synereida

Sunday 27th May 2012 (GMT)

Midnight - Drifting NE in less than 10 kt of SE wind, occasional short gust to 20kt before subsides again... Heavy rain stopped a while ago, pressure has been steady at 1003 hPa since this afternoon - centre of Low is not far away.

This morning, after prolonged heavy rainsqualls to 37kt kept me in cockpit for a long time, having headed quite a distance NW overnight and yesterday, I decided to heave to. I needed to get down below for a radio 'sched' and could do with some rest and breakfast ... and felt maybe it was time to stay put and let the Low pass us by... before we got any further away from Tahiti...

Dave of 'Chameleon' sent me the satellite picture he'd downloaded, showing the clear break in the heavy cloud around the Low yesterday, at 5pm NZT, where we were SW of the Low's centre, under starry skies, heading NW! (See picture above)

Overnight, the cloud and rain came over again and, by morning, the boat was constantly getting a thorough washdown - which continued all day long. Swell increased to 4-5 m and was quite rough at times, making life rather difficult, tossing us around constantly while hove-to.

Over the warm and very humid day, I caught up with all outstanding emails while downloading weatherfaxes, often having to retrieve pen, mouse and other items which had been flung onto the cabin sole as we were moved suddenly by the seas. I made good use of my new arm-rest which doubles as a restraint, preventing me fom falling out of the chart table seat when we heeled suddenly!

We're drifting E-ESE now ...... with wind varying from SSW to SSE at 12 kt.... I need to head E when the SW wind settles or maybe veers more to W... a waiting game...

I'll get a few hours' sleep and check out the situation again overnight. The Low is being blocked by the High to the S and not moving fast!

DMG from 1pm NZT Saturday to Sunday was 112 n.ml. - we were making good speed until we heaved to this morning at 7.30am!

Saturday 26th May 2012 (GMT)

Around 8am Big squall - winds to 30+kt .. all OK...

9am - Dave, on Tony's Net, says Low centre tomorrow will be where I am now, having come almost due S overnight to get here - so need to head W of N now to avoid it, not keep heading E of N, as we have been, in hope Low would head SE more....

On deck to change course - to downwind.. so need to pole out staysail... Took a time, but got the little pole organized and stays'l finally goosewinged with mains'l - heading NW .

Down below ... cleared up and stowed all loose items - had plenty to do in aft cabin after dealing with AP there a day or so back.....cover on generator also had to be fixed in place (in middle of that job still!), then on to tools - made sure all stowed safely in place... on to main cabin & galley: fridge top and dry locker top - both locked down.. Taking no chances with possible stormy weather ahead!

Downloading weatherfaxes and gribs... Wind generator is putting in plenty of amps now fuse changed - one I recently used was clearly faulty - replaced yesterday, so needing to run engine to charge batteries much less now.

As always, sailing downwind is so much more pleasant - seas have built up quite a bit but we hardly notice them now - unkike earlier today when they were more beam on and throwing us about a lot. It's still very rolly though - have to be careful moving around. Sun gets out occasionally, which is nice to see... We're having quite a nice sail just now (early afternoon).

Evening:
- was just cooking a meal when realized boat motion was different - on deck to find mains'l was backed in strong wind ,... had to take the wheel and get us back on course - probably due to a big wave coinciding with a strong gust or squall.

Still very rolly in big seas still running. Wind this evening around 30 knots - up and down.

Waiting to see how Low affects us. We're presently heading away fom Tahiti so don't want to continue on this course any longer than necessary Hopefully, as Low moves down to SE, winds will turn to NW-N and weI'll be able to sail in a better direction.

DMG today: 126 n.ml.

Friday 25th May 2012 (GMT)

Daytime saw the wind slowly back into the SE from SSW. With the genoa poled out, we were sailing nicely, goose-winged overnight and into morning - but with the wind backing, I soon had to take the sail over to our port side, off the pole, and not long afterwards, took the pole down and stowed it. Looking at fresh grib weather files, we were clearly not going to need it again for a time.

Really mixed wind tonight - just had a squall to 29knots from 17kt ...and then down to 12 kt .. more rain & wind...... wind died .. now up again - 22kt... all from a passing raincloud close by ... and all in a matter of minutes! Shortly before, I'd suddenly realized that the wind had died right away - to less than 8 kt... we were drifting around until I got to the wheel, but up the wind came up again, soon after.

It's been quite a rough day - seas up slightly but lots of wind waves on top of the main swell - so moving us about a lot with the occasional bigger wave knocking into us...

There was a lovely sunset below gathering raiclouds... and this afternoon, I saw a pair of white-chinned petrels sgain - as yesterday. No further sightimgs of the juvenile albatross of the other day - too far N , I suppose - and the sea temperature is 30C now - way up compared with the Southern Ocean.

Tonight I had my usual contact with Meri of Bluff Fishermen's Radio - I heard they're having an Oyster Festival this weekend - sounds delicious!! (Bluff is right down at the S end of NZ's S. Island, just N of Stewart Island - storrmy weather seems to be the norm there!)

The forecast Low ahead of us is definitely developing... My main worry is that it will move SE so quickly that we'll be left without much time to head East in the NW-W winds it will produce and we'll end up almost becalmed next week, later being headed, once the SE Trades re-establish themselves.. Can't afford to get too far N just now if we hope to reach Tahiti, to repair the autopilot amd genset before continuing on.

DMG today to 0100 GMT was 138 n.ml. - good sailing yesterday and overnight. Present position is approximately 24S, 167W. We're 465 n.ml. SE of the small island of Niue and just under 1100 n.ml. SW of Tahiti (Pape'ete)

Today's weather/position report at 0100 GMT:

LATITUDE: 24-49.16S LONGITUDE: 167-25.70W
COURSE: 015T SPEED: 6.0 kt
WIND_SPEED: 22 WIND_DIR: 125
SWELL_DIR: SE SWELL_HT: 2.5m
SWELL_PER: 10s CLOUDS: 30%
BARO: 1016 TREND: -1 SEA_TEMP: 30.0C

Thursday 24th May 2012 (GMT)

A really beautiful, enjoyable day of Trade wind sailing in sunshine... Took a time this morning organizing the pole for the genoa, but worthwhile .... Been a long time since it was last used - have been using stays'l on its little pole most of the time in the strong conditions of the Southern Ocean.

Juvenile albatross seen briefly yesterday and two or three sooty shearwaters on both days.

Hove to yesterday from 6.30am until well after midnight, reason being to deal with problems in the lesser swell. Way too busy to write my usual daily report! First problem to raise its head was Fred, the Hydrovane. So very reliable all overnight but suddenly causing problems before dawn - just not taking control.... In the better light soon after, I realized a bolt had come loose and the ratio knob, which controls the gearing from vane to auxiliary rudder, had jumped into neutral - so there was no connection to the rudder at all - no wonder we were wandering all over...! A relatively quick and easy fix, that one, although with more leaning over the stern to do it! (I later heard from John Curry that when I replaced the knob in Ushuaia, Argentina, last year, I should have applied Loctite to the bolt to avoid any such problem .. lesson learned!)

While there, I'd noticed that the propane cylinder supplying the galley was coming unlashed - so that also had to be dealt with, to be sure it was secure... I don't normally have anything stowed above decks, but a gift of 9kg of propane had been too good to refuse!

With the windsteering back happily in action, I decided to deal with the autopilot next - it's so useful at times of crisis and has been missed. It's also useful in light winds if motorsailing- and invaluable if motoring in calms. I first had to clear items in the aft cabin out of the way, but make sure they were secure - there was still a fair swell running. Next, remove the 'good' motor, happily without losing too much hydraulic fluid everywhere (reservoir taps had been closed off beforehand).... difficult to get the pipe connections moving but with some perseverance, they finally gave way. Hadn't realized how heavy the pumps are. Had to cut the power leads - then same sequence for removing the faulty motor... and finally, all in reverse. to instal 'good' pump in place of faulty one.... A relief to find the connections were identical, as I'd hoped.... and pleased at how little fluid was lost .. Then re-make the power connection.... damn.. crimpers went missing... hunted high and low for ages and finally found them under the galley stove... now how did they get there...??? All complete by dark of night, 10.30pm ...

Now to the cockpit and the wheel, to 'bleed' the lines of air... which was also a test of the system working... First couple of turns in 'auto' mode, holding wheel still against effort to turn through 100 degrees, to pressurise system and expel air, worked fine.... but nothing at all after that - nada, nada, nada..!! This morning, put into 'auto' mode and went down to see what pump motor was doing - it was whining away miserably, but achieving nothing by way of moving the ram... I'd emailed Raymarine last night (during their working hours) and had a prompt response this morning with lots of tests to try - and suggestion of service guy in Pape'ete (Tahiti) to whom they can send any bits & pieces needed...IF I can make it there!

Later, I found myself unable to make the email connection... neither Pactor modem nor Iridium wanted to know... More problems on the list.... More time wasted trying to figure out what was going on... "com port15 not available"... "doesn't exist".... etc, etc... GRRR!!!!! Disable... enable.... Reinstal driver... switch on and off umpteen times.... Finally, had to 'pair' the PC and Pactor modem afresh, having deleted modem from the PC Bluetooth list... It worked at last...! Celebrate the achievement and forget the AP failure...!! Hours wasted... but never mind .... succcess is success!! We're back in business..

Several times today, I simply went on deck to enjoy the great sail we were having - forget the problems... enjoy the moment! Usually at 6-7 kt,....frequent adjustment of Fred as the wind slowly backed into the SE from SSW early this morning.... a few light showers but no big squalls.. lots of warmth and sunshine.

DMG (to 1pm) yesterday: 122 n.ml. and today: 86 n.ml. (hove-to from 0630am yesterday until past midnight - 1am) but good speed when sailing in mainly 15-20kt winds.

Still keeping an eye on that threatening Low - definitely forecast now for starting up on Saturday & strengthening Sunday - will be close to my path.... We're still heading N to avoid problems it might cause us otherwise.

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 (GMT)

A day of nice warmth and good progress - bt we're still having to head due N to avoid a Low forecast to form on our rhumb-line path to Tahiti. The general idea is to head around the Low, keeping to its West and curling arouind its top to head East finsally - but the timing doesn't quite seem right to me - we'll see how it goes as the week progresses!

We've had, and expect on Wed, several squalls with sudden wind increase ... Fred has been doing well, but I have to get to the wheel then to give him a helping hand!

Found the first flying fish on deck .... and a squid two days ago in among the lines on the cockpit floor where they ended up after a big tumbling wave had hit us hard the other day and threw all the lines a good distance - several overboard!

I had to take Fred's vane off after I found it at a drunken angle several times and unable to steer us properly... My Russian friends had mended that vane in Cape Town for me last year - but a metal insert had now moved so the vane was not able to stay in its proper place. A new cover was duly slipped over a spare vane and tensioned down and I perched over the sugar scoop to remove the old and replace with the new vane.. I waited for winds to decrease and eventually had less difficulty than I expected in the 20 knot winds. I have to admit that the first time around, I just noticed a raincloud heading our way in time just as I'd picked up the new vane - so delayed final replacement while the squall went through and put on the coffeepot instead...!!

Winds were down to 15-20kt over the day, squalls apart, and seas have reduced to around 4m - still the occasional one knocks us around but not often. Skies are mainly blue and the sea has changed colour to the typical tropical vivid mid-blue when the sun shines on it - picture postcard stuff!

I removed my two upper fleece layers early in the day and later tonight was forced to replace the lower layers after I got drenched in a squall after hurriedly rushing on deck to take the helm.... Fortunately now the air temperature is high enough that I didn't feel too cold for long.

My batteries definitely need replacing - they keep losing charge rapidly once they get a bit low and I have to keep a constant eye on the voltage, ready to charge with the main engine, despite having replaced the 30A fuse in the KISS circuit yesterday so it's putting in plenty of power now in the winds we're getting... Main culprit is radio use - with all the weather faxes and emailed grib files I'm downloading due to the weather problems I've been having (or expect to have), plus voice usage several times a day, the radio is using a lot of power.

I had a go at the genset seawater pump replacement today - but it's proving difficult.. I'll keep on trying but don't hold out much hope - rubber tubing connections to the metal pipes are difficult to get apart and will probably be a nightmare to replace, especially in the tight space available.... So tomorrow, I'll look again at the autopilot hydraulic pump change-over - that could well be more straightforward and it would be nice to have the option of using it - especially in the squalls and on approach to land eventually.

DMG : 130 n.ml. Distance from Tahiti: 1262 n.ml. and from Hawaii: 3100 n.ml.

Monday 21st May 2012 (GMT)

A beautiful double rainbow this afternoon rather summed up my feelings about today!! I felt as though we were finally getting away from the cold Southern Ocean weather with its regular succession of deep, stormy Lows bringing strong winds, rough seas and big swell - but there was a tinge of regret at losing the magnificent birdlife that often surrounded the boat and a deep imprint of the frequent feelings of awe and respect when in the midst of the ocean wilderness, whether stormy or calm .

Seas and wind remained well up overnight and keeping going meant suffering plenty of heeling in big waves as they knocked us around... but our speed was good, so we made 128 n.ml. over the 24hrs to 1pm NZT (0100GMT), despite the rough seas.

Over today, the wind occasionally gusted up to 30-31 kt as big clouds came by to give a squall, but not very often compared with yesterday, and the wind settled down by this evening to a pleasant 19-21 kt from WSW. With the Low expected to form on our path towards Raivavae/Tahiti, I'm heading NNE until it's clear where exactly its centre will be - hopefully, I'll then be able to take advantage of the clockwise rotation of its winds to get further East over the top of it.

The bright sunshine and warmth of today have been a definite improvement on the weather of the last few days and I cooked a good meal tonight in hopeful celebration of some pleasant days ahead. Some fleece layers will definitely be disappearing tomorrow, I think, and I'll be digging out lighter clothing for the days ahead.

Good news on the Czech single-hander Petr on 'Singa' - he told me this evening that he's only 142 n.ml. from Cuvier Island at the entrance to Hauraki Gulf which leads to Auckland - still a way to go in the light S-SE winds expected but he's in the Bay of Plenty, having successfully rounded East Cape last week. He's really looking forward to landfall after a painfully slow passage on his way north from SE of Stewart Island, after several knockdowns (he's averaged just 2 knots for several weeks due to sail and autopilot problems). " I hope my landing will be on Saturday or Sunday this week. I am looking forward on this indeed," he says. He'll have made a nonstop sail from Falmouth, England, around four of the Five Great Capes to reach his present position - and overcome massive problems in doing so - well done, Petr!!

Sunday 20th May 2012 (GMT)

I found yesterday's report being posted before it was finished...!

By 9pm, weather was deteriorating , as expected. Wind had increased gradually and with it the seas, as usual.

I listened to a radio weather forecast and seemed to hear gale warnings relating to close by - so I contacted Taupo Radio to query - they were very helpful and repeated and clarified the gale warnings for my area - the good news was we were near the edge of the area, so only expecting 30-40knots average winds, not the 40-50 knots forecast for elsewhere!

It was stormy overnight but I managed some sleep, despite keeping going - I nearly hove to several times but wanted to keep going, if possible, to get away from the storm area. Morning was slightly better, and I stood in the companionway watching the rough, 5-6m seas approaching under bright sunny skies with a few light clouds. I spotted a Buller's albatross, keeping company with a pair of white-chinned petrels, probably the same ones that I'd seen yesterday.

Again, I've been downloading weatherfaxes whenever possible to add in to other weather info I'm getting. Things are looking difficult just now with a complex Low to the S, giving strong conditions for another day, probably, and the possibility of another Low forming directly on my path ahead by the end of next week...

The slight improvement in conditions early in the day didn't last and by mid-afternoon, I decided to heave to - just to relax and get some sleep I badly needed. Two hours later, we were on our way again.... Winds have been gusting to just under 40 knots regularly, as big, towering clouds have approached, and seas continue to be big and rough - we're knocked around often so life is not exactly easy or comfortable just now!

Hopefully, by tomorrow night, winds will have eased and life will have become a bit pleasanter and more comfortable. The only good thing about these strong conditions is that we're making 6-8 knots SOG most of the time, surfing occasionally at 9-12 kts also. So despite the rough seas, DMG today was 134 n.ml. (yesterday's was 114 n.ml., in less strong conditions)

Sea temperature has increased to 21C now, so at least the boat is not feeling so very cold as it did when sea temperatures were down around 12C off Stewart Island, S of New Zealnd's S. Island.

Saturday 19th May 2012

Mix of nice sunshine and rainclouds giving windshifts but no rain. Swell still quite big at 3m.

Pair of White-chinned petrels were close by for most of the day - not seen those for quite a time but this pair have been around for several days now. Also a solitary juvenile albatross again, soaring in the distance - unmistakeable, despite not seeing it very close to.

Another day concentrating on weather downloads and resultant sailing tactics. With another Low forming close to SSE of us, at I'm not keen to repeat the experience of a few days' back so I'm trying to manoeuvre us out of the problem area if possible

9pm (NZT)

Friday 18th May 2012

Although the seas were still big, at about 5m, the wind had eased enough by 4am to get sailing again - with poled-out staysail and main goose-winged, in 27kt of SW wind, we were making around 6 knots. By sunset, the wind had veered slowly into the W and eased to just 15 kt.

It's been pleasant sailing, with occasional rain this morning and scattered light clouds this afternoon, except for being thrown around every so often by the big swell - I've a small bump on my forehead from when I got caught out one time!

I've even seen a few birds - two great albatross, at least one of them a juvenile for sure - so distinctive with their pale faces contrasting with their dark body - and 2-3 other smaller birds - too far away to identify but it was still nice to see them nearby.

Not quite sure where the time went (maybe it was just nice to feel relaxed, in pleasant conditions?!), but I didn't get anywhere further with either of the autopilot hydraulic pumps nor the generator seawater pump - which is lying on the cabin sole, waiting .

DMG today, similar to yesterday, was 66 n.ml - half the usual, due to being hove to from midday yesterday to 4 a.m. but making a good speed this morning.

Another 'blow' is possible this weekend, with two Fronts passing by ... All depends on how far north I am by then. I've spent a lot of time again today, downloading weatherfaxes, getting other useful weather info and trying to decide on the best course to steer, partly with the approaching Low & Fronts in mind - always a bit of a lottery...

Thursday 17th May 2012 (GMT) - hove-to overnight into Friday

Seems we were right in the area where the Low was forming last night and early this morning - explains the light wind overnight.

Air pressure went down to 985 around daybreak with a gentle SSW wind of 11kt and lots of heavy rain - we were sailing nicely. By 9am, we had 14-18kt of wind, but it increased in under two hrs to near 30kt and within two more hrs, to 35-38. It was gusting up to 40kt with big seas having built up - we had to heave to.

From wxfaxes, it looks as though I was really close to the newly-forming Low centre - but pressure is now rising so hopefully, winds will ease soon so I can get underway . We've been hove-to since midday. The heavy rainsqualls cleared away to give mainly clear skies near sunset - lots of stars tonight. Wind is still around 35kt tonight, with pressure having increased slightly to 992hPa.

Hope to be underway sometime early tomorrow.... if wind eases sufficiently.

DMG today: 66n.ml. - the result of those almost non-existent winds last night.

I got started on my repair jobs - but they had to go on hold once the seas got up .. too difficult being thrown around, to get on with those jobs - they'll have to wait...