Saturday 4th May 2013
Midday Wind remained very light overnight and into this morning but we managed to keep to our NE course - until the wind suddenly backed to NNE from SSE at 11am - so previous course became impossible. Didn't want to head towards Fiji and outlying islands and reefs - so we're now drifting NNW under wind steering at around 1kt, occasionally speeding up to just over 2kt! Was surprised to find high outline of an island on the horizon - clearly the outer islands of Viti Levu included some mountainous ones - I'd assumed all were fairly low-lying reef islands.
Later - Wind has dropped to almost nothing so really difficult to keep heading N or NE - but making progress despite the very light and fickle wind ... Keep having to get to the wheel to get us back on track.... and have changed tack several times today.
Bright sun all day with mainly little or no cloud overhead I had meals in the cockpit - this morning's breakfast in the shade and tonight's food in the cool night air, with lovely bright stars above - but no moon - too early. One tern and two boobies seen today. In the calm conditions, was easier to sort through paper charts, finding ones for Pacific onward and stowing ones finished with.
Morning 20m sched was a bit noisy but a later one was excellent with no noise or static crashes on frequency whereas 40m was noisy again tonight. Nice chats with several contacts.
D.M.G. over 24hr to 11am LT: 72 n.ml. Sydney: 1691 n.ml. (229T); New Zealand's North Cape: 1053 n.ml. (190T); New Caledonia: 622 n.ml. (239T); Viwa Island and Reef (Fiji): 13 n.ml. (087T); Yasawa Group (Fiji): 27n.ml. (103T); Efate (Vanuatu): 462 n.ml. (265T).
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For my positions and track, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/