Almost Halfway
07 April 2008 | 32 34 S 162 06E
David
The last 24 hours have been sunny and warm but the seas have been lumpy. I thought I had asked Phil to send out a grader ahead of us. We have also had some challenges. After dusk Sunday night there was a loud report and the jib started down the track on the forestay. Hmmm.. no halyard. We were able to furl the jib and set the staysail and sail quite effectively. However in the morning it was time for some aerial freestyle courtesy of Geoff. The halyard was intact but a fitting on the top end of the furler had given way. Geoff boldly volunteered for the retrieval and success was ours. Eventually we hoisted the jib and were away. The rest of the day was spent in idyll mode for some and for a prolonged session trying to get the freezer sorted out by others. Unfortunately the wind was very much on the nose and we have been pushed a long way north during the period. We have had our standard sea sickness prophylaxis of alcohol and cappuccinos and managed to fit in some food as well. During the afternoon seas built and we took a lot of water over the deck as we did 8 knots into the waves. This prompted the discovery of new leaks and now it is time to fix them. We about to pass the halfway mark in a few hours but we need to get south to some extent otherwise we will miss NZ. Jen, our fearless navigator, who rarely leaves the deck saloon, has plotted out the next 48 hours and hopefully her promised NE breeze will appear. PS watchkeeping in the deck saloon is outstanding.