Capt. Jim
03/Nov/2009

As expected, winds fell into the single digits, still from the SE, as we sail into a large high pressure system, known down here as a "Big Fat High" or BFH for short. Seas are calm, and the skies were clear up until 2 hours ago. We now have 75% coverage by fluffy cumulous clouds, a couple of them in the distance with rain beneath them. We are motor-sailing to keep our speed up in the 7 knot range, shooting for a 7-8 day passage. We've seen no other vessels since we crossed tacks with Dana Felicia 2 days ago, nor have we seen anything but rain and waves on the 64-mile radar. Despite dozens of yachts heading back to the same port in New Zealand from various places in the south Pacific, it's mostly a big empty ocean and we can feel like we have it all to ourselves. But twice each day we check in with other yachts on passage using our long-range short wave radio. We take turns giving our position, heading, speed, and wind, reporting where we're headed and how far we have to go. Despite the vast expanse of empty ocean, it's nice to know whether there are other boats "nearby" to avoid running into at night. This morning I cooked up a couple of pounds of Vanuatu ground beef with onions and garlic. We saved half of it for spaghetti sauce later this week, and made chili of the rest, which we had for lunch. Yum. Tonight we're cooking hotdogs on the BBQ. No fishing success as of yet. Cheers, Jim

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Jim
01/Nov/2009, Open seas south of Vanuatu

Here's Wetnose motor-sailing east into a sou-easterly to avoid the Loyalty Island reefs on our way to NZ! (photo by Sven of Dana Felicia)

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Jim
01/Nov/2009, 50 miles south of Vanuatu

We didn't see any other vessels for 7 days during our passage from Vanuatu to New Zealand, but we crossed tacks within 200 meters of Dana Felicia, creating an intense session of picture-taking aboard both vessels! We had anchored at the same uninhabited island in Fiji with the DF last June, and they had called to ask about our Gibraltar flag, but otherwise didn't really get acquainted until we met up in Opua at the end of this passage, when we were invited aboard by owner/designer Sven for a tour of this beautiful custom-built aluminum yacht.

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Capt. Jim
01/Nov/2009

It's now halfway through my wee-hour watch. We are motor-sailing close-hauled into a 10-12 kt breeze through moderate seas...very comfortable. The moon is full and so bright that the little clouds around it just glow, and the light makes a shining path in the sea all the way to a sharp brilliant horizon. The air, while still tropical, is considerably cooler each day. We are now near the latitude of Noumea, New Caledonia, and it won't be long before we will be sliding into the subtropical/temperate zone. We still have over 5 days to reach New Zealand, and the weather forcast is for us to be near the center of a large area of high pressure the whole way. Wind should be light and variable...not too good for sailing, but skies should be sunny and the sea comfortably calm. We'll see! Well, my timer just went off...time to check the horizon and the radar for any traffic, check the sails for trim, engine gauges, etc. Then another nice pause in the cockpit watching the full moon set (and dawn approach on the opposite horizon). Cheers!

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Capt. Jim
31/Oct/2009

Beautiful sunny day with 15-20 knots of wind from the SSE. We had several hours of fine sailing this morning, but then the wind shifted forward and died down a bit, so we're motor-sailing now, tacking back to our direct course line. While the engine is on we're running the watermaker (after changing all 4 filters) and charging the batteries. We crossed tacks with Dana Felicia an hour or so ago, crossing within 0.3 mile in front of them. This was the first time we've seen them since leaving Port Vila, although we've been in regular VHF radio contact. Everyone is beginning to get into the rhythm of the passage, sleeping during the off-watch even though it's daytime. Nothing much else to report for now, so until next time... Fair winds, Jim, Steve, Joel SY Wetnose

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Capt. Jim
30/Oct/2009, Just South of Efate Island

This morning we waited for the tide to be just low enough for Wetnose's 27m mast to duck under the power lines across the exit to the inner harbour at Port Vila, and just high enough for Wetnose's 3 m draft to go over the 2.8 m shoal at the same entrance. 7:15 was the time, a we were there. Our friends on Riona followed right begind, and another several yachts were making preparations to leave later in the morning, so it promises to be a lively time on the daily radio roll-call each evening as we all make our way to Opua, NZ. We have a moderate breeze (15-20 knots) out of the SW, so we are sailing close-hauled into a moderately choppy sea. Altogether not too bad, especially since we have the engine on to charge batteries, make water and bread, and to allow us to sail a bit faster and a bit closer to the wind. We doing 4-hour watches during the day and 3-hours at night, arranged so the 3 of us will rotate through each different watch every 3 days. I took the first watch of the passage, from 9 am to 1pm. Joel follows me, then Steve. Steve is currently in the galley whipping up some grilled pastrami sandwiches for lunch. We told him he didn't have to go to the trouble, but he said he wasn't that busy, so why not. Hard to argue with that! The sun is out, the sea is blue, and all is well aboard the Wetnose. More tomorrow, Jim

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