18th February 2019

We promised Joy as we left the tranquility of Dusky Sound a tranquil night sail, that there would be no more than 20 knots of wind and that we would probably motor-sail. Well what a night: The wind averaged 30-40kts, the swell topped 4 meters with the odd significantly larger. One large enough that came roaring in behind us - threatening to break over the boat. Fortunately the stern lifted and we surfed down at 19plus knots. We've effectively had a sustained gale around Puysegur and South West Cape. (South West Cape is one of the 5 great capes that need to be rounded when claiming a Southern Ocean Circumnavigation).

Joy has been a trooper -it's her Birthday today. We are expecting 45kts for the next 2 days.

We are anchored in Evening Cove in Port Pegasus (Stewart Island). - no mean feet in these conditions - Tom has rowed out two stern lines to prevent us bashing into the rock walls making up our anchorage. Once the lines were laid Kevin heroically winched in nearly 60meters of mooring warp q to put the stern and anchor into one straight line.

It’s lunch time - so Vicky is preparing a special meal followed by Diane's Fruit Cake, and then I'm afraid its nap time for some tired crew who worked the sails all night.

Oh to top it all our holding tank developed a leak so the bilges had to be cleaned and pumped out during all this. The joys of sailing.

:)

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