[p]pjr4728
[s]
pos: 21 01.046s 168 56.269w
sp: 6.5
h: 262t
w: 16-22kn SW, cloud 7/8, SS 2m SSW
d: 24/06/20 18.00 GMT+1300
Well the last position report from Fare, Huahine was a bit presumptious - As it turned out, we couldn't leave until the following day due to a delay getting the exit paperwork back from the gendarmes. Still, the delay gave us one last day to relax, before we left at 0930 local on 15 Oct (1030 16th October NZ-time). We left at the same time as Spacegrazer, another yacht bound for NZ that we had first met in Shelter Bay, Panama and shared a far bit of time with since.

In the first 8 and a bit days, we have covered around 1,071nm over ground since starting (1,165nm through the water showing average current has been against).

It was, as expected, a slow start for us with light winds for most of the first 4 days. We were hoping it was worth paying this penalty in order to time it right for the longer term forecast and get the best from a couple of strong forecast highs and their easterly winds for much, and hopefully all, of the remaining passage.

Day 1 (114nm noon-noon) was a pleasant introduction as we motor-sailed SW to the S of Ruahine, where we saw 2 whales breaching - and soon waved goodbye to Spacegrazer! (with a longer boat and 2kn extra motoring speed, we knew this was inevitable!).
On Day 2 (136nm) we had a grand sailing breeze and thankfully no need for an extra push from the engine.
Day 3 (105nm) and Day 4 (121nm) were glorious, balmy days, with a cloudless sky, sunshine and minimal wave action - but we did need to motor-sail about 90% of the time to make progress, especially as contrary to forecasts the current was adverse- We were starting to think it may be faster breaking out the oars!
However, as forecast, on Day 5 (134nm) the wind kicked in and we adjusted our course westward, heading for the Cook Islands - albeit that in the C-times we were not allowed to stop, damnit! We passed about 3nm N of Aitutaki around 10:30pm, so sightseeing was minimal :-( The lack of certain anchorages and shorter legs (as we had originally planned to spend a fair amount of time crusing in the Cooks and Tonga), together with the propensity for tropical depressions to form quickly between Fiji and Tonga meant that this extended passage was always going to be a bit more of a knuckle-biter, so we have tried to make a route that took the best advantage of winds but still could give us some respite options, even if the distance was slightly longer than a more direct route.
The next waypoint was thus set for near Beveridge Reef, which lies about 400nm east of Tonga. Beveridge Reef is fully submerged (and thus of course uninhabited!), but does offer cruisers a chance for a rest stop - if the wind is not too strong there.
Day 6 (145nm) saw winds in the 20-25kn range with the occasional rainy squall bringing gusts to 32. Fortunately the winds were mostly from behind (140AWA), though the sea was lumpy and swell from both N and SW meant it was not the most comfortable day aboard
However it was apparent some way away that Beveridge wasn't going to offer a very nice stop with the winds forecast to strengthen, and we would be better to just push on and take advantage of the anti-clockwise winds circulating around the High to the South
Day 7 (140nm) saw a kinder swell but fickle winds between 13-26T. Thus so too was our boat speed, anywhere between 4-8.5kn! Day 8 was a bit more consistent (138nm), mostly around 16-22kn and only occasional gusts to 26. There were even bursts of sunshine, yay!
We have now turned a bit more SW, with our next waypoint shortly before Minerva Reefs, about 575nm away. These too are uninhabited and are a regular stop for cruisers between NZ and the Islands but ownership is disputed and the Tongan Navy which occasionally patrols there currently are not being too welcoming. Additionally the NZ authorities have now said that 'sea-time' would have to restart on leaving Minerva if we stop - which would mean spending about 7-8days in a managed-isolation facility on arrival in NZ. Thus a stop there will only be a 'last-resort' for us!! At the moment thankfully this isn't looking likely to be required: Although conditions over the next few days are forecast to be a bit more 'sporty' than the past few days, and with increasing swell, all in all it shouldn't be toooo bad and in fact looks good (atm!) for a run through to NZ. If those aussies don't throw up anything nasty (probably underarm) across the Tasman, that is!

TTFN
Paul, Sue and Mili

PS DTF=approx 1,345nm (expected arrival Opua Nov 3rd/Nov 4th)

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