Got a question from Bill asking for help with NMEA over Ethernet networking gremlins (good sign he is dealing with this as it means it is calm enough for him to start playing with toys and gadgets) which included some news I thought others might be interested in:
"...all is fine and conditions are easy right now. I think that those 24 hours on Monday night through Tuesday night were some of the roughest conditions I have sailed through. I remember 8 hours or so across the Gulf Stream in our first double handed race, but this had higher winds and seas. Our stbd beam and quarter was pooped and we had green water coming down the galley dorades and pilot house vents as water washed over the pilot house, and cockpit flooded 2/3 up the bridge deck with the back half of the swell when it reached the quarter. I guess that's what they mean by a squash zone., I queried Ken and I will forward his reply to you."
From Ken Mckinley:
"As to your questions, first, the low that generated the strong winds was very difficult to predict, and in the lower latitudes, because the Coriolis effect is less, small changes in the pressure gradient will lead to more significant changes in wind speeds compared to higher latitudes. Depending on which model run of GRIB data you looked at, subtle changes in pressure could lead to not so subtle differences in wind speeds. I find that GRIB data often underestimates winds in situations like this. One of the reasons I waved you off on the earlier departure was uncertainties in the pattern and the potential for difficult conditions, not necessarily picked up ahead of time by the models, both in terms of winds and seas a bit higher than you actually saw this time, and in terms of a significantly longer duration of those conditions. This time, even though there was the potential for tough conditions, it appeared unlikely that they would last for a very long time."
Long story short...weather is hard, but our intrepid sailors should have a fairly easy time to Fiji after a tough start.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
New Zealand to Fiji - Thursday Morning Report (Day 4)
Day Four: Passage Opua to Savusavu
0630 Thursday 16 May 2013 NZST/1830 UTC
South Pacific Ocean 27 40.8 S/ 175 46.1 E
WInd SSW 8-12 knots/SOG 6.3kn/COG 003 mag/Sea state 4-8' swells primary from SE/Bar 1012
194 nm sailed 6 AM to 6 AM
Wind has slowly clocked and dropped around our stern, now motor sailing with main for stability. Seas have eased as well, now just a bit lumpy in 7 second period swells. We should get back to routine today, fishing lines out, and regular sit together meals, I hope.
A middle batten began to slide out of it's pocket yesterday afternoon and we lowered the main to replace it. I was awakened this morning with a loud clatter mid deck, and, after checking rigging, saw that the #2 battten (*from boom) was on the deck. No big worries...it lies happily on the side deck right now and I am glad the noise was not anything more serious. We needed an "all hands on deck " drill, anyway. We also now need to check all the other battens!
That brings me to Rule #46 - Neptune will expose any and all of your boats weak points and shortcomings, so simply be thankful that you arrived safely after an ocean passage. You were just a player.
I see cockpit showers in our future. Captain might make them mandatory!
All is well and looking better every day.
Bill
0630 Thursday 16 May 2013 NZST/1830 UTC
South Pacific Ocean 27 40.8 S/ 175 46.1 E
WInd SSW 8-12 knots/SOG 6.3kn/COG 003 mag/Sea state 4-8' swells primary from SE/Bar 1012
194 nm sailed 6 AM to 6 AM
Wind has slowly clocked and dropped around our stern, now motor sailing with main for stability. Seas have eased as well, now just a bit lumpy in 7 second period swells. We should get back to routine today, fishing lines out, and regular sit together meals, I hope.
A middle batten began to slide out of it's pocket yesterday afternoon and we lowered the main to replace it. I was awakened this morning with a loud clatter mid deck, and, after checking rigging, saw that the #2 battten (*from boom) was on the deck. No big worries...it lies happily on the side deck right now and I am glad the noise was not anything more serious. We needed an "all hands on deck " drill, anyway. We also now need to check all the other battens!
That brings me to Rule #46 - Neptune will expose any and all of your boats weak points and shortcomings, so simply be thankful that you arrived safely after an ocean passage. You were just a player.
I see cockpit showers in our future. Captain might make them mandatory!
All is well and looking better every day.
Bill
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
New Zealand to Fiji - Wednesday Morning Report (Day 3)
0630 Wedneday 15 May 2013 NZST/1830 UTC
South Pacific Ocean 30 09.7 S/ 174.34 E
WInd ESE 15-18 knots/SOG 8.6 kn/COG 006mag/Sea state not observed/Bar 1012
174 nm sailed 6 AM to 6 AM
We spent most of yesterday with a third reef in the mainsail coupled with a 50% furled staysail - as winds averaged 30 knots. Last night we fully opened the staysail and this morning added partially furled jib, functioning as high clewed yankee. I can't believe we covered 174 nm as I was trying hard to slow us down! Winds are continuing to ease and I will unfurl the main later today when there is light.
Conditions have improved overnight and seas will continue to diminish over the next 12-24 hours. Sky appears to be 50% overcast and I think we will have sun today, too. We have not seen another boat since leaving Bay of Islands although I spoke with a SAR aircraft overnight. As seas calm down, we will put out some fishing lines. All is well and looking better every day.
Bill
South Pacific Ocean 30 09.7 S/ 174.34 E
WInd ESE 15-18 knots/SOG 8.6 kn/COG 006mag/Sea state not observed/Bar 1012
174 nm sailed 6 AM to 6 AM
We spent most of yesterday with a third reef in the mainsail coupled with a 50% furled staysail - as winds averaged 30 knots. Last night we fully opened the staysail and this morning added partially furled jib, functioning as high clewed yankee. I can't believe we covered 174 nm as I was trying hard to slow us down! Winds are continuing to ease and I will unfurl the main later today when there is light.
Conditions have improved overnight and seas will continue to diminish over the next 12-24 hours. Sky appears to be 50% overcast and I think we will have sun today, too. We have not seen another boat since leaving Bay of Islands although I spoke with a SAR aircraft overnight. As seas calm down, we will put out some fishing lines. All is well and looking better every day.
Bill
Monday, May 13, 2013
New Zealand to Fiji - Tuesday Morning Report
0630 Tuesday, 14 May 2013 NZST/1830 UTC
South Pacific Ocean 32 52 S/ 174.21 E
WInd E-ESE 23 knots/SOG 7.5 kn/COG 347 mag/Sea state not observed
Distance sailed = 114 nm over past 14 hours/174 nm to 30 S waypoint
We continue with double reef mainsail and staysail anticipating that wind and seas should ease within 12 and 24 hours respectively. Great dinner of chicken parmesean and green salad last night. Crew is taking all in stride and everyone is standing their watch. Dani is still finding sea legs but refuses to complain. At this hour it remains dark with the earliest rays of dawn. I cannot yet view the seas nor can I give my morning flying fish report. We are fine and I am looking forward to some tropical warmth.
Bill
South Pacific Ocean 32 52 S/ 174.21 E
WInd E-ESE 23 knots/SOG 7.5 kn/COG 347 mag/Sea state not observed
Distance sailed = 114 nm over past 14 hours/174 nm to 30 S waypoint
We continue with double reef mainsail and staysail anticipating that wind and seas should ease within 12 and 24 hours respectively. Great dinner of chicken parmesean and green salad last night. Crew is taking all in stride and everyone is standing their watch. Dani is still finding sea legs but refuses to complain. At this hour it remains dark with the earliest rays of dawn. I cannot yet view the seas nor can I give my morning flying fish report. We are fine and I am looking forward to some tropical warmth.
Bill
New Zealand to Fiji - Monday Night Update
2220 NZST
1020 GMT
33 53.7 S 174 18,4E
SOG 7,5 kn
COG 347
South Pacific Ocean
We are making good time. Wind has slowly inreased through the afternoon and night, currently 24 kn from 095 mag. We are headed for a WP 60 nm west of rhumbline at 30S. Seas somewhat short and we are sailing double reefed main and 50% furled jib to be more comfortable through the night.
All is well. I will send my regular check at first light.
Bill
33 53.7 S 174 18,4E
SOG 7,5 kn
COG 347
South Pacific Ocean
We are making good time. Wind has slowly inreased through the afternoon and night, currently 24 kn from 095 mag. We are headed for a WP 60 nm west of rhumbline at 30S. Seas somewhat short and we are sailing double reefed main and 50% furled jib to be more comfortable through the night.
All is well. I will send my regular check at first light.
Bill
On Their Way
I am sure Bill will write a post tomorrow morning during his normal morning watch, but thought I would give a quick update. Weather forecast was good, so they left this morning. I think they managed to get out of Opua about 10am and I last spoke to them at about 3pm before they exited cell range. All was well and they were having a nice day with moderate seas. Also, just posted the pic Zak sent me onto the last post.
--Gram
--Gram
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Prepared for Departure
May 12, 2013
1130 Hrs NZ time
Position: Opua Marina, Northland, NZ
First: Happy Mothers day to all, from crew of SY Visions of Johanna
We have been watching weather patterns closely and at the advice of our weather router Ken McKinley (Locus Weather), we elected to delay our departure and avoid potentially uncomfortable conditions. It is likely that a nice window will open up tomorrow morning and we hope to leave then - 1000 hrs Monday, May 13 NZ time, or around 2 AM east coast time in USA (on Monday morning). Possibility of an additional 24 hr wait remains, but is unlikely. We shall see.
All is well otherwise. Nights are chilly and everyone is looking forward to tropical warmth.
Bill
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1130 Hrs NZ time
Position: Opua Marina, Northland, NZ
First: Happy Mothers day to all, from crew of SY Visions of Johanna
We have been watching weather patterns closely and at the advice of our weather router Ken McKinley (Locus Weather), we elected to delay our departure and avoid potentially uncomfortable conditions. It is likely that a nice window will open up tomorrow morning and we hope to leave then - 1000 hrs Monday, May 13 NZ time, or around 2 AM east coast time in USA (on Monday morning). Possibility of an additional 24 hr wait remains, but is unlikely. We shall see.
All is well otherwise. Nights are chilly and everyone is looking forward to tropical warmth.
Bill
----
This e-mail was delivered via satellite phone using GMN's XGate software.
Please be kind and keep your replies short.
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