[password] rachel25
[gulfharbour]
synopsis: on
rollcall: on
updates : on
[position]35 52.963s 177 47.109w
[status] On passage to Valdivia, Chile from Auckland NZ. Wind moved onto beam yesterday midday but sea remained confused and lumpy all afternoon as we moved back into the western hemisphere. We are riding the top of a deep polar low a long way to our southeast. Currently we are heading due East and the wind is on the starboard quarter generally 30 but gusting 35 knots. Neither the windpilot nor the autopilot can manage this so its hand steering. However speed is good rarely below 7 and sometimes up to 10 knots on waves, with 2x reefed main and staysail. It has been a cold night and we are in full waterproofs, gloves and Peter Blake Red Socks (thank you santa!). Found a lot of water in the forward cabin, luckily no longer our bedroom. The electrical cables going up the mast go through an aluminium inverted "U" bend through the deck, designed to keep the water out. Unfortunately it could not cope with the full immersion it was receiving. So I enjoyed a wet few minutes stuffing the pipe full of plastic and covering it all with gaffer tape....proper job! Not much socialising with the crew, but they are up doing their watches and helping to eat the enormous amount of food.
[speed] 7.5kts
[heading] 090T
[weather] Wind 30 - 35 knts SSW. 2.0m waves. Sky 40% cloud cover. Bar 1010.
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