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Navigating the Final Weather Puzzle


The last few days have been a testament to luck over planning (and my modesty). After all those frustrating delays in Fiji, the minute the autopilot was fixed for the third and final time, we left immediately. We didn't have the luxury of waiting for a weather window and had to take what came - within reason! Of course I wouldn't have left into poor conditions. My passage plan was simply to stay north to avoid the stronger winds in the Coral Sea and head over the top of New Cal. 

Being pushed into the urgent situation paid off. There had been a small low-pressure system threatening to form on the weather models around the 11th, which would have put us right in the washing machine south of New Cal.

For anyone monitoring our current course and comparing it to our destination, you'll see we are actually heading quite far north of Brisbane. This is a deliberate tactical choice.

We have some more strong North-Westerly winds forecast to start developing over the next day. If we were sticking to a direct route, these winds would be hitting us right on the beam (side), which makes for an incredibly uncomfortable, slow, and salty ride. 

Instead, we are maintaining this westerly course and plan to turn sharply south towards Brisbane later today. This strategic swing will bring the wind and seas onto our starboard quarter (coming from the rear-right). This positioning will not only make things more comfortable and safer but should hopefully give the PC52 a nice little push in the right direction!

The last of the fuel has been successfully transferred from the IBC tanks on the deck into the main internal tanks. It's a strangely naked feeling looking at them sitting there empty now that the auxiliary fuel is gone. We will be throwing the empty IBC tanks overboard tonight.

We have updated the ABF with our current ETA, which is shaping up to be late Monday, depending on how accurately this incoming weather plays out. The end is in sight, and we are pushing hard to beat the wind!

Don't worry, of course I won't be throwing the IBCs overboard!


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