Southport Inbound Day 3

Hi everyone,

At noon today we were at 30 02S 157 02E steering 285M, sailing under single-reefed main and full yankee at 5 knots.  The wind was 13G17 from the S.  Our noon to noon distances were 101nm by the log and 99nm over the ground.   Overall we'd logged 993nm and 1048nm respectively.  Our distance to go was 227nm.  Just a Freo to Geraldton.

Sailing yesterday afternoon

Yesterday afternoon we managed to keep sailing until 1730.  The sails were starting to slat in the dying breeze.  We motored until 0700 (still on NZ time by the way).  The seas and swell gradually eased overnight.

Fishing Vessel shooting its nets

Overnight we carefully made our way between the array of fishing vessels shown in yesterday's blog post.  One Australian fishing vessel passed a few miles in front of us shooting her nets with AIS marker buoys several miles apart.  We called her on VHF and the skipper advised we were fine to cross the nets.  Apparently the net tops are at least 15m down, further well away from the buoys.  In the screenshot above you can see a set of AIS transmitters on the boat ready to launch.

Morning clouds

At 0300 this morning we started motor-sailing in a light S breeze.  By 0700 the breeze filled in to 12G15 and we killed the engine.  The wind is expected to die tonight again, and stay light most of tomorrow.  Tomorrow night the wind should return, from a southerly buster forecast to just reach Brisbane.  

Sailing this morning

Trust all's well where you are!

Southport Inbound Day 2

Hi everyone,

At noon today we were at 30 47S 158 41E steering 300M, sailing under double-reefed main and double-furled yankee at 5 knots.  The wind was 16G22 from the NE.  Our noon to noon distances were 102nm by the log and 114nm over the ground.   Overall we'd logged 892nm and 950nm respectively.  Our distance to go was 323nm.

Something missing?

Yesterday afternoon and evening the winds held in at 20G30 from the E.  We copped several more side-swipes, one of which was by far the biggest yet.  It felt like we'd been T-boned.  The green water jumped over the windward rail-mounted solar panel and punched the leeward panel clean out of its frame.  See the photo above.

After midnight the winds ever so slowly started to back and ease.  At dawn we set the main double-reefed.  Initially we furled the yankee to its tripled-furled position but later this morning could ease more out to double-furled.

Dawn this morning

WindPilot 'Kazi' - the star of the show

Throughout this passage we've been watching MarineTraffic.com to keep an eye out for distant traffic.  We're currently 40nm E of a set of Australia fishing vessels, each with a large array of - we think - buoys.  None visible on local AIS yet.  We've been adjusting our course to pass through them with maximum clearance.  The screenshot below shows us on the right and a set of targets to our W.  Very helpful to identify these hazards before we're "in amongst 'em".

MarineTraffic view - fishing fleet ahead!

The wind is forecast to gradually die this afternoon and evening.  We may well be motoring later tonight.

Trust all's well where you are.

Southport Inbound Day 1

Hi everyone,

At noon today we were at 31 32S 160 40E steering 300M, sailing under no main and triple-furled yankee at 5 knots.  The wind was 21G29 from the E.  Our noon to noon distances were 98nm by the log and 116nm over the ground.   Overall we'd logged 790nm and 835nm respectively.  Our distance to go was 433nm.  Only a Freo to Albany!

OpenCPN showing RTOFS ocean surface currents

Yesterday afternoon and evening saw the E winds continuing at 20G35 with occasional rain squalls.  The night was cloudy with the almost full moon managing to filter through.  We've not lost sight of the horizon at all on this passage so far.

This morning we changed from storm staysail to triple-furled yankee as the wind gusts eased a little.  Our course is slowly curving westward.  We'll pass about 50nm NE of Lord Howe Island and S of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs.

We've been trying to stay out of adverse current.  The screenshot above shows SE flowing current E of Lord Howe which we are avoiding.  The large high pressure system we've been riding is slowly moving E.  We're heading into an area of light winds which will be displaced by a southerly buster.  Happily we're far enough N to only get the tip of it as we approach the coast.  At least that's what the predictions say today!

PredictWind ECMWF Wind

Trust all's well where you are.