Sunday 7th April 2013

With a Cold Front passing by yesterday and overnight, wind was quite good and we made progress nicely for a time but slowly the wind has died down - it was forecast to back slowly and die with yet another High pressure system extending over as I try to round the SE Cape of Tasmania.

Around dawn, the wind was still a light northerly, but two hours later, it had backed to SSW and dropped even more. I had to gybe the sails and we've been struggling since then to keep heading due E towards a point S of the Cape, where we'll be able to turn to port and head NE up the Tasman Sea ... in the Pacific!

Spending a lot of time either checking our course ad adjusting Fred to keep heading E in the fickle wind or trying to persuade the computer to make bluetooth contact with radio via modem and then downloading weatherfaxes and emails. Having to set an alarm frequently so as not to miss either a radio 'sched' or the timing for a real-time weatherfax download!

Sun began to get through cloud layer soon after 9 o'clock.... mass of dark grey cloud in direction of Tasmania to the NE.

2pm Feeling oh-so-frustrated! We're managing to amble E at ~2 knots in not much wind (Fred is coping really well) which would be fine but for the fact that we're less than 70mls SW of Tasmania, with 150 ml to go before we can safely turn to port, with some rocky islands not so far off. By tomorrow morning (Mon), light wind is forecast to come from SE, slowly backing to E, meaning we'll be headed just at the critical time well BEFORE we can make the turn..... grrrr!! If only we were making 4kt, rather than 2kt, we'd be fine.... Seems winds won't be favourable until late Tuesday, with things being very difficult up to then.

I'll need to make sure I've caught up on sleep, since I'll need to be up frequently to check on our situation as the wind stays very light and changes direction overnight both tonight and tomorrow...

4.30pm We're moving!! Nearty 5kt... big, grey raincloud to S - possibly reason for wind... Maximum sails .... spent quite a time 'tweaking', trying to get a bit more speed..
Two albatross - one definitely a Black-browed and the other either a Shy or Salvin's - fine black edge to white on underwings was distinctive but also had grey wash on head.. Also a prion and a sooty shearwater, with several visits from Cape petrel - jazzy black & white markings!

5.20PM Light beginning to fade. .... and we're making.6.4kt!! The wind is up nicely... I've even furled in some genoa now... I'm feeling far happier, even though I don't know how long this wind will last - it certainly wasn't expected! SOG down to 5.9kt, as light faded after 6pm ... Long may this wind continue! I just hope it doesn't back too soon and cause a problem...

White-headed petrel was flying nearby as I worked on the genoa... Each time I took my camera on deck, having seen the Cape petrel and, later, the two albatrosses coming close - they disappeared off to the far horizon...!!

9pm Downloaded a current weatherfax a while ago - we've a Cold Front passing over - giving the present good wind.. If only it lasts long enough for us to pass the SE Cape of Tasmania, at which time we'll be changing course to the NE, things will be fine - but if the wind drops and backs too soon - that will be bad news ... My fingers are tightly crossed just now!! We're as close-hauled as we can be, while still maintaining speed.... We're totally dependent on the wind direction staying OK...

D.M.G. over 24hr to 1100GMT: 82 n.ml. (3-4 hrs of good wind) ; Tasmania S.E.Cape : 70 n.ml. (089T) ;

.......................................................................................................................................................
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/

Saturday 6th April 2013

Crossed longitude 42:30E - so now into zone GMT + 10hr ... Eastern Australia Standard Time & Tasmanian time (they put their clocks back from summertime tonight)

A lovely bright start to the day, wth lots of sun, despite plenty of light cloud. A big, heavy-looking Anartctic Skua circled around several times as I trimmed the sails for a close reach in the NE wind. But by afternoon, grey clouds had arrived with a Cold Front - we're just catching the very top of it - pity! Wind picked up and I saw 6 knots displayed - but not for long... back now to just over 4 kt.

Spent most of the morning studying paper charts, trying to decide on passage-making options for heading N through the Pacific to W of Hawaii. Not stopping anywhere gives more flexibility, although the SE and NE Trades must be kept in mind. If I can take a more direct route, it should be quicker, of course - but there are lots of tiny islands and atolls to avoid!!

Now the windsteering is back in action, I've no real need to stop in Tasmania, I've decided... The diesel onboard should be plenty for battery-charging, especially with solar power increasing as I head into sunnier climes, so there's no urgent need to try to resuscitate the wind generator - too much time and effort involved, with no guarantee of success at the end. I'm well behind on my expected timing to this point in my journey, so I'm looking to finish now in the shortest time possible...

The big decision now is which way to head from Tasmania ... NNE up the Tasman Sea or ESE towards New Zealand - the direct route is clearly to head N now. The Tasman Sea has a bad reputation for nasty weather, but then, equally, so has the S end of NZ .... win some, lose some...!! On balance, my inclination is to head up the Tasman Sea - a saving of well over 900ml.

D.M.G. over 24hr to 1100GMT: 48 n.ml. ; Cape Leeuwin : 1426 n.ml. (286T) ; Tasmania S.E.Cape : 150 n.ml. (089T) ;

.......................................................................................................................................................
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/

Friday 4th April

Up at 5.30am to check on deck and then make brief contact with Comedy and Tony`s Nets....... nearing dawn... a storm petrel dancing over the sea close by... Very light N wind - almost nothing... Sea also down nicely to around 1m - a long slow swell... looking hopeful for rudder replacement later...

Needed more sleep and nearly hit the hay again.. but on checking the weather forecast saw that although the swell was expected to stay down, or even reduce, the wind was expected to pick up a little over the day .. so felt obliged to stay up and get on with several urgent jobs. In fact, the day has been a mix of flat calm and light wind, with occasional gusts to maybe 10 knots. The autopilot more or less coped overnight and into daytime in the light wind but at times we just had to drift, with glassy calm patches showing on the slightly undulating sea surface....

The urgent jobs needing to be done in the prevailing calm conditions basically involved replacing the old, worn genoa sheets (the control ropes on the big headsail, or genoa), especially necessary after one had parted yesterday morning, and replacing the rudder on the wind steering (Fred!) after the pin holding it in place had come adrift a while ago, causing it to drop off the rudder post. That resulted in the hydraulic autopilot being needed continuously since then - with a need for constant topping up of the batteries to run it.

I`d already found a suitable length of rope for the genoa sheets and had checked last night that it was long enough to replace both sheets - they were both looking very tired! That was the first job, I decided, in view of the wind possibly getting up over the day, since I needed to unfurl most of the sail to bring the clew to within easy reach, and didn`t take too long. Then on to considering the rudder replacement - and how to secure the pin used to hold in in place. I went aft to look at the lower end of the rudder post, to decide how to tackle the job.... To my dismay, I saw that the ratio control knob was totally missing - it controls how the motion of the vane in the wind is translated into the movement of the rudder - a vital part of the mechanism...

Out with boxes of different spares - bolts, washers, spacers, bits & pieces... I was looking for a specific bolt to replace a missing one and a means of fixing it in place to do the job of the knob.... There was no point in even thinking about replacing the rudder if that couldn't be done! (I was also looking imto a couple of different options for securing the rudder pin...) I eventually found two bolts (one as a spare) which were useable - not quite as long as I`d have liked but there were no others suitable with the right pitch... Then cut up two rubber items to make suitable spacers, picked out a suitable washer, coated the end of the bolt with Loctite and fixed the bolt firmly in place... I just hope it stays put! (But I`m considering covering it with duct tape tomorrow to prevent it from falling if it comes loose.)

Having wasted some time, firstly with the thought of securing the rudder pin with wire (it snapped as I was twisting it!) and then using a small ring, I realised that I had a nice big sturdy split ring that could more easily be fitted in place underwater. So then into my boots & foulies and off with my long-sleeved, fleece tops - I expected to get wet - but fortunately the air wasn't too cold!! On with harness and two safety lines... By this time, the flat calm had disappeared and we were making 3 kt! .... we had to heave to so I could do the work.

I'd had to clean the area I'd be stepping, kneeling & maybe lying on - the lowest step of the sugar scoop was highly slippery with green slime. Next I had to figure out how to place my body/limbs beside the struts while being strapped in place but able to lean out safely to manoeuvre the unwieldy rudder into position in the disturbed water. I tied both the pin and the rudder so neither could be lost and finally managed to persuade the rudder, which wanted to float away, to locate onto the post and then to slide up it into position.. Then I had to locate the pin in its hole in both rudder and post, so it could be pushed through .. Finally, I had to turn almost upside down, leaning over the support struts, to get the split ring through a hole at the end of the pin in the water, to secure it from coming out of position... Job over! All that was left to do was to get it working as we got underway in some light wind... I was very happy to see it taking over control in place of the autopilot - no battery power needed!

In the NNE wind, we were on a close reach, trying to head E - the advantage of wind steeering is following the wind as it changes direction - we've been heading SSE to E since then - making the best eastward course possible, at speeds varying from 1-5 knots with a fickle wind. I enjoyed tidying up the lines in the cockpit under a welcome blue sky nearing sunset, delighted to spot a handsome black and white Cape petrel flying by, and then went and cooked a big meal - I was famished - nothing since breakfast! Later, I mixed myself a mango juice and rum to celebrate a successful day!!

The back up computer is still determinedly playing up but I've been too busy to do anything but download emails and weatherfaxes - I'll work on it tomorrow...

D.M.G. over 24hr to 1100GMT: 26 n.ml. !! (Definitely not a speed record!) ; Cape Leeuwin : 1342 n.ml. (286T) ; King Island (entrance to Bass Strait) : 248 n.ml. (028T) ; Tasmania S.E.Cape : 234 n.ml. (089T)

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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/
----- End of Original Message -----

Thursday 4th April

Total overcast all day long - no sight of the sun here whereas Tasmania, 200 miles to the East and on the other side of the High centre, seems to have had sunshine all day. Some showers nearby and a hint of rain this afternoon

On checking on deck early this morning, found the genoa flapping - it had wrapped itself around the stay - the sheet had broken apart - couldn't see what it had chafed on - looked almost cut... Swell was down at around 1 m so not too much problem standing in bow to try to persuade the genoa to unwrap - not easy, but was finally straightened out and good sheet tensioned so a temporary second sheet could be attached. Found a good line in the forepeak long enough to replace both sheets with a cow hitch in the middle at the clew the old sheets are really looking worn, having had four years of good use.

Spent many hours struggling with the back up computer - it has been determinedly playing up, particularly the Airmail program I use for emails, gribs and downloading weatherfaxes - as though it has become corrupted. Several times was forced to re-boot the computer after it had hung up & even using Task Manager couldn't resolve the problem... Program is useable, but still giving problems.... and I'm still missing data and addresses which hadn't been saved recently from the other computer.

Went to make my 1100GMT log entry - noted speed, SOG, as being 0.1kt with course, COG, 100T. Later, looked up to find us heading N at 2 knots!! Rushed up on deck, thinking we could get sailing - surely there must be a little wind...? Started autopilot - kept us heading at 1kt on course to SE Cape of Tasmania for all of 10-15 minutes before wind died and we lost steerage...!! Silence .... no sound of wind in rigging... occasional quiet lap of water on hull... We're drifting SE at 1.2kt.... Have gybed the main several times - wind keeps changing...

Found a sociable local Aussie Net on 7093 at 2.30pm - clearly a daily 'get-together' event and they made me very welcome! Propagation today was good - spoke to several US stations later, with good clear signals - seems my signal was particularly clear tonight. Has been suggested that I try wireless and/or bluetooth connection between laptops to get at data/email addresses I need from old laptop - problem might be that old laptop won't have either switched on... I'll see tomorrow.

Hoping to be able to try to replace wind steering rudder tomorrow - maybe swell will be even less than now.. Need still water.

A few birds this afternoon - including the white-headed petrel and an albatross.

D.M.G. over 24hr to 1100GMT: 60 n.ml. ; Cape Leeuwin : 1317 n.ml. (286T) ; King Island (entrance to Bass Strait) : 252 n.ml. (034T) ; Tasmania S.E.Cape : 258 n.ml. (291T)

.......................................................................................................................................................
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/

Wednesday 3rd April

Dull start to the day - cold, moist air, wind from SSW, later veering to WSW, seas slowly lying down - now around 3m.

Speed varied between 3.5 & 4.5 kt over the day, occasionally touching 5kt.

Changed over galley gas supply to large butane tank . Able to stow away small camping burner & use galley cooker normally. Nice to be able to make hot drinks &/or food with no fuss! Cleared up in galley -with calmer conditions, so much easier to move around and deal with things on board.

Afternoon - rainclouds threatened - but no rain fell and later, we were back to solid overcast again. No sun seen today...

Went to take barometer reading for log - blank screen ... batteries had run out. Explained why the pressure readings were surprisingly low earlier - well down on the 1018 of yesterday whereas should have been higher with High very close by now. Having just downloaded current weatherfax, was able to set barometer to 1020 hPa - a 'guestimate' which I felt was probably fairly accurate. A few hours later, it had risen to 1022.

Got ready for downloading a weatherfax - remote screen for computer suddenly went blank.... and wouldn't come up again... Definitely not my day today!! Plugged cable in several times - no difference .... searched for spare cable - none to be found.. either screen or cable is faulty - not sure which but suspect cable end connector. Started to get concerned ... need computer for communications - emails, weather info, gribs... Went to start up Fax machine with independent aerial - started fine, and began receiving weatherfax transmission.... good - but paper was not moving or coming out. Spent a time trying to see where the problem lay - finally arrived at a temporary solution...

Could not remember where the spare laptop had been stowed - very safely!! Searched around for some time - finally came across it in an unexpected place! In between times had a few 'scheds' on radio.... was not feeling too happy... Was about to send position report to Winlink but spare laptop needed charging first - seems OK and hope to send this log report soon with delayed position report.

High pressure is settled to N of here for several days, slowly moving E, giving veered very light winds - finally ending up from N before a Cold Front passes over around end of the weekend, giving stronger winds from SW possibly. In the meantime, we're likely to become stationary - or nearly so! Could give a chance to replace the wind steering rudder ... we'll see soon enough!

Tonight, boat speed down to 3.5kt or less.

D.M.G. over 24hr to 1100GMT: 101 n.ml. ; Cape Leeuwin : 1257 n.ml. (288T) ; King Island (entrance to Bass Strait) : 284 n.ml. ; Tasmania S.E.Cape : 318 n.ml.

...........................................................................................................................................................
For my positions and track, see either:

www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"

or

http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Tuesday 2nd April 2013

Photo of young Buller's albatross (from 18th Feb):

Midday: Dull, overcast, chilly, occasional slight rain.... Heavy condensation on windward ports again - humidity is 84% and cabin temp is 14C . Had hoped, with High approaching, to get some sunny weather - but not as yet. Still using my small camping stove to boil water for drinks and dehydrated meals - seas still well up, around 4.5m so no rush to change over tank supplying galley. Looks as though seas might not lie down significantly until very late tomorrow.... and with them coming from just abaft the beam, it's very rolly.
From latest weather info, still looking as though High will give calms followed by NNE winds, as I approach S.E. Cape of Tasmania - not at all helpful for my proposed stop to effect repairs etc..

Later, some sunshine through breaks in the cloud. Very few birds ..... a prion, ... a soft-plumaged petrel,... an albatross - one of the smaller ones - thick black edges to its underwings and white head with black patch over eyes - an immature black-browed - bill not yet the bright yellow of the mature birds - quite dull, in fact. Seas up, if anything - long and big, 11 second period, with wind waves and chop on top of the underlying swell.

Sunset: A pair of black and white storm petrels dancing over the water, long legs dangling, fluttering fast around and around the last of the daylight... Further away, a sooty shearwater, all dark , except for the light area on its underwings which seem to catch the light. Tried to take some photos but the storm petrels move so fast... so difficult!

I'm enjoying my regular radio chats over the day ... usually with Aussie and US stations, but tonight had unexpected contact with a S.African stn (presently in Mozambique) who I'd last spoken to about 3wks ago.

Although we made a good distance up to 1100 GMT today, that's clearly not going to continue - that High pressure is slowly making itself felt with lighter wind - we were down to under 4 knots for a time tonight and, typically,the SSW wind is gusting up and down a bit, while it gradually lessens. I'll not be surprised to find us becalmed quite soon - but that might have a benefit in that maybe the seas willl die down enough for me to fix that wind steering rudder in place - time will tell!

DMG at 1100 GMT: 135 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 1158 n.ml. (290T); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 355 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 419 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Monday 1st April 2013

Occasional heavy rain on & off over the day, in between some nice sunshine from between broken cloud.. White-headed petrel flew close by as I was gybing the mainsail around midday in backed WSW wind of about 20kt. Seas still well up at close on 5m and still tossing us around .. set to continue for another day it seems - longer than the strong wind, which is slowly dying as High gets closer and drops down on us.

Saw a pair of albatross - I've been on the lookout for theTasmanian Shy albatross, which breeds close to the S.E.Cape, but these looked, from their bright yelllow bill, to be Black-browed albatross.

In between weatherfax and email/grib downloads, had several good radio chat sessions. It's nice to have a regular daily 'sched' now with the familiar voices of Mary Kay of Smithtown Radio and Jeremy of Dover Radio, in Port Esperance - where I'm hoping to pick up a buoy after rounding the South East Cape of Tasmania. I'd listened in on the Comedy Net on 7087 and then on Tony's Net, on 14315, early this morning (both are Aus/NZ local nets) - but the weekend's CQ Contest was still going on so, although I heard a couple of familiar voices & callsigns, it was impossible to make a decent contact - tomorrow should be better. Certainly tonight, during the usual W coast US/Aus chat session, it was really quiet - I reckon everyone busy over the weekend had collapsed with exhaustion! Had a couple of other good chat sessions over the day with quite a few Aus and E.coast US. stations. Having to keep a good eye on my battery state and fuel usage and run the genset quite often to top up.

Dug out my small camping stove so I was able to boil some water for drinks and to add to dehydrated meals - had a couple of those over today - they make a good emergency back up.. Hoping seas will be less tomorrow, so I can change over galley supply pipe to a fresh tank so I can cook normally.

Wind has stayed around 15-20kt over the day so we've made good progress - as we need to in view of light winds forecast to arrive soon. As it was, I unfurled quite a lot of genoa this evening, as the wind eased.

Beautful clear starry night after today's rain - Southern Cross high above, in the Milky Way which was strewn across the sky - and Orion doing his usual headstand...

Bad news of today was finally finishing the last but one of the Aubrey/Maturin series of novels - one more to go and I'm out of them - will need to read the last two when I get back onshore...

I'm still waiting to hear if anyone knows what the fish was, whose photo was posted the other day!!

DMG at 1100 GMT: 146 n.ml. - not bad! C. Leeuwin: 1029 n.ml. (294T); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 469 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 554 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Sunday 31st March 2013 HAPPY EASTER!!

Posting photos of the Antarctic skua that visited 20th March:

1 pm Gusty conditions for last few hours, after a pleasant, gentle start to the day for a short while, with sunshine in between clouds. But a Cold Front is approaching, so wind has been veering into W-WNW from WSW and we've solid overcast with frequent light rain and gusts giving much increased boat speed, accelerated by frequent slight surfing in 4m swell when the wind is up. In gusts,we're making 6.5kt and in between them, around 5 kt. Had to gybe the mainsland & pole out the stays'l to go goosewinged - almost DDW (dead downwind).
Have downloaded usual set of weatherfaxes - quite a few! - and emails + gribs, in between.

Evening Went to cook a meal - gas just ran out... So have to find my small camping stove if I want even a hot drink. Hopefully, seas will calm down sometime tomorrow so I can change the gas over and make something hot. Sea temp is still around 15C and boat cools to same temp at night - so bunk (cold and damp initially, but nice once it warms up ) is the place to get to now - after a meal - something quick and easy...!
Had several radio chat sessions, with mainly Aussie stns earlier and then US later, but S. Africa seems to have become too far. Despite the weekend 'CQ Contest', which made just about all bands impossible at times, we were fairly lucky tonight - Eric and Mark managed to keep a lot of people away from close to our frequency - hard work, though! It should be nice and peaceful tomorrow, without all the noise they've been making....
An uncomfortable, rough, rolly ride just now - and has been since midday, with frequent surfing to 12-15kt in increased seas... I've constantly found myself watching the instruments... Forecast is for both seas and wind to die down slowly from their present 4-5m and gusting over 25kt, as High pressure to the N moves nearer and the pressure gradient drops..
The only bird seen today has been our constant companion of the last four days - the white-headed petrel.

DMG at 1100 GMT: 128 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 891 n.ml. (300T); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 607 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 700 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Saturday 30th March 2013 HAPPY EASTER!!

Up early to find wind down to 30kt or less and swell also slightly less, at around 5.5 m - so didn't take long to decide to lose no time getting underway - before having breakfast!

The day has been sunny at times but mainly cloudy. Wind slowly eased over the day - and with it, our speed, so we're making just 5kt this evening ...but seas., although less, are still well up and we're regularly being flung about.

White-headed petrel is still around, but noticeably fewer birds over last few days, despite rough seas.

Late this afternoon, a I was making a log entry, I realized we'd passed into yet another time zone : GMT + 9hr. When I get toTasmania, it will be GMT + 10hr - they're just changing their clocks back tonight to come out of 'summer' time.

Not much radio chat today - between poor propagation, AP making a noise on certain relevant frequencies and a'CQ Contest' over Easter weekend, it was difficult to make contact...

Looks, from grib files, as though next Wed might see very light winds on the approach to Tasmania - I hope they're not so light I become becalmed... Still far enough away to be completely different on the day, though...

Bouncing around in swell.... Time for my bunk - nearly finished 'Letter ofMarque' ...

DMG at 1100 GMT: 65 n.ml. (heaved to overnight and then drifted NNE-NE - so not much Easting....) C. Leeuwin: 767 n.ml. (WNW); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 724 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 827 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Friday 29th March 2013 HAPPY EASTER!!

With zero Variation at present, no arithmetic needed to get from Magnetic (compass) heading to True heading... for a very short while, anyway...! We're now moving from variation West back to variation East - maximum W variation seen was 50 degrees when at 71-72E on 8th March, while passing north of Ile Kerguelen in the Southern Ocean. Variation was last seen to be zero 200 miles east of the Falklands, on 13th January - a week after passing Cape Horn.

7am Wind suddenly increased so furled away genoa. Expecting strong conditions today and tomorrow - seas ~6m and winds ~30kt - can always expect more than what is forecast...
No contact earlier with usual US E. coast group - no sign of them on usual frequency, although heard John, W1QS, speaking briefly to Kip, KI3P, on a nearby frequency.
Butane tank had come loose at base and was lying on deck, held still, but not looking too safe in these seas. Went and lashed its base and around its middle firmly to strong points - feeling better now I know it's more secure. These seas really test all fittings and attachments!

Found a tiny fish caught in deck scupper - looks like barracuda it's so long and thin - but has a really pointed, needle-like nose - wondering if it's maybe a swordfish? White-headed petrel was around again this morning - seems to have adopted us! ...and a Black-browed albatross.

Received emails about methods of hoisting damaged windgen onto top of pole - seems it might be feasible, so plan to resuscitate it is now back on hold, rather than abandoned. Not a lot to be done by way of forward preparation in present rough weather, but should be calmer in two days' time. Always dfficult to do much when seas are up and tossing us about - more a matter of staying in 'survival mode' rather than able to get anything constructive done....

10am Gybed mains'l short while ago - wind a lot stronger now: F5, gusting F6, & veered into WNW - goosewinged on very broad reach... Seas up more ... to 4-5m and we're surfing a little, at times. Being rolled about all the time....

1:30pm Decided we needed to heave to ... We were making 8-9kt (max. hull speed is 8.8kt!) and surfing frequently at 15kt or more - all too fast in 30-35kt wind and impressively big (5-6m) seas! ... and AP was having trouble coping ... Also got worried on seeing SOG giving weird readings - began to wonder if GPS unit on radar mount was OK - maybe wire was damaged.. or getting stressed??
Watched to see how boat was behaving in relation to waves and wind - looked OK so finally went down below, had a good meal and relaxed with coffee and book... then caught up with a lot of emails - almost up to date! Wind piped up more, occasionally, but we're just rocking or rolling around a bit as the seas pass by.

Chatted several times on radio during afternoon and over evening. Lots of Aussie and US contacts - a highly sociable Friday evening!

DMG at 1100 GMT: 105 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 715 n.ml. (WNW); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 788 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 890 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

k6Thursday 28th March 2013

Another dull, cloudy day, with trough passing over, but seas much less, at 3-4m, so we're being tossed around far less frequently - but it's still happening!

Looking over options for calm place in Tassie to stop for repairs... Either anchor in convenient, shallow area off Recherche Bay or take buoy, further up D'Entrecasteaux Channel, in Port Esperance, at Dover... Each has its advantages and drawbacks! No working windlass creates a problem when raising anchor, as it was in SF Bay (not insurmountable, but it was nice to have lots of space there), and picking up a buoy under sail, with addition of current due to nearby river and/or possible Springs tide running, would test my sailing and boat-hook handling skills to the full!!

Good contact with US E. coast close to sunrise - and also, unexpectedly, with Dave, GW3XHG, in Wales - quite good copy, in fact! Yesterday, had fair copy on Steve, G4BVB, in England ... so my signal is clearly making it to the UK! The wonder of radio!!

4pm Went up to check on deck for wind direction, swell and cloud - and found a lovely and very distinctive White-headed petrel swooping around the boat- so different from the others with white body, head and tail, dark under-wings, dark grey upper-wings with 'M' across, pale grey back, dark bill and eye-patch. From a distance, white and dark patterning looks rather like that of one of the smaller albatrosses (or mollymawks, as they're also known) - but wing length relative to body size is wrong, as is flight behaviour. The sun suddenly appeared in a blue patch of sky.. sun getting low now, since not long to sunset..... but the blue patch was soon left behind and we were back under grey sky with hint of light rain.... Twenty minutes later... another patch of blue .. followed again by grey overcast....grey raincloud layer must be thin and broken... Still plenty of white horses but swell still down to only 3-4m every 8-10 sec - plenty of smaller waves making grey sea surface look quite rough.

Dug around for reserves of cereal and also found some dried peas for soup... Also UHT milk. Had a very tasty dinner tonight - had slowly fried some onion while I decided what to add in to it... Was about to plump for a thick slice of ham with vegetables when came across a tin of chunky chicken in white sauce (M&S!) ... had also fancied some celery heart - so put all together and heated up gently - lovely - made a good change... enough for tomorrow as well.

Lots of radio chat again around and after sunset - especially to the "VK6 Net' - around Perth/Fremantle, mainly- they're having lovely sunshine just now! Later to Seattle and San Diego, with some more Aussie stations.

Have just asked for some more detailed short term grib files - to confirm what is expected tomorrow and next day. Will decide on course to steer when have a better idea of what is expected by way of imminent strong winds and swell - or not... Still very much looking ahead to trying to avoid a problem with light winds of High coming soon.

DMG at 1100 GMT: 136 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 632 n.ml. (NW); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 892 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 939 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Wednesday 27th March 2013



Dull, cloudy start to the day...  and more rain later on.  Seas still well up and often still tossing us around  and washing the decks, although they did seem to lie down a little by late evening...   Cold, damp air -  cabin at 14C.



Current weatherfax shows wind likely  to remain good and from SSW-W for next few days - but then High pressure area settling by & over Tasmania will become a possible problem straight after Easter.  So, having spent a LOT of time this morning, poring over possible strategies, I decided to head more S now, while there was the wind to do it, to try to get into a position by Sunday where winds around High would not be unfavourable.   Also, the hope is to get slightly more wind by being further S, rather than the very light winds close to High's centre, and also to keep from being headed.    In two day's time, more big swell could be coming our way - could cause  a problem if wind gets up as well - we'll see ...!



Few birds around - three white-chinned & a soft-plumaged petrel, a prion, and an albatross with dark upperwings and back - probably a Yellow-nosed, from the rather thin black edges to its underwings - it didn't come very close when I was on deck looking...



Spent some time reading...The best place to be when the boat motion gets too violent is in or on my bunk!



Contacted several people in 'VK6-land'( Perth area and W.Australia) - I'd been told of the frequency they use as a local means of communication (useful for farmers & others in the outback) so I tried it out!  There's another for Eastern Australia also.  Later made several US and Aussie contacts, and an unexpected S. African one, and chatted for quite a while this evening - I'm anything but isolated at the moment!



Late this evening, went on deck to unfurl some genoa, with boat speed having dropped in lighter wind...   The full moon was lighting up the clouds so much that it was like semi-daylight - it was amazingly light and very easy to see what I was doing without my usual headlamp.



DMG at 1100 GMT: 144 n.ml. - despite 'zig-zag' path today ... nice!!  C. Leeuwin: 519 n.ml. (324T);   King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1024 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1129 n.ml.

..............................................................................

For my positions, see:

www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"

and/or:

http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Tuesday 26th March 2013

Note -Perth/W.Australia (my present time zone) do not operate 'summertime' clock changes - my mistake!

7.30am Not long finished regular early morning contact with US E coast and some Aussie stations - best around sunrise here (today, that was ~2250GMT/6:50am) - time keeps changing as I move East!
Good news was hearing my log reports are finally back up (although still a problem there - yet to be properly resolved). Had email from Australian SAR (MRCC) last night asking me to confirm if all well on board - people were getting worried with nothing being seen for so many days! (But my daily position reports were still being posted and showing up OK, over that same time.)
Bright sunshine and four white-chinned petrels flying around at present. About 60% cloud cover- big blue patches of sky to N and E , raincloud spreading in from SW (brought increased wind and rain soon after!), seas still rough - big 4m swell every 10-12 seconds with plenty of white horses and windwaves on top - tossing us about often, sometimes quite severely. Wind has veered into WSW at around 20kt and we're making 5-6 kt SOG. Changed course slightly, heading a little closer to wind, to keep sails filled better but might need to gybe the mains'l, if wind veers more into the W.
Very cold with the southerly wind - heavy condensation again on all portlights on windward side of boat - far more so than on leeward side. Cabin temperature only 13C - I'm still in lots of fleece layers!
Time for breakfast then catching up with emails and downloading of fresh grib files after 9 o'clock, with weatherfaxes over the morning also - have to set frequent alarms if I'm not to miss them.....

Had official confirmation that it's OK for me to pull in to Tassie waters to replace my windsteering rudder and deal with damaged radar mount and wind generator insofaras I can... Not allowed any physical contact with shore nor any outside help or spares/supplies to come on board - doesn't stop people from coming by to chat, if they wish - as happened in San Francisco in November - that got quite sociable, at times, while I was waiting for wind to enable me to leave. Even had offers of bottles of wine that I was, reluctantly, forced to refuse...!!

Midday: Was just getting on deck, in slight rain, thinking of gybing mains'l, when saw albatross with dark upper-wings and back soaring close by... Came around again and settled in water not far ahead, fine on our port bow.. Was clearly taken by surprise when we sailed up to it shortly afterwards and it had to take off..! Gave me a chance to see a Black-browed albatross really close up - it had a dark tip to its bill - the last immature characteristic to be grown out of, so 4-6 yrs old, maybe. Could well have been the same one as seen yesterday which also had a lot of black on its underwings. (Saw it several more times over the day)

Heavy rain at times all through the afternoon and early evening... Reduced stays'l and furled away genoa in the strong SW 5-6 wind (20-25+ kt) - still making around 7kt a lot of the time. Gusty conditions, due to Cold Front passing over, with sudden stronger wind making us rush along and then easing after the rain, or even just a raincloud, has passed over. Rockin' and rollin' a lot in increased 4-5m swell, as well - having to hold on tightly!! Skies cleared after sunset ...bright moon and stars.- but more cloud came in to give rain later...

Relaxed with a novel this afternoon - finished 'Reverse of the Medal'.... poor Aubrey! ... On to 'Letter of Marque' .. waiting to find out how Wray was finally brought down.. O'Brien certainly keeps the plot (and interest) going from novel to novel!

Plenty of radio chat this evening - lots of Aussie stns, as well as US and S. Africa - although that last one is getting difficult now.

DMG at 1100 GMT: 130 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 464 n.ml. (NNE); King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1166 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1264 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Jeanne is having difficulty posting directly to the blog from Nereida.  Some posts are delayed due to relaying the text.  The delays should not be considered a sign of serious troubles.

Monday 25th March 2013



At 1010 GMT, 6:10pm, we passed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin  LH (115:08.19E) - just before sunset, in suitably rough seas - it's a nasty piece of ocean around here!!



Into yet another time zone:  GMT+ 8hr ( geographic Perth time!) but without their summertime hour added on - they change clocks back one hour from next weekend.



Another lovely bright morning,  but such a chilly wind!   Being from SW, it feels as though it's bringing icy blasts with it from Antarctica!    The ropes in the cockpit, wet from recent rain, aren't drying too well in the cold air!



A young Great albatross, with a lot of brown on its upperparts and fine black edge to its white underwings, and another slightly smaller, grey-backed albatross with mostly dark underwings (another juvenile?), were around at different times when I went to trim the sails..  A few white-chinned petrels and soft-plumaged petrels - not so many birds at all until later in the day... But near sunset, as I was checking on the wind direction and strength for my log, a Sooty shearwater was circling the boat on fixed wings, soaring beautifully and effortlessly- all dark, includig its bill, but with highly-reflective lighter area on underwings.



Seas are still well up at ~4-5m again - feels very uncomfortable since plenty of smaller waves as well ad all on our beam so we're being tossed around.



Wind looking good for next few days - will keep heading East to stay N of frecast big swells as Lows pass by to the S - but by the beginning of April, looks as though a High might be settling right on top of us and overTasmania - where we're presently heading...  I'm thinking of trying to fix the wind steering rudder in calm waters somewhere there- but need wind to get there!



On further reflection, I think the chance of getting the wind generator back in action  is fairly remote - it's not that I can't fix the spare set of (damaged) blades in place -that's easy! - nor that I couldn't fabricate a new tail from wood to fix onto the stubs remaining - that would be relatively easy with my electric jigsaw and drill .... It's a matter of weight.... Raising the heavy generator onto its pole will be virtually impossible by myself without help - which is not permitted for an 'unassisted' RTW attempt..   A friend emailed to say he and a friend had a lot of difficulty with the same generator getting theirs onto the top of their pole..  The magnets in the alternator are so heavy...  and there's a good chance that, after all that work, I'd find the cable to be damaged...



But if I could get the windsteering back in action, that would save a lot of battery power and is defiitely something iI want to try to do as soon as possible.   The damaged radar  mount will need to be left well alone - the welded joint is half apart and any interference willl no doubt cause it to break off completely - taking the GPS with it -so I'll be content with just strapping it safely to the stern arch steelwork....



Later:    A wonderful full moon lighting up the sky - providing enough light for sail-handling and deck work...  I'd furled in the genoa just after sunset on seeing us careering along at over8 kt ... but it was just strong wind from a passing raincloud... With speed soon down at 3.5 kt, clearly the genoa needed to be unfurled again, at least a little...speed is now back up to 5-6kt.



DMG at 1100 GMT: 133 n.ml.   C. Leeuwin: 451 n.ml. (due N); WP due S of C. Leeuwin : 5 n.ml- behind us! :  King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1294 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1386 n.ml.

..............................................................................

For my positions, see:

www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"

and/or:

http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Sunday 24th March 2013



4am   Still dark.   Up to check on things - adjusted course more to E from ENE, hint of rain, rolling around a bit in swell ~4m, well-spaced, with F4 wind,  ... reasonable, relatively light conditions  .... back to bunk for more sleep.



10am   Lovely bright morning, with sun getting through broken cumulus.  Angled solar panels more towards bow (East!) to 'catch' more sunlight, since sun quite low down.  Reported in to Pacific Seafarers' Net after preparing positon and weather report.  Good enough contact with Cirrus, ZL2CVJ, near Cape Farewell, on S. Island, N.Z., for her to take my report - first time she's managed since I was in Pacific, headed south!

Saw a dark-winged albatross with dark back and darkish bill, thin dark edge to white underwings - almost certainly a Yellow-nosed but didn't catch sight of yellow lines on bill which are not too obvious from a distance.

Ran watermaker while ran generator to download grib files, along with any emails... connections far better now we're closer to stations in Australia but can still be slow.    11.30-12 am - weatherfaxes downloaded from Wiluna - next four days' isobaric charts - very useful!

Breakfast while radio running...looked at fresh gribs and weather info over coffee .. weather looking a bit complex... Still seems we might be into some big swell again later today....



2pm    Grey cloud has spread over with threat of light rain - only 1A input from solar panels.  Swell increasing - rolling a lot now.



Evening:

Quite a lot of rain earlier.   Sailing continued well although seas still rolling us about.   Spent quite an enjoyable time finding and reorganising provisions into more convenient places.  Found some nice cream cheese I thought I'd finished and some chocolate I'd misplaced.



Had several radio contacts over the day, although not all successful - John,VK4DBJ, had a storm threatening, so was unable to risk his antenna.   Having to use AP continuously causes me a problem since I often switch instruments off when they interfere on certain bands - but I cannot do that now, so often find reception  is noisy...



The good news of today was finding the remaining fuel on board looks to be plenty for the remainder of my RTW  for generator use to top up batteries when solar power is inadequate to keep the AP running and use the radio.   When it's calm, I'll top up the main tank from the jerry cans on board, but even without them, I think I've sufficient fuel for two hours of generator use per day - more than I've been running it so far.



I've a remote chance of getting the wind generator back in action ..... I've another set of (damaged) blades I could use and I could possibly fabricate a new tail from wood to fix onto the stubs remaining.   Raising the heavy generator onto its pole will take some doing but the topping lift might be made to help there.   That will all depend on the cable not being damaged... which it might well be...



DMG at 1100 GMT: 133 n.ml.   C. Leeuwin: 465 n.ml. (018T); WP due S of C. Leeuwin : 128 n.ml:  King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1427 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1516 n.ml.

..............................................................................

For my positions, see:

www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"

and/or:

http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Saturday 23rd March 2013



Was awoken before 6am, soon after dawn, from a short sleep while still hove-to by a banging on deck.   The wind generator, that I'd tied onto the stern arch temporarily in the dark last night after it had come off its pole, was again swinging freely in the big seas.   It's very heavy and threatens to do major damage when banging into things so I hurriedly got into my foulies and boots and went up to  lash it with a far stronger & longer line - difficult with seas still up around 5m or more and in wind  around 25kt, although both far less than overnight.  As soon as it's calm, I'll take the generator down below but it's far too heavy for me to move safely until these seas have lain right down.  (So that can't happen very soon!)



A little later, I was about toget back to sleep but realised that conditions seemed reasonable enough to get underway. Took a time to organise  but finally we got sailing - first of all on starboard tack and sometime later, in veered wind, goosewinged on port tack.  Used AP (hydraulic autopilot, acting on the main ship's rudder directly) initially, while I re-set Fred - wasn't behaving quite right, although I couldn't see why - ...  Sails became backed with boat heading wrongly soon after I turned off AP... Tried again - same thing happened - most odd...    Back onto AP - had just finished adjusting our course and was looking over to see why Fred was having such trouble coping - saw the rudder come free...!  Luckily, its safety leash held, despite some bad chafe, so I was able to retrieve it as it trailed behind the boat - but the sugarscoop (steps on stern) was really slippery, not making it any easier & my hands got smothered in black anti-fouling!   Goretex-lined Dubarry seaboots worked well when washed by seas!   So the Hydrovane rudder is now lying lashed on deck  - we're committed to the AP until seas are calm enough to get it back on - need fairly still water for that, so that's another thing that can't happen too soon!   I can only think that the security clip holding the pin in place that fixes the rudder to the post had broken or rusted away - it was really strong, so shouldn't have given rise to this problem.



Ran generator while I downloaded emails/grib files...  Should really do it beforehand, but I like to have batteries reasonably well charged once I've finished with radio - never know how long emailing will take since depends on whether fast or slow connections - unpredictable!  I'm conserving battery power by turning off anything not vital - e.g.the chart plotter takes 3-4A , I've found, so it's now turned on only rarely, and similarly, the laptop, conected to 12V,  is put into 'Sleep' mode whenever not in use.  Solar panels put in power nicely for a short while in sunshine this morning, but sky is mainly overcast, giving minimal input.



Snatched some more sleep before trying to contact Pacific Seafarers' Net at 10:30am- but Net Control, Jane, N7TZ, could not copy me (nor could anyone else), although I heard her just above my noise level - frustrating!   Emailed report and then got back to bunk for some more sleep before  downloading weatherfaxes from Wiluna, Aus, just before midday.



Sailing today has been far calmer, despite 4-5m seas, with pleasant WSW  F5 wind, veering to NW, for most of the day.   Tonight, seas are up slightly and might increase further as another deep Low passes by S of us, possibly also giving increased wind tomorrow.....



Highlight of today was spotting a Sooty albatross flying past - a juvenile with a pale grey 'collar', otherwise all dark.   Much smaller than the Royal albatross seen yesterday.



I'm about to have some of the meal- in-a-soup (beans, lentils, ham, with several vegetables) that I made earlier today in between a major clear-up in the galley area - should last me several days!



DMG at 1100 GMT: 62 n.ml.  (Hove-to overnight for 15-16 hr)  C. Leeuwin: 540 n.ml. (032T); WP due S of C. Leeuwin : 259 n.ml:  King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1555 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1637 n.ml.

Friday 22nd March 2013



Up before dawn to gybe mains'l with increased, veered wind - now from NW.  Pressure was down - and kept dropping over the day to 1007 by nightfall - more than expected .... and wind stronger, also.



Rough conditions -  enormous swell of 6m or so, with wind waves on top,  foam streaks and lots of  'white horses' , wind 30+kt ...whistling in the rigging... mainly overcast with occasional weak sunshine getting through gaps in cloud.   Kept going  OK until about 4pm when heaved to after a wave had knocked us rather suddenly and damaged the radar mount - the  bracket welded on to the pole, holding the nice Scanstrut gimballed fitting, was skew and the radar was no longer level.

I tied the radar holder to keep it from moving too much in an effort to reduce stress on the weldd joint- the GPS is on the same fitting - I don't want to lose that.



We'd made good progress up to then but seas had built more with the constant strong wind.



I came below, as darkness was falling, to make up the log and prepare my usual daily position/weather report and then made some radio contacts.   Later, I heard an odd noise from on deck - the wind generator had come off its pole and was swinging around on its thick cable, banging into things.

It had already lost two blades and most of its tail and the third went as I prepared to go on deck (foulies, boots & harness take  time!).    I had to tie it off to prevent it moving - It was threatening to damage a solar panel and possibly the steel arch itself - it's a heavy item..



We'll stay hove to in the strong,  gusty conditions overnight and hope the wind and seas will reduce soon...



I'd watched the scene around us  a lot over the day..  Lots of the usual birds, enjoying the strong winds - but among them were two White-faced petrels very  close by- eye-catchingly different  from the many Soft-plumaged petrels.



As I was organising the boat to heave to, I noticed a lovely Royal albatross not far away - but I was too busy just then to pay it my usual attention...



DMG at 1100 GMT: 122 n.ml.    C. Leeuwin: 589 n.ml.; WP due S of C. Leeuwin : 316 n.ml:  King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1612 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1689 n.ml.

Thursday 21st March 2013

7am Gybed the mains'l over to port side - back onto starb'd tack with stays'l off pole - becoming a bit of a routine!! SW wind of 20 kt or so. Nice sunshine , some cumulus.. Seas well up still at 4-5m/15ft ... Rolling about a lot...

Cloud increased over morning while I got some more sleep for a time - clearly not getting enough overnight, with having had to see to sail trim several times.

Very poor radio contact with S.A.M.M. Net - getting to limit of range from S.Africa now.

Heading more ENE for a time - not too far, but just to increase chance of less big swell tomorrow from deep Low passing to south now - might not be needed - but who knows? Since wind should be more as well, better to be in less big seas if possible.

6pm Went on deck to check weather conditions - three magnificent Wandering albatross soaring around on fixed wings - two mostly white with black outer wings and tail but the third clearly younger - still with brown mottling on back and a light brown breast band. Stopped to watch them for a time - wonderful!
Back up again to adjust Fred a little - they'd gone but there was an all-dark, good-sized bird with fairly slender wings & pale, dark-tipped bill soaring & circling - very possibly a Flesh-footed shearwater but I didn't see its feet!
Seems as though the skua around over last two days was an Antarctic Skua - appropriate for this area!

Magnetic variation has been dropping dramatically - down to 21W tonight.

Really being rolled & tossed around a lot with wind having dropped down - struggling to make 4-5kt - often far less... Good download of weatherfaxes today, confirming nice westerlies expected for several more days,with reasonable wind strength - nothing over 30kt forecast for this latitude - looking good still!

DMG at 1100 GMT: 132 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 684 n.ml.; WP due S of C. Leeuwin : 433 n.ml: King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1727 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1798 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/

Wednesday 20th March 2013

9am Up early to gybe the mains'l back onto starb'd and pole out headsail to go downwind in W wind of 15 kt or more (difficult to guestimate the wind strength but plenty of white horses!).
Had plenty of company under grey overcast skies - big skua was back again , chasing off some of the other birds - prions and petrels. Still heading ENE - aim is to get to 43S - don't want to get too close to Australia as I pass by to the S. Latest grib files just downloaded show that latitude should be fine for next few days of big swell. Threatening strong conditions in a few days' time look to be rather less at that latitude.. but there'll be other systems coming along, I'm sure - this is a stormy piece of ocean .. and all weather forecasts involve a big element of chance, with winds often a lot more than given.

Had good contact with E coast at 0015-0030 GMT this morning, but less good with W coast - possibly needs to be made slightly later there.

4pm Busy cooking! Felt famished come lunch-time and decided chili con carne would be nice. I'd also soaked some beans ready for a thick soup - so that has kept me busy in between downloading several weatherfaxes and replying to some emails - I'm way behind there...

Long contacts tonight on radio as we were tossed around in the ongoing big swell and wind of around 20kt... surfing often but not too much. Sunset was at 6:30 pm / 1130GMT - but hidden by cloud. Saw moon briefly, much later - but sky still mainly overcast.

DMG at 1100 GMT: 104 n.ml. C. Leeuwin: 798 n.ml.; WP due S of C. Leeuwin : 561 n.ml: King Island (entrance to Bass Strait): 1853 n.ml. ; SE Cape of Tasmania: 1916 n.ml.
..............................................................................
For my positions, see:
www.svnereida.com - 'Travels' - "Where is 'Nereida'?"
and/or:
http://www.exactearth.com/media-centre/recent-ship-tracks/tracking-nereida/