[password] rachel25
[position]39 03.305s 147 47.657w
[status] On passage to Valdivia, Chile from Auckland NZ.
Monochrome morning....150 shades of grey, the bright contrast being the danbuoy flag which is fluttering gaily on the end of its pole. THen the birds came, dozens of them swooping all around us, not the majestic soaring albatross this time, much quicker, more aerobatics. We identified we were watching two different types of shearwater, one was Buller's Shearwater which, we read, breeds on the Poor Knights Islands just east of Whangarei, but which flies the South Pacific as far as Chile. The second type we havn't identified yet.
Spent the day rejigging our lifebuoy and all its accoutrements. Then I made a drogue to stop it blowing away from any poor MOB trying to reach it. Finally all reattached to the pushpit at 2000.
And since then Lucas and I have been sailing. Yes, pulling on wet ropes. We went from goosewinged with pole on starboard gybe to the same on port. What a carry on! All done now and we are relaxing with a cup of jasmine tea and Whittakers chocolate. Another day at the office!
Heading a bit north again to try to avoid the worst of the next two fronts
[speed] 6.5 kts
[heading] 090 true
[weather] Wind W 15 knots. 1.0m waves. Sky 100% c
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