And we're off...
22 October 2012 | Noumea
Mike
Our final passage to Australia is proving a little tricky. We always knew it could because of the huge lows that build up under Australia and move up the eastern coast. We had planned to leave last Friday but today a few hundred miles off Australia’s coast is 35knot winds that had we left we would have hit, making it very unpleasant. It has been a waiting game with our friends on Just Jane, Ganga and Happy Cat as we frequently check the weather to see if any windows open up. The common sense approach would be to wait until Friday when the front has passed but we have a little party to attend on the 3rd of November so are trying harder to find an earlier window.
Both Fred and Pip (Hugh’s dad and his friend who are joining us on this passage) are in great spirits and liken the situation to being snowed in! We pass the time moving around to different anchorages, relaxing and generally having a great time. Noumea has to be the windiest place we’ve visited so far with over 20knot gales most days. Hugh and I find it cold in the evenings and Hugh has even gone as far as wearing jeans one night. I’ll not give in yet!
Our emotions are truly mixed now. We are excited to see family, friends and Sydney again but also a big part of me doesn’t want the adventure to stop. It’s getting close to that time where unfortunately we have to grow up again.
We’ve spent the last hour analysing weather and decided we’re going at lunchtime. It’s not ideal but then again it never is. Wish us luck and see you in Oz.