NZ to Fiji
28 May 2017
Vandy
After the first day, the sea settled down and so did our stomachs. We ate the Indian food for dinner last night. We seem to be past the first days malaise, getting our energy back. Daytime naps help a lot, too.
The air is slightly warmer than when we left NZ (ok maybe we're just optimistic), and the ocean temp is up to a balmy 69 degrees. Only 11 degrees more to Vandy Approved. We've had a good amount and direction of wind - 12-20 knots from the SW - to keep SCOOTS moving right along. Our weather forecast predicts that we'll sail into some light wind in a day or two, so we're making hay now.
Our newly-repaired Code 0 was deployed to great celebration by the crew. It is at this very moment propelling us. Boy, we sure missed having that sail for six months. It's often just the right one for the conditions.
We're having fun talking on the SSB with the crews of some of the other boats who are out here with us. Many of them are even close enough to talk to on the VHF, and we've done that, too. Last night we had three boats sailing within eyesight.
Birds - mainly shearwaters - have been the only life we've seen out here. Yesterday I saw a small bird flying by that I thought flew like a sparrow. If it was a sparrow, it had a long way to go, as the closest land was NZ at more than 150 miles away.
The numbers: Our position at noon 30 deg 42' S 176 deg 08' E Miles sailed: 165 nm Miles to go: about 780 nm Average speed: 6.88 knots