Goodbye beautiful Tasmania!

For the next couple of days we sailed and motorsailed North/NE up to 40S in light airs in order to avoid gales predicted to sweep in south of that latitude. While it was a bit of a slog it was thoroughly good advice from our man on the ground, retired meteorologist MetBob.

On our entire trip over to Nelson NZ/Aotearoa we saw only one other vessel, and that on the second night out: a massive multi-level high rise cruise ship all lit up, huge outdoor movie screen on the uppermost deck. Quite the amazing contrast to our little craft plying the dark waters!

Once we turned East Sonsie was in her element! She plunged and swooshed along happily on a port beam reach. We enjoyed superb NW wind for around 7 days on same tack heading due E using our main second-reeled as well as our new, bright orange (storm) jib in tandem with our staysail - a happy pair of sail horses pulling us along !