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...

Wednesday 16th May 2012 (GMT - strictlly speaking, it's Tuesday according to my longitude, just east of the Dateline which is on meridian 180 degrees!)

What a difference a day makes...!

After yesterday's nasty weather and big problems, it was great to have sunshine and wind. Even though the wind was rather variable over the day, we were often sailing at a good speed, eventually with poled out staysail on a broad reach. Seas stayed up for most of the day at around 4-5 m - quite big and knocking us about regularly.

But by evening, the occasional light shower had become heavy rain, with occasional lightning, and almost NO WIND... I suddenly realized that not having an autopliot that worked was a problem - we could have motored very gently on our course with a working AP - but not without one since the very light apparent wind generated wouldn't be enough for the windsteering to take over.. (Seems I'd better prioritize fixing the AP system.) I noticed that what little wind there was came from the N - not helpful for a NE course. In fact, as I write this, the wind is 7 knots from NNE... Fred, our windsteering crew-member, is presently managing to keep us going roughly due E at 1 knot!

Pressure is down at 988 hPa and we'll just have to wait for the expected NW wind to arrive - all indications are that it wil possibly become strong Southerly soon after. I hope I don't have to wait too long!

No mention of birds recently because I've hardly seen any - just a single Flesh-footed Shearwater early today and a Sooty Shearwater yesterday. ... quite different from the passages full of birdlife up to now.

24hr DMG to 1pm NZT today: 107 n. ml.

Approx position now: 39S, 173W 446 n.ml. E of Napier on NZ's North Island, in Hawke Bay.

Tuesday 15th May 2012

A difficult couple of days -big , rough seas & winds regularly up in the 30s - consistently around 37kt overnight yesterday and still around 30 kt now (just gusted up to 34kt) - with more strong conditions expected soon. I went to heave to finally last night with the wind staying up around 35kt -only to find the stays'l furling line was stuck so I couldn't furl in the sail ... At dawn, I saw the reason (a stuck sheet) and was then able to heave to - getting some much-needed sleep for a few hours... before getting underway again in 24kt early this afternoon.

Wind has been mainly from N-NNW and we headed just N of E for quite a time in the hope that would avoid even stronger conditions as a deep complex Low came by. Pressure is still down at 987, having dropped to 983 hPa this afternoon. We're in a deep trough, waiting for the wind to back into the W-SW and strengthen more - good Southern Ocean stuff!!

It's been wet and cold, with outer clothing feeling thoroughly damp to put on each time I've gone on deck. With the small generator deciding not to work (I ran the main engine this afternoon to charge batteries), all the more reason to use Fred to steer us under windpower. Went to use the newly-fixed autopilot earlier - it was fine for quite a time, but finally decided it was not well. I've not yet investigated but expect to have to change in the the hydraulic pump from the second AP system on board when things are calmer. In the meantime, Fred is coping well so long as I fix the wheel slightly to leeward in strong conditions to avoid heading up in the gusts.

The generator problem is due to overheating and lack of seawater getting to the cooling circuit. I loosened the seawater strainer cover to allow the water to rise up the pipework but that didn't help. The impellor cover is virtually impossible to remove in situ, so another job for calmer conditions will be to remove the seawater pump completely to check the impellor - that's actually far easier! (I have a spare pump ready, just in case of other problems).

It's been good to have supportive, friendly chats by radio with people - Kiwi/Aussie nets in the mornings, regular contact with Taupo Radio and Bluff Fishermen's Radio (Meri) and the Pacific Seafarers Net. Ian on Coast Radio Hobart even came up to greet me on Monday and pass on a message from Mary of Smithton Radio (in Tasmania) and there's usually contact on 14300 at any time if I want or need it. I've even made contact with a Dutch group - amazing to chat to Belgium & Holland from here!

Time to catch up on some more sleep - finished my very welcome stew tonight, so must make another tomorrow...

DMG Monday: 137 n.ml. Tuesday: 108 n.ml. (despite heaving to for a while!)

Sunday 13th May 2012

Between expected strong winds and finding the autopilot had given up the ghost, I was too busy yesterday to post a log report, although my usual midday position & weather report was posted.

I've been getting updated weather faxes and voice weather forecasts frequently for several days now .... "Looks as though we shan't avoid 30 knots later on Saturday," I said two days ago.... Fortunately , we totally avoided the strong winds - probably just nicely too far S, due to being almost hove-to in light winds, very close-hauled, while I was busy in the aft cabin, draining hydraulic fluid from the autopilot pump, once I'd evenually found someone with the right knowledge to advise me... The next dose of 30+ knots heading our way is now expected overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. Having missed two lots so far, I doubt I'll be so lucky again...! Also Wednesday is expected to bring strong SW'lies at 30-40kt.

Over Saturday afternoon, I was busy on deck in the relatively calm conditions (light winds, 3m swell...) fixing a few items, ready for the expected strong weather coming up (found 3rd reef shackle pin was missing, meaning I wouldn't have been able to tie in the 3rd reef!). I noticed that we were wandering all over the place and a few hours later realized that the autopilot ram (the piston pushing & pulling the lever arm attached to the rudder stock) was wheezing like a 95-year-old and unable to make any effective movement - the AP was completely unable to hold a course . So I switched to Fred, my Hydrovane helper, who, despite the light winds, coped well - we settled down nicely on course, close-hauled.

When I checked in with friendly Taupo Maritime Radio at 7pm, as I do daily just now, I mentioned my problem and asked if they had anyone who could advise me (I couldn't find a manual), my thinking at that point being to change over the hydraulic pumps in my two independent autopilot systems, so that I'd end up with a good pump working a good ram.They eventually put me in contact with Mike Roberts at the NZ Rescue Coordination Centre, also in Wellington, who was brilliant! After a long discussion, during which he suggested I might make for Wellington (but the Cook Strait was expecting 40kt winds overnight!), or possibly Napier (but dead upwind!), he decided that my problem was possibly due to degraded/dirty hydraulic fluid - my response being to change it, if he could give me advice on any problems to avoid. Overnight, that's exactly what I did - with lots of friendly, useful support from Mike over the radio and satphone. By 4.30am, I'd bled the system thoroughly and had the pump running OK & working the drive unit (or so I thought!) No leaks and all looking good, except for the chaos in the aft cabin - that could wait until after I'd got some sleep..

It wasn't until later today, when I finally got to the aft cabin to tidy up, check the reservoir level and check for no leaks, that I realized that the port drive hadn't been connected up .. a small detail I'd overlooked last night! So much for last night's bleeding and running the AP to confirm all OK after changing the fluid! Fred had still been in charge in the darkness...! I immediately connected up the correct drive arm, changed the power supply over and bled the system - it felt good and strong and has since behaved fine, including no leaks.

I've now switched back to Fred in a NNW 4-5 (15-17kt) wind and we're making ENE at 6.7 - 7.2 kt, bouncing along gently - we're in the groove...! These conditions are expected to last until tomorrow afternoon, when the wind will increase until overnight.

By 6pm, the 80-mile distant coastline of the North Island of NZ was slowly disappearing from the top left corner of my AIS screen as we sailed gently away from land, sunset an hour before. Two different lone albatrosses had come by today - very few birds are being seen just now.

DMG today, not too surprisingly, was a mere 77 n.ml.

Friday 11th May 2012

I'm watching the wind strength as I write this - the SE-18 kt of yesterday became 15 overnight, then 11 kt most of today and has become 7-10 kt now.. as we headed NE in mainly SE winds.

A Low is coming this way - with strong winds 30-40kt expected in places over this weekend. Taupo Maritime Radio (helped by an intervention by Coast Radio Hobart, who heard me calling!) kindly gave me up-to-date weather info so I know what to expect in the sea area where I am now and will be over Sat and Sun. It all depends exactly where I am when - highly variable winds due to the Low being so very close by.

Royal albatross were joined by an occasional Buller's and a Sooty Shearwater today - another murky, grey day until sunset, when the clouds parted on the horizon to give a glimpse of the setting sun - nice!

Another day spent with an eye constantly on the wind and forecasts of weather (lots of weatherfaxes downloaded, as usual), but also with plenty of contact with people by radio - it's good to chat to them!

After a major diversion rounding Mernoo Bank to avoid its shallow areas in view of the swell running, hardly surprising that our daily DMG was only 92 n.ml. - not too bad!

Looks as though we shan't avoid 30 knots later on Saturday - not sure whether from SW or NW though - and there'll be gusts to higher, no doubt... Wind direction is off shore,so that's good.

Thursday 10th May 2012

Dawn saw the start of another cold, grey day - with a pair of Southern Royal albatross circling the boat. They stayed around on and off all day, together with a pair of pretty Cape Petrels - distinctive in their jazzy black and white markings - tiny by comparison with the majestic albatross.

As usual, in rough conditions, with more forecast, I've spent a lot of time checking weather info and downloading weatherfaxes regularly.

Swell has been 4m from both the S and the E over today and yesterday - making definitely for a bumpy ride!

Dave & Trish, on Tony's Net, have suggested a stop in Raivavae, rather than Tahiti, both in French Polynesia - they reckon it to be one of the nicest of the French islands there, with an easy, safe entry into the lagoon... but it seems a bit off my path...

Fred, my Hydrovane helper, has been happily in control all last night and today. But I gave him a rest tonight ... Although I'd recently got out the paper chart for the SW Pacific, I'd not really looked at it much, not thinking it necessary with the plotter available - big mistake!

When I spoke to Meri (controller of the Bluff Fishermen's Radio) tonight, I double-checked her Gale warning for the sea area I'm in now - and fortunately she asked Paul, on the nearby fishing vessel "Southern Progress", to check my position on his plotter to see which forecast area I should be using... We got chatting and he warned me of the shoals in the Mernoo Bank, saying I was heading directly for very shallow water, on which the swell would be breaking very heavily...

What a timely comment! It didn't take long for me to realize that it might be a very good idea to go around the Bank... On checking the depths ahead in detail, he was absolutely right - the sea rises to just 50m depth in several places in the Bank - right on my path...

Problem was the wind direction - heading E wasn't an option in the SE wind, so I had to gybe and head NW in order to be sure of avoiding the several shoal areas. Of course, heading downwind promptly made our motion calmer and the seas now seem even calmer due, no doubt, to being on the far side of the Bank from the swell direction. Later tonight, I'll be able to gybe around again and gradually get back on course.

We eventually made very good speed last night and today, once I'd unfurled quite a bit of genoa on deciding that there didn't seem to be the strong winds that had been forecast. So our DMG ended up vaguely respectable - at 100 n.ml.

The Low that had been promising strong winds seems now to be expected to hang around for several days, more's the pity... Getting away from New Zealand is proving to be quite complicated!

Wednesday 9th May 2012

With wind from E-ENE, we've been making slow progress all day, very close-hauled, N of our planned course. ....

Impossible to head NE as I'd intended and not a good idea to get too close to the coast of S. Island, New Zealand. Reason being a Low heading towards us, forecast to give 35-knot winds - if necessary, I planned to heave to but didn't want to do that too close to land with possible strong easterlies - hence the need to stay very close-hauled, even though that meant a slow speed. That has turned out to be a good thing anyway, since tonight, the band of 35-kt winds, moving E, is forecast to be well ahead of us tomorrow and by having sailed parallel to the coast, we should be able to go around the Low with helpful winds...

As I write this, the wind has veered to ESE and is around 16 knots - not much more than the 12-14 knots seen over most of today but I'm expecting to see it increase as that Low gets closer... After the Low has passed,, we could run out of wind... Plenty of variety out here!!

The 25knots we had from 4-7pm yesterday was not followed this morning by further strong winds, as forecast yesterday evening - good news!

I checked the two solar panels' input this afternoon, in very gloomy overcast (as all day long). There are two sets of wires coming down, each fused, and it occurred to me, following a comment from Greg yesterday when discussing the solar panel wiring, that removing each fuse in turn would give a simple way of checking if one set of panels had damaged wiring. In the event, both sets were putting in equal current and since I don't think there's any worry about one set of panels, that implies the other set is also OK - more good news!

I'm continuing to make voice radio contacts several times daily - as well as downloading weatherfaxes from Taupo Radio broadcasts., The weatherfax transmissions are really useful for keeping right up to date, while at sea, with current and expected weather - a real safety feature!

Not surprisingly, DMG today was only 98 n.ml. and probably less tomorrow.

Tuesday 8th May 2012

Very few birds seen today - just the occasional visit by a Buller's albatross and several visits from a solitary Cape petrel.

This afternoon, the expected Cold Front came through after a day of quite light winds. Ahead was the usual cloud layer but with only a hint of light rain, and wind which had slowly backed from yesterday's NE to an overnight N and then stayed roughly NW 12 knots most of the day until around 4pm, when it quickly backed to WSW as the Front passed over, increasing to 25 knots or more. There was a lovely sunset with the red-gold sunlight catching the underneath of the clearing low cloud layer. I had to gybe to stay on course, expecting the wind to back further, which by tonight it has - to SE . So we've been through pretty well all possible sail trims - through almost dead downwind, from close-hauled to a broad reach on starboard tack back to close-hauled on port tack.

Forecast for tomorrow is for wind to inrease - to around 25 knots from the East eventually - so holding our NE course will get increasingly difficult..... Maybe they've got that wrong! Especially since the forecast is for NE 35 kt on Thursday...

Had several radio chats today, again - but not quite so much as yesterday! Spoke to Meri, who runs Bluff Fishermen's Radio, on South Island, just N of Stewart Island. Several fishing boats also checked in with her, giving position and weather - she keeps an eye on them to make sure all is well onboard and they tell her when they expect to make which harbour.

Must get into my night sleep routine - expecting strong wind by morning, so won't remove many layers, if any!

DMG today: 124 n.ml. Distance to Tahiti: 2602 n.ml. - approx. another 3 weeks of sailing!

Monday 7th May 2012

Beautiful, calm, clear, moonlit night (full 'perigee' moon) - Stewart Island, and offlying Big South Cape Island slightly to the West, both clear in outline as we slowly changed course around the SW Cape to head towards Tahiti to get the required Easting before sailing to Hawai'i, before making for the Strait of Juan de Fuca, between the 'Pacific NW' of the USA and Vancouver Island...

While it was so calm, I took the opportunity of the bright moonlight to cable-tie some of the wires below the solar panels which I'd noticed earlier had come adrift - presumably when one set of panels had been sliding on its support a few days back. I suspect some of the wiring connections are damaged from being pulled on. since we don't seem to be putting in anything like what I've been used to seeing. A job for when it's really calm, one day!

Unfortunately, the autopilot motor stopped functioning as just as the wind died on approach to the Cape (luckily a good way off!) so, not seeing anything I could do about it, once the hydraulic fluid had been topped up, I switched to the back-up motor - no big crisis, but nice to have calm conditions to investigate and try to sort out the problem! It's certainly giving me the chance to find out a little about hydraulic motor systems..... Since the back-up ram is working but in need of refurbishing, I might yet have to switch its motor in place of the problem one at some point. In the meantime, it was good to have Fred, the Hydrovane windsteering unit, to fall back on.... the bonus being no use of battery power while he's hard at work!

I was well aware of needing to keep 'North Trap' (rocks awash) and 'Boomerang Breaker' (shallow spots to under 5m depth) well off to starboard (by 4 ml and 9 ml respectively) as I rounded Stewart Island 4-5 mls off. (There's also a 'South Trap' to avoid, with rocks just 1.8m above water, which is 17 mls offshore.) The names seemed very understandable... but later this morning I realised just how appropriate the names were when, with almost no wind and motor-sailing ENE, I found us in a strong SW-flowing current... Together with a strong NNE wind that suddenly came up, we were struggling against the headwind to pass the Trap safely & making only around 2 knots. In the end , the only way to avoid for sure from being taken onto the Trap was to change course completely and head SE to pass S of it - giving us much better speed under sail, into the bargain!

At which point, I realized we were heading into a fogbank over the shallow area... Oh, what fun...! The worry also was that the chart and GPS might not be in sync - I kept my eyes on the depth display and tried to spot the low-lying rocks - in the distance, I hoped! ... which I found was the case..... with relief, no depth less than nearly 50m was seen and all ended well...

In hindsight (how good that always is!), I should have continued ESE from the SW Cape a bit further before 'turning the corner' and that might have avoided the problem (although there was still the South Trap not so far away - ready for the unwary!)

At dawn, there was a simultaneous bright sun and bright moon! The sky was full of albatross all morning - lots of Shy albatross as well as Buller's, also maybe Savin's - plus the occasional Cape Petrel. just an amazing sight - it was difficult to keep my mind on sail trim with so many fabulous birds flying so close - I got my camera out again - we live in hope of the occasional bird in the frame!!

Eventually, the wind backed to N and we then made good speed (up to 7 kt) making 080T. Later the wind settled down nicely and we made around 060T at good speed.

I seem to have been busy talking to people a lot on the radio today - Stewart Island Maritime Radio (actually in Wellington, via repeaters) had a very friendly operator who gave me the up-to-date weather for my area and also suggested a twice-daily check-in with them - initially on VHF and then on HF. Later there was a long session after the Pacific Seafarers Net - with a great 'patch' from Tom, WA6TLL, who got my friend Barbara, from Sidney , B.C., to chat to me using his radio (in California) via her telephone... This evening, I chatted to hams in Belgium, Holland and S. Australia and also with Greg, Mary Kay (of Smithton Radio, Tasmania) and friendly Hobart Coast Radio . Then, after an email from Jeremy of Dover Radio (Tasmania), I unexpectedly spoke to Meri of Bluff (N.Z.) Fishermen's Radio who was expecting me, having just herself spoken to Jeremy! All very sociable - and people forever ask me, "Aren't you lonely out there by yourself?"!

With the light wind around dawn, not too surprising that our DMG today was only 112 n.ml.

Better 'post' this - my morning 'sched' starts with a check-in at 0700 with NZ Maritime Radio!

Sunday 6th May 2012

Early in the morning, the overnight overcast cleared away from the N to give bright sunshine - but only for a short while before cloud increased again. The air is cold and the inside of the boat is cold from the low sea temperature - presently around 14C, having slowly gone down from 17C near Tasmania.. Wind is somewhat less and seas are a bit calmer than the last few days - we're actually sailing quite gently, at around 6 knots.

So many birds around today - being near Stewart Island and the many islets around it, clearly makes a difference - I even saw a seal this afternoon - popped his head up and looked at me!Majestic Royal albatross (Southern) soaring on fxed wings, white-rumped storm petrel fluttering over the surface, lots of Buller's, and the occasional Black-browed, albatross, ...prions, Flesh-footed shearwaters and a handsome Cape petrel late this afternoon - reminds me of the first time I saw one - was also a day out from New Zealand, in 2010. Spent a long time trying to get photos - so difficult!

DMG today - 146n.ml.!

Problrm withAP - stopped working - so I'd best close this and try to see if I can get anywhere - fluid leaking a bit - have just topped up fluid level... Hydrovane working fine in calm conditions and light wind (down to 8-9kt just now) which has veered to ENE and so is taking us away from land - good news!! But we're fairly close to land now (just 30 ml from SW Cape) so best to see if I can get one of the two APs working ... Bye for now!

Saturday 6th May 2012

A bright start to the day - but soon overcast with grey cloud - to last all day. The wind gods have stayed kind - wind consistently around NNE all day, at 15-19 knots, so good speed and course maintained, although seas were rather rough for most of the day and moving about was usually difficult.

Calmer tonight, with wind down to 16 kt at present, but speed down to below 6 kt as a result .... unlike the 6-7 knots I've got used to seeing. We're on schedule for rounding the SW Cape overnight tomorrow (around midday Sunday in GMT/very early morning Sunday in PDT) - a pity in a way, since it would have been nice to have got close in daylight to take some photos - maybe the (full) moon will be out for a night shot instead?

Last night got rather fraught when the autopilot stopped working... Hurriedly, I handsteered for a bit, and then got the Hydrovane working (being close-hauled, the boat could probably have steered herself, in fact!). After a while, having checked fluid level and general rudder/drive area, with nothing untoward found, I thought I'd try it again - it worked for a while but later did the same - it seemed to get stuck with the rudder at 3 degrees to port both times. Since then, it has worked without a hiccup, so I wonder what caused the problem.

Today was notable for the number of birds around - as is not unusual when the seas get a bit rough!! I was delighted to see four albatross early on - two Buller's albatross (endemic to this area) and two Black-browed (possibly Campbell's). The Buller's were new to me, as of yesterday, but were really unmistakeable once I'd got my birdbook out... grey head with pale cap, small dark area close to eyes, bright yellow upper to dark bill with yellow line underneath (similar to Yellow-nosed, but yellow top of bill far more eye-catching), mainly white underparts, with dark upper wings and back and thin dark edge to underwings. One seemed particularly keen to stay close to the boat so I got a really good look several times as it swooped past me on fixed wings - rarely flapping them, in typical albatross style. This afternoon, the usual small flock of prions was joined by several all-dark birds which flew around for a long time - Short-tailed shearwaters, I decided... dark bill and no light colour on underwing (as Sooty has), along with flight pattern and wing shape were decisive.

I'm looking forward to the approach to New Zealand's S coast tomorrow - hoping the cloud cover won't prevent me from seeing the mountain peaks of Southland in the South Island. Mt Aspiring is over 3,000m high and many other peaks are over 2,000m. On Stewart Island, there are two adjacent peaks, 979m & 974m high, in the N.

There's always a definite feeling of excitement on closing land - especially when you've never seen it before!

If I can time getting up well before dawn, and the cloud cover has gone (probably not, on both counts!), then I'm told it should be possible to see a bright display of meteorites:
"Earth is entering a stream of debris from Halley's Comet, source of the annual 'eta Aquarid' meteor shower. The shower peaks this weekend on May 5th and 6th. Glare from a perigee (close approach) full Moon--a "Super Moon"--will interfere with the display. Nevertheless, observers especially in the southern hemisphere, could still see dozens of meteors during the hours before local sunrise on May 6th."
(Thanks to John, VK4DBJ, for sending me the info.)

DMG today: 137 n.ml. - making the five-day total 683 n.ml.... with 221 n.ml. to SW Cape (all at 0100GMT/11am EST). (As I write this, I can see the SW corner of New Zealand's S.Island on my AIS screen - just over 100 ml away!)

(Just checked on deck - bright moon shining from a clearing sky - we might just be in luck if I can time it right... Alarm has been set!)