http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar Copyright 2007 SailBlogs.com Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:01:01 -0600 720 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:01:01 -0600 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en support@sailblogs.com support@sailblogs.com http://www.sailblogs.com/images/sb_rss_icon.gif http://www.sailblogs.com/ 88 31 Weblogs for Sailors and Sailing http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar?xjMsgID=40878 Sand Dollar tied up to the quarantine dock at 11 o'clock last night at Opua, NZ to conclude the last passage of a 7-month cruise of the South Pacific. The passage was 1149 miles covered in nine days of mostly upwind sailing with two days of motoring in light winds. The sailing was "spirited" and, at times, uncomfortable. There were several days of high anxiety concerning a severe weather system that was forecast to bring storm conditions. Fortunately it did not occur. All-in-all it was a very good, fast trip and lived up to its reputation of not being for the faint of heart. Don Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:40:00 -0600 http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar?xjMsgID=40878 http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar?xjMsgID=40807 Land was sighted this late afternoon about 30 miles distant through heavy clouds. It will still be another six hours before Sand Dollar is tied to the quarantine dock at Opua, NZ. The sailing has been very fast on this last day of the passage with winds 20 to 30 knots on the beam and 6-8 ft. seas. We have been "packing on the canvas" to get there as soon as possible. We are tired and cold. Today's noon-to-noon distance was 144 miles for an average speed of 6 kts. Landfall will be sometime around 11 PM. tonight. Don Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:34:00 -0600 http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar?xjMsgID=40807 http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar?xjMsgID=40712 Tomorrow I hope to give thanks to the weather gods for moving the gale to some other part of the ocean. This morning's report was extremely encouraging. The low pressure system to the northwest of us and the high pressure system to the south were predicted to create a "squash zone", an area in which isobars are squeezed together producing very high winds. The squash zone is now almost certain to be located several hundred miles to the north, instead of right on top of us. We will still feel the effects but the wind will probably not be over 30 knots. Don Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:36:00 -0600 http://www.sailblogs.com/member/sanddollar?xjMsgID=40712