Category Archives: Uncategorized

Picton Marina, (Lat 41 17S, Lon 174 00E) Wednesday 5 February 2020 Our night at Resolution Bay was blissfully still, particularly after having endured the furious winds on arrival just a few hours earlier.  As the night drew on, the wind gusts diminished, till by 5:30am – our waking-up time – it was … “asContinue reading “It’s Official”

Resolution Bay, (Lat 41 06S, Lon 174 13E), AT ANCHOR Marlborough Sounds  Tuesday 4 February 2020  The magic weather continued through last night with the wind strengthening, as predicted, throughout the day. One reef in the main became two, the working jib got smaller as we continued to reef, till finally we were doing 8-9 knotsContinue reading “One Crowded Hour”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 17S, Lon 171 55E), Course 72 degrees (compass)(48 miles west of Farewell Spit) Monday 3 February 2020 Nine days out of Westernport, as the New Zealand coastline looms ever closer, and the cloud-filled horizon spreads away to the south, it was inevitable that land would be sighted soon. “We must beContinue reading “Land Ahoy!!!”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 12S, Lon 168 36E), Course 70 degrees (compass) Sunday 2 February 2020 It seems the northwest wind has been blowing for days now. Pushing us effortlessly towards our destination of Picton. The sea was a bit higher through the night, but has quietened down now to a steady swell that movesContinue reading “Where did those two hours go?”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 11S, Lon 165 11E), Course 75 degrees (compass) Saturday 1 February 2020 Our dream run, with wind of 15-20 knots coming in over our left shoulder, continued through last night and all of today. Our speed rarely dipped below 6 knots, with occasional flashes of 9 knots, as we surged downContinue reading “Sleep, eat, watch, read, repeat …”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 00S, Lon 161 39E), Course 80 degrees (compass) Friday 31 January 2020 Jorge calculated at 5am this morning that we have reached the official half-way point. And now at the end of the day, we have around 570 miles left to travel to reach Picton. That’s four days at an averageContinue reading “Half Way – Yeh!”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 05S, Lon 158 35E), Course 80 degrees (compass) Thursday 30 January 2020 If ever there was a dream run to New Zealand, this is it. The wind has remained 15 knots from the North West. We are heading East. And with the full main and big genoa hoisted, we have beenContinue reading “The Dream Run Continues”

Tasman Sea, (Lat 40 03S, Lon 155 27E), Course 80 degrees (compass) Wednesday 29 January 2020 The sun went down, the sun came up … just as we’d expected. Likewise, the wind died down as forecast, till it was reluctantly necessary through the night to turn on the motor in order to maintain an averageContinue reading “Sailing in Slippers”

Western Tasman Sea, (Lat 39 43S, Lon 152 16E), Course 98 degrees (compass) Tuesday 28 January 2020 Today was truly a dream sailing day. A 20-knot breeze off the starboard, stern quarter. A calm sea with minimal swell. Plus, a full main and poled-out jib off the port side, set solid as if in concrete.Continue reading “Yee Ha … 9,10,11 knots !”

North of Flinders Island (20 miles), Lat 39 45S Lon 148 20E Monday 27 January 2020 Our overnight stopover at Deal Island was just the thing; a time of rest and preparation. Plus, an opportunity to again soak in a most beautiful part of the world; due to its isolation, a place where very fewContinue reading “On Our Way … (for real)”