Monday 26th July 2021
Mid Tasman
Last night really started mid-afternoon yesterday, when the weather returned with a vengeance … angry and bearing a grudge!
We’d been expecting it and our course tracked further south all the while bearing away from the north wester. Eventually we “could stands it’s no more” … to quote “Popeye the sailor man”. Any more “bearing away” (from the wind) and we’d be heading back from whence we’d come – New Zealand. And that’s exactly what happened if you look at the Tracker.
The tracker, the Good ol Tracker reveals the good and the not so good.
Tacking, or steering across the face of the wind, is usually quite a straightforward, but at whatever time of night it was, it was like a play in three Acts – which we didn’t want to become a Greek Tragedy.
Having made the decision, in the end, all went smoothly … at least the procedure… by now you had to yell to be heard above the sound of the wind and sea.
Key amongst the steps, was to winch in the mainsail sheet, in order to then reattach a removable backstay on the leeward side. Doing this, required a walk forward – something akin to a clipped-on-space-walk … up the side as far as the mast. We could then tack, making sure to re-set the small jib on the other side.
After tacking, there was then the final act of disconnecting the removable backstay from the other side, walking it forward to secure … in a re-run of the earlier manoeuver. We were now headed North instead of South… so that was an improvement.
We stayed heading north, in more of a battened down, hanging on kind of thing, more concerned with reducing stress on the rigging, the items lashed to the deck, the sails and of course, the crew. The last thing we wanted now was a breakage or an injury. This was simply a time get through one wave, one blast of wind and spray at a time.
Yesterday’s calm and sunny patch was now just a distant memory. In fact it was so calm yesterday that there was an opportunity to gather together at the mast for a flag reconfiguration ceremony. This involved lowering our Kiwi and Aussie flags, altering their order, then re-hoisting them. Seemed the right thing to do now that we are definitely out of New Zealand waters and just 380-odd miles from the east coast of Australia
One thing we haven’t yet changed is the time. Consequently the sun is getting up very late these days and going to bed late as well. But I’m sure we’ll be brought back to reality once we get closer to the coast of Australia and maybe, even get a whiff of an Aussie telco tower.
One of the strangest things happened last night. We were just hit by another angry wave, this time from the starboard stern quarter. As the water hit us, pouring under the dodger side panel and glancing up and over our wheelhouse, there on the moonlit cockpit floor lay a motionless shiny object looking very much like a fish. A very dead fish! Sure enough, a shine of the head torch revealed a blue looking flying fish. Just amazing!!
After a long and tiresome night, the appearance of the sun – albeit later than normal – was a wonderful thing. Not a red sky, but a yellow sky, the sun working very hard to fight its way through the thick layers of cloud – regardless, it was a welcome sight.
Around 9am, Harm appeared for his watch declaring “I’m gonna cook bacon and scrambled eggs enclosed in a wrap, any takers?” … Rather!!! came the reply
Once breakfast was done, Harm moved on to finally being able to shove a batch of bread dough into the oven. A bowl of dough that had survived at least 24 hours essentially “rising” in the sink – trying not to be swept away with most other things below, on account of the movement. Long story short, it was the best bread yet!
After thinking we were past the worst of the weather, more squalls came and went through the day, making for some amazing photo ops, which I’m looking forward to sharing!
One of the problems with bad weather is that you rarely feel like stepping outside to take a photo or some video. Two days ago I thought I’d make the effort and in the middle of a squally downpour I opened the side flap, pressed START on the iPhone video … only to record within a few seconds, a lightening strike descending through the grey to hot the water, not more than a mile off. “Well that was good timing” said I, as I poked my wet head back inside, making sure to dry off the phone. We all then watched the replay in the cockpit, while the squall continued outside.
It’s now late in the day and the sun is very nearly below the horizon once more. Looking at the forecast it seems things will be abating soon. There’s even a threat the wind might move back to the north west enabling us to set a course for Bass Strait and the home leg. Even a chance we could be tying up this Friday or Saturday.
But I’m getting ahead of myself … current focus is on tonight’s watches … and like all of us onboard … picking a suitable time to use the facilities without sustaining an injury … there! I’ve said it! …
After lunch of ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches – most of Harm’s bread is now already gone.
Until tomorrow …
Smooth seas, fair breezes and our longest night.
Rob Latimer
NZ2020 