Pacific Crossing 2019 - Fiji to New Zealand - Passage Log
Day 0
Good progress - all is well, the winds, gust, and waves are all as expected so far, matching up exactly with the ECMF model.
Wilderness 19 36.07S 176 02.19E
October 30, 2019
Good progress - all is well, the winds, gust, and waves are all as expected so far, matching up exactly with the ECMF model.
Wilderness 19 36.07S 176 02.19E
October 30, 2019
Day 1
Winds are now from the South, still matching the euro model. We are heading 247 deg. VMG only 3-4 kts despite 6's and 7's GPS.
Winds are now from the South, still matching the euro model. We are heading 247 deg. VMG only 3-4 kts despite 6's and 7's GPS.
Day 2
Winds back to SE - gusts over 32. Lucky we chose the right reefs. Waves not so kind.
We're not on the "milk run" anymore.
Winds back to SE - gusts over 32. Lucky we chose the right reefs. Waves not so kind.
We're not on the "milk run" anymore.
Wilderness 22 57.56S 172 51.13E
November 1, 2019
November 1, 2019
Day 3
Winds still SE, but are lighter avg. 20kts. Euro model still seems the best.
Speeds 6-7. Daily avg. around 140nm.
Should be another 5 days to NZ which wouldmean we get in before the nextlow.
Winds still SE, but are lighter avg. 20kts. Euro model still seems the best.
Speeds 6-7. Daily avg. around 140nm.
Should be another 5 days to NZ which wouldmean we get in before the nextlow.
Day 4
This is a lumpy passage - a bit like being stuck on a "pirate ship" fairground ride for eight days. Very different from most of our sailing in the Pacific. We are about half way. Both of us are feeling a little sea sick. Neither of us ate much the first two days. We did manage some light meals the last two days.
Our weather strategy was to time our arrival before the next low to hit NZ - this could be very close. We may enter some high pressure soon, and this will help the waves to settle.
Sad to miss the Rugby final. I support both teams and don't know who I'd like to see win. England do look like the better side based on their last game.
This is a lumpy passage - a bit like being stuck on a "pirate ship" fairground ride for eight days. Very different from most of our sailing in the Pacific. We are about half way. Both of us are feeling a little sea sick. Neither of us ate much the first two days. We did manage some light meals the last two days.
Our weather strategy was to time our arrival before the next low to hit NZ - this could be very close. We may enter some high pressure soon, and this will help the waves to settle.
Sad to miss the Rugby final. I support both teams and don't know who I'd like to see win. England do look like the better side based on their last game.
Wilderness 24 49.48S 172 02.26E
Day 5
Progress has matched our plan exactly, and updated weather is also what we expected. Wilderness is doing well, but we've been shaken up as we've become used to following seas. We still anticipate entering the high in the next 12hrs and motoring for the final 48hrs of our route.
SOG: 6
COG: 177
Wind: 17
TWD: 97
Sea: 2-3m - short period.
Progress has matched our plan exactly, and updated weather is also what we expected. Wilderness is doing well, but we've been shaken up as we've become used to following seas. We still anticipate entering the high in the next 12hrs and motoring for the final 48hrs of our route.
SOG: 6
COG: 177
Wind: 17
TWD: 97
Sea: 2-3m - short period.
Wilderness 27 34.46S 171 40.58E
Day 6
Finally we are free of the horrible little waves that have been with us since leaving Fiji. They were not particularly impressive, but so short and sharp that they bounced us all over. We don't fish, but due to the bouncing we received from waves we both caught some air.
Our saloon table can be lowered to make an extra berth, this gives an excellent view for watches. We haven't needed to do this since leaving our home port, but with those mean little waves hitting our sides and deck, our usual spot in the cockpit - as well as everything else on deck - was either wet, windy, cold or covered in several layers of salt. Like a pilot house, we can close off the saloon to keep the inside free from the elements, plus in its central position it is more comfortable in these conditions.
We have now entered a high pressure system and anticipate motoring the next 400nm. Normally we love to just sit out on the ocean and eventually get blown in to our destination, but at this time of year the NZ coast receives a low pressure system every 7-10 days, and we want to get there before the next low catches us out.
SOG: 5.5
COG: 153
Wind: 5
TWD: 155
Sea: 1m >10 second periods.
Finally we are free of the horrible little waves that have been with us since leaving Fiji. They were not particularly impressive, but so short and sharp that they bounced us all over. We don't fish, but due to the bouncing we received from waves we both caught some air.
Our saloon table can be lowered to make an extra berth, this gives an excellent view for watches. We haven't needed to do this since leaving our home port, but with those mean little waves hitting our sides and deck, our usual spot in the cockpit - as well as everything else on deck - was either wet, windy, cold or covered in several layers of salt. Like a pilot house, we can close off the saloon to keep the inside free from the elements, plus in its central position it is more comfortable in these conditions.
We have now entered a high pressure system and anticipate motoring the next 400nm. Normally we love to just sit out on the ocean and eventually get blown in to our destination, but at this time of year the NZ coast receives a low pressure system every 7-10 days, and we want to get there before the next low catches us out.
SOG: 5.5
COG: 153
Wind: 5
TWD: 155
Sea: 1m >10 second periods.
Wilderness 29 38.30S 172 08.34E
Day 7
The gentle sea swell of a high pressure system is a welcome change. This is not the dead calm of the doldrums, just a high passing through. The wind will return, but for now we are motoring in 2-3kts.
There are highs and lows when cruising. Times to panic, and times when there is no time to panic; times when you can't think, you just have to act, and there are times to reflect. It is high pressure - fair winds, and calm seas - that brings me time to reflect.
Cruising is unlike "normal" shore life. There are still difficulties and hardships, occasions where tests of skill, wit, and endurance have tremendous consequences to daily life. Perhaps it is because I read sci-fi that after all the excitement I often think of my small sail boat, hundreds even thousands of miles from any support, as a ship traveling through space. Even in times of calm it's easy for me to see the similarities. By standing watch at night you become acquainted, with the moon phases, planets, and stars. Looking out across a calm pitch black ocean, with a clear and bright southern hemisphere starscape above, as you leave a trail of phosphorescence behind in your wake, seems like a dream of space travel. If you get the chance to see this, take it! Possibly the nearest experience to traveling the stars you will find while still on earth. There are exciting times at sea, but it is the times of calm on the ocean that I like the most.
This morning the high has driven all the clouds to the edge of the horizon, and there is sea for miles. Who knows where the waves have gone, the sea is now as flat as a football pitch. Patches of sea left undisturbed mirror the pastel colours of early dawn, the remaining ripples are on the verge of disappearing, but the colour of the ocean can almost be seen as well.
The sunrise is a very special time on the ocean. It's also the end of the night watch, which brings another interesting contrast.
The gentle sea swell of a high pressure system is a welcome change. This is not the dead calm of the doldrums, just a high passing through. The wind will return, but for now we are motoring in 2-3kts.
There are highs and lows when cruising. Times to panic, and times when there is no time to panic; times when you can't think, you just have to act, and there are times to reflect. It is high pressure - fair winds, and calm seas - that brings me time to reflect.
Cruising is unlike "normal" shore life. There are still difficulties and hardships, occasions where tests of skill, wit, and endurance have tremendous consequences to daily life. Perhaps it is because I read sci-fi that after all the excitement I often think of my small sail boat, hundreds even thousands of miles from any support, as a ship traveling through space. Even in times of calm it's easy for me to see the similarities. By standing watch at night you become acquainted, with the moon phases, planets, and stars. Looking out across a calm pitch black ocean, with a clear and bright southern hemisphere starscape above, as you leave a trail of phosphorescence behind in your wake, seems like a dream of space travel. If you get the chance to see this, take it! Possibly the nearest experience to traveling the stars you will find while still on earth. There are exciting times at sea, but it is the times of calm on the ocean that I like the most.
This morning the high has driven all the clouds to the edge of the horizon, and there is sea for miles. Who knows where the waves have gone, the sea is now as flat as a football pitch. Patches of sea left undisturbed mirror the pastel colours of early dawn, the remaining ripples are on the verge of disappearing, but the colour of the ocean can almost be seen as well.
The sunrise is a very special time on the ocean. It's also the end of the night watch, which brings another interesting contrast.
One thing we watch for are other ships. In daylight we may be able to see a ship a couple of miles away, so day feels somehow safer than night as we can see clearly. At night we can see lights from other vessels even further away, but because we cannot see a structure we think we cannot see as far.
Looking at the stars at night we are seeing light from hundreds of thousands of light years away, so at night seeing at a distance shouldn't worry us, but we do because we cannot see clearly. Without a moon it can feel like we cannot see ten lengths beyond our bow, so last night we ran our radar, and detected a vessel 48nm way. On AIS we picked up another ship over 100nm away, and in the morning on VHF radio we heard three other yachts 120nm out! These are the first contacts we have picked up on our instruments since leaving Fiji.
Wilderness 31 00.00S 172 43.45E
Day 8
80nm to go! We are both very excited to reach New Zealand, and catch up with friends.
Today was a downwind and flat sea day, perfect for the spinnaker. Although, we are motor sailing to meet our notified arrival time.
Over eight months cruising the vast South Pacific, now that marine services are available, it is time to take care of Wilderness maintenance list. There are busy days ahead for us to complete all the jobs we want.
Cruisers ahead of us have mentioned that New Zealand is cold, and that warm clothes are needed. Maybe it is because we are sailing in a high, but we are still wearing T-shirt and shorts.
NE 12.6kts
COG 170t
SOG 6.7
Waves: Flat
80nm to go! We are both very excited to reach New Zealand, and catch up with friends.
Today was a downwind and flat sea day, perfect for the spinnaker. Although, we are motor sailing to meet our notified arrival time.
Over eight months cruising the vast South Pacific, now that marine services are available, it is time to take care of Wilderness maintenance list. There are busy days ahead for us to complete all the jobs we want.
Cruisers ahead of us have mentioned that New Zealand is cold, and that warm clothes are needed. Maybe it is because we are sailing in a high, but we are still wearing T-shirt and shorts.
NE 12.6kts
COG 170t
SOG 6.7
Waves: Flat
Wilderness 33 57.57S 173 46.50E
Arrived safely in NZ. Opua - Bay of Islands
Thick fog on our way in. Luckly we were already using radar so it didn't trouble us. Were still surprised to see cruise ship at anchor come ot of the fog. Met many friends already, and made a great start on our maintenance work.
The fog lifted just as we entered the channel for Opua, First impressions, we are wow'd by the natural beauty of the bay of islands. Reminds us of the Chesapeake crossed with the UK. Also very impressed with customs clearance, and all the marine services available. Great weather. Feeling very happy. Still in shorts.
Charles and Fung .. signing off.
The fog lifted just as we entered the channel for Opua, First impressions, we are wow'd by the natural beauty of the bay of islands. Reminds us of the Chesapeake crossed with the UK. Also very impressed with customs clearance, and all the marine services available. Great weather. Feeling very happy. Still in shorts.
Charles and Fung .. signing off.
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