Gryphon, Part II

Vessel Name: Gryphon
Vessel Make/Model: J/40
Hailing Port: Boston
20 November 2010 | Opua Marina
16 November 2010 | New Zealand
14 November 2010 | NE of NZ
12 November 2010 | SW of Tonga
10 November 2010 | SW of Tonga
09 November 2010 | SW of Tonga
06 November 2010 | Somewhere Tonga
31 October 2010 | Vava'u Tonga
11 October 2010 | Vava'u Tonga
08 October 2010 | Niue
07 October 2010 | Niue
04 October 2010 | Niue
03 October 2010 | Niue
01 October 2010 | East of Niue
28 September 2010 | Rarotonga
23 September 2010 | Rarotonga
21 September 2010 | West of Bora Bora
13 September 2010 | Tahaa
09 September 2010 | Tahaa
02 September 2010 | Underway to Raiatea
Recent Blog Posts
20 November 2010 | Opua Marina

New Zealand

And so here we are. New Zealand. We started talking about this trip a long time ago and actually formed the intent to come here back in September 2009. It's still a bit surreal that we're finally here and it's even more unreal that we arrived after such a beautiful 7-day passage. No dramas, as they say [...]

16 November 2010 | New Zealand

AM Arrival

On 4 knots of wind we ghosted into the Bay Of Islands in the early morning. Bad fuel in the diesel tank has us nursing the engine along. But at sunrise, We're only 6 miles from the dock in Opua and we're motoring in slowly.

14 November 2010 | NE of NZ

Day 6 - Tonga to NZ

Yesterday was another day of tradewinds sailing. Easterlies around 15 knots for most of the day. The seas set down from the day before and it was great sailing. During the night the wind faded away and so now we're motor sailing. Seems the wind has veered to the SSW - precisely on our nose. Wind speed [...]

12 November 2010 | SW of Tonga

Day 4 Tonga to NZ

And again, more of the same. Emphasis on more - more wind, more waves. Yesterday was a repeat of Day 2. Last night the wind came up to about 20-22 and seems to be staying there. It has gone more east than southeast, so at least they're beam seas or slightly aft. Still, they're up around 8 ft now. When [...]

10 November 2010 | SW of Tonga

Day 2 Tonga to NZ

More of the same and no complaints! SE winds 12-18 knots and we're making 6-7 towards NZ. Our original thought to stop at the Minerva Reefs and been replaced by the excitement of heading straight to NZ. Importantly, the weather for arrival next week is looking okay right now. It can all change, but the longer we linger, the more likely it is to deteriorate. So we'll keep moving.

09 November 2010 | SW of Tonga

Tonga to NZ Day 1

After a very brief stay in Nuku'alofa, we're underway again. This leg is Tonga to NZ and it's the last leg of our current adventure as we expect to stay in NZ for a while.

Day 6 - Tonga to NZ

14 November 2010 | NE of NZ
Jeff
Yesterday was another day of tradewinds sailing. Easterlies around 15 knots for most of the day. The seas set down from the day before and it was great sailing. During the night the wind faded away and so now we're motor sailing. Seems the wind has veered to the SSW - precisely on our nose. Wind speed is 8-14, up and down, so it's lumpy at times but generally pretty nice.

The autopilot is up to its old tricks, drinking hydraulic oil like beer on a Friday night. We are really happy that Leslie is with us this trip. If she wasn't, then Raine and I would be doing watch and watch, handsteering the whole way. This way, we all get decent periods of rest in between our tricks at the wheel.

Oh, since it's also part of the long saga, I should mention the mainsail too: it has some new patches and repairs on it. We've given up trying to keep it looking pretty: the latest repairs were done with duct tape. I think this sail will win the "most loved" award when we land in NZ.

Friends that waited in Tonga an extra day or two are now getting the stuffing knocked out of them about 300-400 miles north of here. They said in an email 25-35 knots, gusting higher with 3-4 meter seas right on the beam. Can't be pleasant, even for the big boats.

231 miles to go. Figure, Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

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