Day 4 Tonga to Opua, NZ
07 October 2017 | South Pacific Ocean
Gillian
A fast night sailing upwind, with the boat healing and banging away. We passed North Minerva and South Minerva on our starboard side, about 12 nm away. No lights were visible but the AIS picked up a Class A boat in South Minerva (perhaps a fishing boat or Tongan navy?). Last night I heard a loud slap during the night accompanied by a strong fishy smell. I suspected a flying fish but couldn't find it, and in the morning I found scales all over the dodger window. Poor fish must have flown into the dodger and bounced back into the sea. No other sea life to be seen, except a booby diving into the water. This afternoon the wind has eased and we are sailing with a full main and jib with 9 knots of wind, and only doing 4 knots. I fear we will have to start the engine soon. The sea is calm and there are cloudy skies with occasional spits of rain. We managed 160nm yesterday so are continuing to make good progress.