Boring, Don't Read
09 November 2011 | Day 4 to Opua
10 November 2011
Good day and night not counting twenty odd knot squalls around dusk. Wind seems to pick up late afternoon to ease back to 15 to 17 in the wee hours. 5 or 6 knots makes a big difference in sea state when driving into it. Heading kinda, sorta toward general vicinity Northland. With expected backing toward south in a day will at some point tack starboard, thus increasing distance from Opua (that doesn't seem right does it?) to return some easting.
Recaptured staysail clew for sheeting back to a block by cockpit, then used barber-hauler to pull into position. Works well except for inconvenience tacking. Won't happen often, but will require rigging another snatch block and line on port, furling sail and carrying sheet around mast. May scrounge for sufficiently long additional line to avoid deck dance.
Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. - W. Somerset Maugham
Jack