Saturday 1 November 2014

After last night's anniversary, birthday, Halloween bash, have now participated in two notable parties at Big Mama's. There's another next Friday, but don't think we can survive a third. Finished last few preparations for departure toward New Zealand starting tomorrow including wholesale bottom cleaning and oil change on that noisy iron thing (which, by the way, is camouflaged in gray and consequently hard to find - previous one was a much more accessible red).

Sunday

Sail to North Minerva Reef will be one of those too long or too short kind of deals. Wind is perfect for swift trip, but 12.2 meter waterline couldn't quite make it on one overnight without dragging gluteus maximi from warm covers in the teeny weenie hours (it would thus have to be an emergency), so left at more civilized 1100 to potter along, spending a second night at sea. With triple reefs (confusing, isn't it?) looks like we'll still arrive well before 0710 sunrise, so eventually expect to hide a bit more polyester.

Monday

Seas are unbecomingly uneven, unleashing the occasional death roll, but overall a beautiful sail off the 22 knot true/18 apparent wind; expected to ease slightly as progress, you know, progresses. Last few day's forecast has consistently indicated Reef departure Thursday will give best wind and avoid a spanking with nasty conditions assuming entry Opua by following Wednesday. Easy peasy by averaging 5.2 knots; done by Tuesday afternoon at 6.0. Sanguineness abounds to avoid anything sanguineous.

For those who value each and every major appendage and were concerned, current census here indicates full complement as evil doer fauna has been successfully exterminated with broad spectrum Galactomicin (something like that) conducting its lethal commerce. "Nothing personal, it's just business". Crew are tanned, rested and ready for arduous, upcoming bacchanalia in Opua.. oh, and passage to get there.

Jack