The forecast changed slightly in our favour yesterday, with the low-pressure system forming further south, but it has now gone back to showing much the same thing as two days ago. Both weather models are showing essentially the same, and it’s anyone’s guess whether we will make it into Opua before the headwinds arrive.
The wind is back around the east, with about 18–20 knots apparent and 23 knots true, gusting occasionally to 26. We have two reefs in the main and the full headsail, making around 7.5 knots and a little more when we get a push down the waves.
This morning we had one reef in the main then the wind picked up to 26 knots, so we put another reef in. Then it calmed off and we had to head south to keep the sails full. Forty minutes later it dropped away again, so the headsail was furled. Then the wind disappeared completely, so the main came down. Another 45 minutes later, the main was back up and we were cracking on again.
It’s all very good exercise, if nothing else. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in getting the sails set just right, and seeing the speed creep up as we head towards Opua. Also I don't want to get blown backwards out to sea again when we are almost in site of the Q berth.
We also had to dodge a fishing boat that had miles of long line out. In an infinite universe where any number of possibilities can take place, what are the chances of a fishing boat deciding to occupy my exact track across the Pacific? There are thousands of square miles of ocean out here, and somehow we manage to find the one patch where someone has decided to string a few miles of fishing line. It's impressive, really.
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| Oh, c'mon |
We’re still making good progress, though, and with plenty of fuel on board there is no need to make any decisions about changing tactics just yet. The forecast may change several more times before we get close enough for it to matter, so we’ll keep putting the miles in and see what the next few days bring.