right. A few more goes, finally opened it up and yup all twisted up, must have had a hard take down on our way to New Zealand and I forgot about it. So now it’s flying all twisted up, bring it back down, but at least this time I could see where the twist was so, untie and re-worked the lines and voila success at last. Beautiful day.
Normally when we fly a spinnaker it’s always babysitting to make sure the wind cooperates and there are no squalls nearby. Today the skies were overcast and uniform so we were able to relax and let it fly.
We took it down just before the radio check in, they asked what happened to our boat speed.. 😉 we were busy taking a sail down that is the size of a 2000 sq foot house. Slight exaggeration 170m2 is about 1800 sq feet, I take liberties to exaggerate bad math skills. During the radio check in, wouldn’t ya know it a 25 knot rain spritz came along. Perfect timing.
Bbq pulled pork on a bagel for dinner, redneck kosher.
Dark night lots of clouds and the moon doesn’t come out till nearly midnight.
All well on board, not our fastest passage but we are knocking off the miles, under 600 miles to go.
Fingers crossed we can fly again tomorrow but probably not.
The first night done and dusted, bounced as Lionel Richie would say “all night long”. Bits of sleep were had, always takes a bit to get into the swing of making a passage.
You know what makes it all better! BACON! Perfect reward for night one down, also pork products are one of the many things not allowed to be on the ship when we arrive. Bacon McMuffins a great way to start the day, sounds like a Macca’s slogan. ( that is what McDonalds is called in this part of the world, still spelled right just pronounced differently )
All in all a good day, still struggled with current in the morning, shook a reef out of the sail eventually found favorable currents and seas were turning the corner and decided we were going interesting places and start to follow along. Instead of thinking the waves could get us to stay in New Zealand they listened to our story and promise of the perfect baguette,
Lots of naps and staying inside where it’s a bit warmer, with the winds and seas out of the south it’s a bit chilly. Only venturing out a few times per hour to look for pirates or any other possible collision targets. None spotted.
Boat was totally crusted in salt from the previous bashing. Seriously needed a car wash. Read foreshadowing..
Spent the day watching AIS traffic and which boats were leaving and which were staying. With at least 3 professional weather routers and at least 100 boats all trying to get to the tropics, can you guess the common topic and gossip? This time of year, weather opinions trump American politics. Everyone has a “thought” and with being 6 weeks past the end of cyclone season and non normal weather patterns there is too much information. Hard not to get caught up in the heard. Add to the difficulty that leaving NZ is at least a 5 day passage and the weather forecasts are good for about 3 days, the gossip and possibilities about days 4, 5, 6 and beyond adds a the stress of making a passage. The go, no-go choice is always a challenge when it’s not champagne sailing.
Checked into gulf harbor radio with Patricia and Dave at 5:15pm on the SSB. They offer tracking and weather information to the cruising community, and most of all someone else to chat with on long passages.
Spicy Cajun pasta and focaccia bread for dinner after the ham radio net. Christine is getting ready to go to sleep, and asks “should we take in another reef for the night” to which I reply “it’s fine” it’s been a wonderful day. She just got to bed, and the sounds of wind are starting. Where did that squall come from? 35 knots of driving rain, I get soaked reducing the head sail and running even further downwind. Needless to say we took the reef for the night. And boat got was it deserved.
While we did have the radar alarms on, they were set for looking ahead of the boat, but since we were now going the same direction as the weather the alarms need to look behind too. Fixed now, after the surprise of course.
Cheers all well on board on night #2
Our first 24 hrs, nearly 200 miles through water, 176 miles over ground but only 156 count toward our destination. That’s sailing math. We have 645 miles to go
