Monday 6th May 2013
Midday - In the calmer conditions of this morning,I got my shower attachment working, finally, on the sugar scoop (stern steps) -only just managed not to lose any of the 3 tiny ball-bearings while I was working on the boat fitting to see why there was a problem. Will be useful having the deck shower in this bright, warm sunshine and certainly enjoyed it later! Had a late breakfast in the cockpit afterwards, having tried to send off my 11am (2300Z) position report - difficult connection at this time of day - mght have to leave until a few hours' time, when propagation is better.
Evening: All in all, it's been pleasant sailing over the day - not fast, but steady in ESE wind, good sunshine, with relatively calm seas. Had several boobies come by at sunset - big, neavy birds that tried very hard to roost on the solar panels but found nothing to grip on to - so finally gave up, as darkness fell.... I was glad they failed because they could have damaged the structures - quite apart from the mess they make!
Later, a squall came by - I was catching up on some sleep and woke to find the sails backed and the decks wet, with some water down below, by open ports, also. We were sailing SW at 2.5kt - so had to jump to the wheel and get us back on course - would have been nice to have had a working wind instrument at that point in the dark of a moonless night, but was able see the Windex lit up by the tricolour light at the mast top, which was useful, as we gybed around to end up heading NE again. It became quite rough at times - we're beating, close-hauled, and passing the channel between the two big islands of Fiji, so the seas are getting up between the islands, from the S.
D.M.G. over 24hr to 11am LT: 12 n.ml. - again, no surprise! Sydney: 1728 n.ml. (229T); New Zealand's North Cape: 1092 n.ml. (190T); Efate (Vanuatu): 483 n.ml. (261T); Vanua Levu (Fiji): 90 n.ml. (098T); Yasawa Islands, Viti Levu, Fiji): 33n.ml. (120T).
Distance to Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance: 4985 n.ml.
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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/