Position 33 degrees, 39S, 172 degrees, 08E.
We can just see Three Kings Island off the starboard bow!!!
67 miles to North Cape, then another 80, travelling down the east coast to Opua. Should arrive in Opua sometime on November 4th.
Windlight from west, cloudy but no squalls yet!!
Fingers crossed for good weather to continue.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Brrrrrr getting cold (01/11/09)
Position 32 degrees 23S / 169 degrees 48E
Its getting chilly down here in the old Tasman sea. Our depth sounder has a thermometer built in and its reading 17 degrees C, down from 26 degrees C in the Isle of Pines, which was the last time we were in the water doing a last minute cleaning of the boat bottom.
But let me mention a particularly nice boating pastime related to colder weather..........hot bunking, yes hot bunking is a lovely thing. When we change over watches one of us climbs out from under a heap of quilts and blankets whilst the other dives under the warm inviting mound and wriggles into place in the warm bunk, ecstasy!
Anyway still mooching south slowly; all the weathermen say we'll get south westerly winds soon. We keep searching around for them, but no luck yet. A nice SW breeze would be just the ticket for the last couple of hundred miles, so fingers crossed. At present we are sailing in light southerlies - its like clawing your way up hill, whilst looking over your shoulder watching for squalls and storms creeping up to give us a whack. Speed is everything on this passage, there is a low pressure system (nasty big winds and waves) slowly moving our way, and we hope to outrun it and breeze into harbour with it firmly behind us, here's hoping.
The good news - the Kiwi sailors tell us "no worries" from now to NZ we are in range of the NZ search and rescue helicopter, and can be plucked off our sinking vessels. Don't fancy dangling on one of those helicopter cables!! Definitely keep that as plan B.
Its getting chilly down here in the old Tasman sea. Our depth sounder has a thermometer built in and its reading 17 degrees C, down from 26 degrees C in the Isle of Pines, which was the last time we were in the water doing a last minute cleaning of the boat bottom.
But let me mention a particularly nice boating pastime related to colder weather..........hot bunking, yes hot bunking is a lovely thing. When we change over watches one of us climbs out from under a heap of quilts and blankets whilst the other dives under the warm inviting mound and wriggles into place in the warm bunk, ecstasy!
Anyway still mooching south slowly; all the weathermen say we'll get south westerly winds soon. We keep searching around for them, but no luck yet. A nice SW breeze would be just the ticket for the last couple of hundred miles, so fingers crossed. At present we are sailing in light southerlies - its like clawing your way up hill, whilst looking over your shoulder watching for squalls and storms creeping up to give us a whack. Speed is everything on this passage, there is a low pressure system (nasty big winds and waves) slowly moving our way, and we hope to outrun it and breeze into harbour with it firmly behind us, here's hoping.
The good news - the Kiwi sailors tell us "no worries" from now to NZ we are in range of the NZ search and rescue helicopter, and can be plucked off our sinking vessels. Don't fancy dangling on one of those helicopter cables!! Definitely keep that as plan B.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
First Day out from Norfolk Island (31/10/09)
All is well, dodging squalls all night, so kept busy.
There are a few of us out here, which makes a change. We can hear chatter on the radio, so we know our sailing pals are close by.
There are a few of us out here, which makes a change. We can hear chatter on the radio, so we know our sailing pals are close by.
Tally Ho and its over the top (30/10/09)
We're looking down the barrel at the last lap - we've got New Zealand in our sights, we're syked up and ready for the big push.
Its almost full moon so we'll have some light so we can keep an eye out for the "enemy" - squalls and storms.
Got the champagne on board - won't need to put it in the fridge. By the time we pull into Opua we'll be able to pull the icicles off our faces and toss them in the glass with the bubbly.
Its almost full moon so we'll have some light so we can keep an eye out for the "enemy" - squalls and storms.
Got the champagne on board - won't need to put it in the fridge. By the time we pull into Opua we'll be able to pull the icicles off our faces and toss them in the glass with the bubbly.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Norfolk Island
Had a lovely dock party last night, lots of locals turned up to chat.
Hiked around the bay in the afternoon, saw lots of blue parrots with red backs, so colourful, and so many of them. There are a lot of dolphins too, and some whales.
Hiked around the bay in the afternoon, saw lots of blue parrots with red backs, so colourful, and so many of them. There are a lot of dolphins too, and some whales.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Waiting at Norfolk Island (27/10/09)
Still waiting for the weather to settle down south of us. We're all starting to have a nice time as well. We're taking it in turns to go into town, so someone can watch the boats for dragging anchors. We're having a little dock party this evening with the man who has lent us the car, and some of the other local people, so that should be interesting.
This afternoon we're going hiking around the bay, get some exercise and keep an eye on the boat. The weather here is actually very pleasant, its sunny and cool with clear skies. We had some rain overnight which was one of the fronts passing through, We are just getting the tail end of it here, but reports from boats already down south are not good, high winds from the south (the direction we all want to go), and 5 metre waves. So we'll just wait untill the "farmer leaves the henhouse and goes to sleep!!"
This afternoon we're going hiking around the bay, get some exercise and keep an eye on the boat. The weather here is actually very pleasant, its sunny and cool with clear skies. We had some rain overnight which was one of the fronts passing through, We are just getting the tail end of it here, but reports from boats already down south are not good, high winds from the south (the direction we all want to go), and 5 metre waves. So we'll just wait untill the "farmer leaves the henhouse and goes to sleep!!"
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Nervous Chickens
We are still anchored in Cascade Bay, Norfolk Island, and are joined by 8 other boats. The locals tell us the previous record was 5 boats here all at one time, so that's a bit ominous......we don't like breaking those kind of records.
We're all a bit like nervous chickens in the hen house, with the farmer closing in with his axe!!
We are going ashore in relays so the boat is not left unattended.
Norfolk Island is incredibly beautiful; its hilly with huge pine trees, green rolling hills, and dotted with wooden houses.
The big winds and swell are meant to come through today so we'll sit tight and see what happens.
We're all a bit like nervous chickens in the hen house, with the farmer closing in with his axe!!
We are going ashore in relays so the boat is not left unattended.
Norfolk Island is incredibly beautiful; its hilly with huge pine trees, green rolling hills, and dotted with wooden houses.
The big winds and swell are meant to come through today so we'll sit tight and see what happens.
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