WOW! When you're out on passage like this, you know that you will periodically get your ass kicked! Well, it's been happening for the past several days now! Heidi has absolutely been kicking my ass at Gin Rummy! Hands down, no recourse! She has simply been winning every single hand that we've played, and let me tell you... we've played a bunch. We always enjoy playing cards together, and when you are on passage, it's a great way to pass the time. Sure... the cards slide around a bit, or get blown all over depending on whether we're playing in the salon, or in the cockpit. All good! It's just fun!

We are doing just great out here, although we are a bit West of where we want to be, and the winds are just not cooperating. It will take us some extra time to get into Opua, so we may not make it by Monday. Hopefully we can still make it, but if not, then Tuesday, or Wednesday will be fine. We really aren't that far away. Probably 200 miles or so, but it's a hard slog into the wind and waves if the weather isn't helping. RIght now we are trying to head due South, and hoping we can get some assistance from the wind to push into NZ as planned. Worst case is to be patient, as the forecast has a Westerly component by Tuesday or so. We'll see.

Nothing to worry about, just good ole passage sailing. Need to always remind ourselves to never give away the Rhumb line. We should have been further East, but things looked good on the forecast, so we let ourselves get too far over.

All good! I'll keep trying to overcome my Gin Rummy deficit, and we'll keep right on sailing!

Have a super day!

Joe SV Huck