[password] abcisme
[position] 25 50.2S 167 22.2E
[weather] 20kn easterly, overcast, 2-3m inconsistent swell
[heading] 167 T
[status] Let's be honest ocean crossings are, more often than not, something you endure rather than enjoy. We have had both, but this one was always going to involve more enduring.
We picked a boisterous departure window and the wind has been great. We have been making good progress and whilst bumpy and uncomfortable, the sea state isn't anything a sailor would complain about.
Our complaints come from the number of unpredictable things that have gone wrong since we departed, and a couple of small things that we kick ourselves for not inspecting more thoroughly.
The real kicker that almost had us crying and running to Norfolk Island was when the Autopilot died. We wrestled with it on and off and even considered running back to New Cal while we were still close... It tricked us into thinking it had just got upset by a rogue wave, but then a few hours later it packed a sad again.
The Admiral hand steered in rough sea while the Captain pulled at his hair and some cables, fiddled with switches and prayed for divine intervention. He even had a sleep to see if that would somehow help. It did! I found a simple solution that seems to be working well and actually spilt a tear or two as the pressure, exhaustion and emotion of it all came to a end.
The tech boys in NZ will replace something and everything will be golden eventually, but for now we have something that works and we don't have to endure steering by hand 24 x 7!
Hooray!
My admiration for Michelle bubbles over in situations that have the potential to get the better off me. She is an absolute trooper who just puts her head down and pushes on with patient endurance.
There is no one else I would rather sail two handed across an ocean with.

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