can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Caduceus of Burnham - New Zealand Day 4 - Still wet and windy



Position           30:36.07S 168:05.45 E

Date                1200 (UTC +11) Saturday 8 2014

                       

Distance run    Last 24 hours 152m over the ground, 150nm through the water

                        Distance (OG) covered from start 552nm

                        Distance to destination 420nm

                        Original distance to Opua (direct route) 890nm

 

Second verse same as the first, or in this instance fourth day same as the third.  We are still going south east, would like to be going more east but cannot, the wind continues to blow about 20 knots giving 22 to 28 across the deck, the sea determinedly is going in the opposite direction to us which makes life in the big outdoors ‘wruff’ and very wet.  Fortunately we do not have to go outside very often.

We passed 20nm to the west of Norfolk Island yesterday evening and we are sailing within 7 to 8 miles of Trillium who appears on AIS for most of the time.  It is good to have someone out there to talk to on VHF.  We have been tracking each other for the last three days.   The boat remains for most of the time steering itself (wind instrument data linked to autopilot) on the wind at 36 degrees on a port tack and that is allowing us to make the most of the frequent minor wind shifts.  At some stage we are going to have to regain ground to the east but that will probably be latter tomorrow when we are closer to New Zealand and there is the possibility of the wind decreasing in strength and the sea calming to allow some motor sailing.

Good things.  The newly in use galley strap brings a Cirque du Soleil like performance to galley operations.  The skipper distinguished himself with this new found acrobatic skill by producing egg and bacon rolls for lunch yesterday and was persuaded to regenerate dinner – chicken curry.  The Mate’s cunning plan is that by her having short arms the Skipper is better suited to such exploits as he can reach everything including the fridge and freezer whilst suspended from the cooker bar and hence by a natural process of selection is better able to cope in the galley.

No complaints really, just a British soldier’s humour.  There is a sense of achievement from doing this trip which we always knew was not going to be easy.

Boat notes.  Winds over 15 knots means that the wind generators are producing well.  The Watt and Sea water generator is similarly chucking out a reasonable amperage and even the solar panels managed 75 Ah (at 24 volts) yesterday.  The result is that since we started, other than the period earlier on when we had to motor, there has been no requirement to generate and the batteries are at 100% despite three fridges, all of the electronics running plus radar.  The only generation required has been one hour to run the water maker and to produce some hot water for showers and washing up.

 



Previous | Next