[p]sheeryit
[pos]22 25.725s 166 47.007e
[sp]0 Anchored in pretty bay(Baie Uie) off Canal Wodin
[w]20+ se/ese, 23degs C, Bar 1020, 50% cloud
[s] Finally anchored after one of the toughest, roughest short passages we have done. The Eagle has now Landed...... Not sure that he’s got any feathers left, and if he has...theyre wet!! We were beating into winds( mostly SE in 22-24kn range,) but also lots of 28-32knot patches ,excluding the rain squalls! Seas were big much of the time (4-5mts), and when it settled back to 3mts, it felt like Xmas! The passage was wet, wild, and fairly fast given the point of sail, in those sea states. We had to slow down to 3.6knots for the last 60 miles to Havannah passage , as we wanted to arrive at dawn(5.00am), to catch the last 3 hour of incoming tide. Just as well, as we enjoyed up to 4.5knots with us at times,during the 20 odd miles to our anchor spot, where we will catch up on the sleep which was impossible on the trip! We would not have made Port Moselle, to clear in before dark, so decided to get some sleep, sort the boat out, and check in tomorrow in daylight! Hope the New Cal guys are tolerant and understanding!
The slowing down bit was a whole new challenge, as we had to beat into winds between 22 and 28 knots most of the night,with 3-4 waves from the beam, plus a 1- 2knot current assisting us from stb quarter. Trying to persuade the autopilot to keep us on course , with so little boat speed through the water, was a learning experience for both us and the unit! Many times it would require a full lock correction, after being smashed by a big swell, but with no speed through the water, there was no response, so it just squawked ,and let go! It was definitely our longest ever Ferry Gliding challenge. Despite everything, we did the 288 miles trip, in 49 hours, with no breakages or injuries on either ST ,or SF. Very happy and glad to be here !
Regards, Rod and Mary[END]