Sat 5th June
So nice to see Cape Petrels and occasional big albatross still soaring around the boat...!
Wind eventually got up this morning, after having finally started crossing the southern Cook Strait on Thursday in almost NO wind (2-4 kt!) - so had to motor through the calm for 2 days until this morning ...
But nasty low-pressure system coming my way overnight tonight and on into Sun/Mon, with winds expected to get up to over 35kt on Sunday and swell up to 6-8m - that's BIG!... Like being in the Southern Ocean all over again.... Thought I'd finished with that kind of weather! Have Bob McDavitt helping me to try to avoid worst of the gale - heading East now in hope of getting less strong wind than if continued heading NNE, as I was yesterday, off the East coast of N. Island ... We'll see what comes - just hope it's not as bad as forecast! Wind is gusty and up to 17 knots at present (3pm), from 12-14 kt earlier - will reef down sooner rather than later!!
Position at local noon (0000 UTC) is updated daily on 'Travels' page...