MESSAGE # 5 - Cross Tonga - New Zealand Oct. 24 - 24:00 Position is: 25S02 178W45 and on the direct route left to go 734 miles, traveled 391 miles.
traveled 194 miles in 24 hours.
Both let you know right away: Barbara took a dislike to the Grib files of wind, weather, and I also believe the forecasters. Including the famous Bob (Mac Davitt), Pope New Zealand regional weather. Unfortunately for me, it seems for after what I understand, I am myself assimilated to a forecaster. I must say that I had put the package to convince her that it was the right time to go! Then the wind before the beam that lasts, and climbs into the nodes, this was not actually expected, and I had the right to a famous verse ...! In short last night, it was at 22/24 knots, 2 reefs in the mainsail for the night, a piece of Solent, and come what may. Always with an apparent wind at 60 ° port, and therefore the waves on the front of the beam, which changes the game in trouble: we go into the pile is wet, dirty, and it starts to be a chilly ... before the situation somewhat quiet on the edge of the night, I sent my beautiful sleeping downstairs in the portside hull, and 20H00, and I invested the starboard corner of the square, next to the chart table for the night. Barrier to pounce, I prefer. In this case the Barbara always says: "Be careful, watch your turn!". And, inevitably, I reassured her. Alone on the bridge - in fact in the square most often, thankfully - (Marin made his night to starboard), but still on watch with the little blonde Adelie, which abhors the idea of going into a shell when AC porpoises severe, she squats in the sea port side of the square at night. The vision of my quiet little girl, asleep with his Beige, o how angelic helps me to relativize the seas crashing on before glazing the roof, dripping in serious when AC pad, and our catamaran in the dark night is 8 or 9 knots. So restless night because the wind has still not made its additional rotation of 20 ° east, a much anticipated rotation, because it changes everything in terms of comfort on board. Worse, around 5:00 in the morning, I had to start the commotion, everyone on the bridge maneuver! The wind was increasing to 30/32 knots, still under the same angle too sharp. Mainsail reefed to the dark night (the sky is covered), a small cloth towel in the front, and everyone goes to bed. The day dawned on a sea in the face of bad days, 4 meters of hollow 30 knots ESTABLISHED until noon. We leave to starboard Minerva Reefs, without regret. Matinee atmosphere Verdun, the owner appeared in the morning ... then haul up well. During lunch (canned marlin with a delicious curry sauce, fresh vegetables and small) made quickly in a bowl, reefing a position has exploded. With Marin, in this case the, you put a hair (otherwise you get flush with sea water and AC is for ages to dry after rinsing), and Banzai, here we go. A new board a bump in the boom, and I'll return the canvas. But in the after-noon, joy and happiness, the wind eased, falling to 20/22 knots, and it gradually turns about 20 °! The forecasters were right, it just a mistake in the timing! Now the apparent wind comes from 90 ° port, the true wind slightly on the back of the beam, and the sea too. The boat
appreciated, it slides more about water more smoothly, and he hums a 9 or 10 knots in less struggling against the elements. It's better for everyone. That's it, we left the tropics, and we approach the meridian 180 ° west, or, as you want. We, we are accustomed to longitude west, it'll make us funny, this change! Down south, like that, it vaguely reminds me of when we were going to go from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake Strait. There are just 30 degrees difference in latitude, I softening of me during this long stay in the tropical sun ... Tonight, we had 675 miles of Whangarei.
Good day to you!
Olivier
(Tomorrow, Barbara takes the pen, it's better for ... forecasters!)
