Margansie

Wed Mar 29 8:58 2017 NZDT
GPS: 41 05.26S 174 51.33E
Run: 27.5nm (49.8km)

Anchored, waiting for the tide to enter the marina. Motored all


the way down from Rangitikei [where we ended up after running from the


weather] to south end of Kapiti, then a brief motor sail across to


Pukerua Bay before looking for the elusive moorings off Mana Island. All


untenable in southerly weather so headed into Porirua harbour where we


spent a peaceful night on the hook after the wind dropped. Getting set


for the grand arrival in Mana Marina around noon today.


 


Tue Mar 28 10:36 2017 NZDT
Speed:
4-5knts
knts
GPS: 40 41.940S 174 58.09E
Run: 91.7nm (166km)
Avg: 3.7knts
24hr: 87.7nm
Weather: 10knts S, 2.0m swell S, 20% cloud, 1016 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. An interesting night... Coastal forecast noted that conditions S of Otaki were considerably worse than North. We made landfall just at Otaki and can confirm that the sea got easier close inshore and North; wind still gusting 30 kn though. Tried everything [including drogue: useless at slow speed but a bugger to haul back in] and finally ran downwind up the coast under a scrap of stay sail, still doing 5+ knots; better than hove to, doing 2.9knots broadside on to the waves!!  Turned around at Rangitikei and motored back. Now motoring dead into wind and sea toward Mana; about 10miles north of Kapiti. Decided to come outside of Kapiti to avoid tidal current inshore, but may have been quicker to go inshore as sea flatter.  On top of that, Otto packed a sad twice during the night. Marg heroically hand steered for nearly 3 hours down wind with big erratic following seas. Interestingly the auto pilot failed both times [going north then going south] just off Manawatu entrance; trying to draw Marg home perhaps?


Mon Mar 27 9:30 2017 NZDT
Speed:
4-5knts
knts
GPS: 40 12.600S 173 20.806E
Run: 81.7nm (147.9km)
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 127.3nm
Weather: 10knts ENE, smoothe seas, 0.5m swell NW, 90% cloud, 1015 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. Forecast for Stephens improved: still gale warning but saying 35 knots. Making best course as wind veers, will tack further inshore when it starts to build. NE'ly did not hold long enough to make it inshore off Wanganui as hoped. Kupe gas platform hailed us at 03:45 to tell us we were in "exclusion zone" of 5km; AS WE WERE SAILING AWAY from CPA of 1200m! Actually a reporting zone; exclusion is 500m per charts, but they require reporting if approaching within 5000m. Live and learn... Discovered Marg's download of Mana tides quotes "GFT" time zone: now what is that?? Certainly doesn't match any other tide times in the vicinity,


Sun Mar 26 18:06 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.5-8.5knts
knts
GPS: 39 02.370S 173 33.800E
Run: 243nm (439.8km)
Avg: 7.2knts
24hr: 173.1nm
Weather: 16knts NNE, moderate seas, 3m swell N-NNE, 400% cloud, 1018 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. Approaching Taranaki: mountain shrouded in cloud as usual... Sun came out about an hour ago after wind dropped from 23-26 knots down to 15-18 knots within an hour. Forecast for tomorrow pretty bad though: 40 knots SE in afternoon, =E2=80=98easing=E2=80=99 to 30 knots in evening. Think we=E2=80=99ll end up heaving to to wait it out, somewhere inshore. Planning to sweep inshore toward Wanganui and then round. But we have cellphone internet here!


Sun Mar 26 9:48 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.5-8.5knts
knts
Weather: 23knts NNE, rough seas confused, 2m swell N-NNE, 100% cloud, 1017 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. Past Waikato estuary (at night). Sailing on =E2=80=98Track=E2=80=99 mode since gybed at 14:00 yesterday. Broad-beam reach under songle-reefed main and staysail. Wind direction and timing exactly as GRIBS but about 5 knots higher since midnight. Motion relatively easy for once with sails loaded and gentle heel. Otto steering magnificently, and Duogen making enough to run the inverter. Just started raining... Might see Cape Egmont at dusk: hope cloud cover doesn=E2=80=99t hide the mountain all day.


Sun Mar 26 9:33 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.5-8.5knts
knts
Weather: 23knts NNE, rough seas confused, 2m swell N-NNE, 100% cloud, 1017 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. Past Waikato estuary (at night). Sailing on "Track" mode since gybed at 14:00 yesterday. Broad-beam reach under songle-reefed main and staysail. Wind direction and timing exactly as GRIBS but about 5 knots higher since midnight. Motion relatively easy for once with sails loaded and gentle heel. Otto steering magnificently, and Duogen making enough to run the inverter. Just started raining... Might see Cape Egmont at dusk: hope cloud cover doesn't hide the mountain all day.


Sat Mar 25 8:24 2017 NZDT
Speed:
5knts
knts
GPS: 35 36.400S 172 36.594E
Run: 90.9nm (164.5km)
Avg: 4knts
24hr: 97nm
Weather: 13knts NNW, moderate seas confused, 1m swell NW, 90% cloud, 1017 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. Past 90 Mile Beach (at night). Cape Reinga & Cape Marie Van Diemen very impressive. 165deg wind angle main only until 20+ kn squall at 02:30 had us dropping main and continuing under yankee only: very rolly so sail plan not very stable, uncomfortable below. Wind veering as forecast so will have to gybe soon, just after we hoisted single-reefed main again. Ho hum... We always seem to be either beating or dead downwind. neither very conducive to comfort and relaxation. Enjoying the trip with Carol: very competent and confident, and great company. Marg doing toast & eggs for breakfast.


Fri Mar 24 9:54 2017 NZDT
Speed:
4knts
knts
GPS: 34 20.971S 173 04.902E
Run: 90.1nm (163.1km)
Weather: 8knts NNe, smooth seas, 0.25m swell , 60% cloud, 1021 baro

On passage, Opua to Mana marina, Plimmerton. Just rounded North Cape. Wind just filled in after 6 hours motoring: neat to see it coming in from the North, waiting to see what it would be... Great time with a biggish pod of dolphins; got the video this time.


Wed Mar 22 19:18 2017 NZDT
GPS: 35 18.64S 174 09.3E
Run: 1.9nm (3.4km)

Preparing for the passage from Opua to Mana Marina, Plimmerton... So far the weather's looking OK for a non-stop passage, assuming the low blows itself out before it gets here.. Otherwise it's round to Whangaroa to wait for a better weather window.


Mon Nov 14 22:09 2016 NZDT
GPS: 35 18.8S 174 07.3E
Run: 42.1nm (76.2km)
Avg: 3.2knts
24hr: 77.7nm

Arrived on customs dock at 4pm. Processed very quickly and efficiently - not the scary experience many talk of.


Mon Nov 14 9:09 2016 NZDT
Speed:
6knts
knts
GPS: 34 42.285S 174 05.942E
Run: 117.1nm (212km)
Avg: 4.9knts
24hr: 117.1nm
Weather: 14knts NNW, smooth seas, 0.5m swell SW, 40% cloud, 1005 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Smooth easy downwind conditions, close to NZ reporting point. Nearly there!


Sun Nov 13 9:09 2016 NZDT
Speed:
5knts
knts
GPS: 33 01.013S 173 55.684E
Run: 134.6nm (243.6km)
Avg: 5.7knts
24hr: 136.6nm
Weather: 12knts SSW, moderate seas, 3m swell SW, 90% cloud, 1010 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Wind moderating, staying SSW, occasionally SW. Sea state improving but still lumpy. Close-hauled making best speed upwind, double-reefed main, staysail & yankee. Waiting for wind to veer further to lay Bay of Islands waypoint.


Sat Nov 12 9:30 2016 NZDT
Speed:
3knts
knts
GPS: 31 11.223S 173 08.562E
Run: 119.2nm (215.8km)
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 128nm
Weather: 17knts SW, rough seas, 3m swell W, 80% cloud, 1005 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Passed the front at ~02:30: double reefed main only; 35 knots wind, torrential rain, lightning, for about 1 hour. Wind shift N-NW in 2 minutes, then NW-SW in 5! Now sailing double-reefed main and staysail, 60-70deg fetch


Fri Nov 11 11:09 2016 NZDT
Speed:
4knts
knts
GPS: 29 29.988S 173 33.433E
Run: 104.6nm (189.3km)
Avg: 4.2knts
24hr: 99.6nm
Weather: 7knts N, smooth seas, 1m swell S, 100% cloud, 1019 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Motor-sailing to charge battery. Wind 6-10knots N-NNW, 3-4knots when under sail, main only


Thu Nov 10 9:57 2016 NZDT
Speed:
4knts
knts
GPS: 28 09.661s 174 21.859e
Run: 137.9nm (249.6km)
Avg: 5.4knts
24hr: 129.5nm
Weather: 2-5knts E, smooth seas, 1m swell S, 80% cloud, 1020 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Motor-sailing in light air.


Wed Nov 9 8:24 2016 NZDT
Speed:
6knts
knts
GPS: 26 56.180s 176 08.5e
Run: 224nm (405.4km)
Avg: 4.6knts
24hr: 111.5nm
Weather: 10-18knts SSE, slight seas, 2.5m swell SE, 0% cloud, 1020 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Sailing CH port tack 24hrs, waiting for wind to back to make Southing. Wind 8-18knts, typicallly 12-14knts, S-SSE


Mon Nov 7 8:12 2016 NZDT
Speed:
4.5knts
knts
GPS: 25 33.437s 179 24.729e
Run: 170nm (307.7km)
Weather: 8-10knts NNE, smooth seas, 1.5m swell E, 0% cloud, 1017 baro

On passage, N Minerva Reef to Opua. Sailing in wind vane mode on broad reach; waiting for daylight to switch to downwind setup


Thu Nov 3 15:42 2016 NZDT
Speed:
0knts
knts
GPS: 23 37.429s 178 54.961w
Run: 37.3nm (67.5km)
Avg: 4.4knts
24hr: 106.6nm
Weather: 8-10knts N, smooth seas, 0.5m swell E, 0% cloud, 1018 baro

At anchor, N Minerva Reef: beer o=E2=80=99clock already & fresh mahi mahi for dinner!


Thu Nov 3 7:18 2016 NZDT
Speed:
5knts
knts
GPS: 23 19.351s 178 25.714w
Run: 140.9nm (255km)
Avg: 6.1knts
24hr: 146.4nm
Weather: 8-10knts NE, smooth seas, 0.5m swell E, 0% cloud, 1018 baro

On passage, Tongatapu =E2=80=93 N Minerva, motor siling in light airs for daylight arrival, dead downwind, ETA 01:00UT 03/11/2016


Wed Nov 2 8:12 2016 NZDT
Speed:
5.5knts
knts
GPS: 22 11.975s 176 35.056w
Run: 5158.3nm (9336.5km)
Avg: 109.8knts
24hr: 2634nm
Weather: 14knts SE, smooth/slight seas, 0.5-1m swell SE, 0% cloud, 1012 baro

On passage, Tongatapu =E2=80=93 N Minerva, ETA 22:30 UT 02/11/2016


Mon Oct 31 9:12 2016 NZDT
Speed:
0knts
knts
GPS: 21 07.52s 1175 09.7w
Run: 5092.5nm (9217.4km)
Avg: 19.3knts
24hr: 462.9nm
Weather: 3knts S, calm seas, 100% cloud, 1012 baro

at anchor, Big Mama Yacht Club


Fri Oct 21 10:32 2016 NZDT
No position sent.

Thu Oct 20 9:09 2016 NZDT
GPS: 21 07.543S 175 09.714W
Run: 2.9nm (5.2km)
Avg: 6.9knts
24hr: 165.4nm

Waiting on weather...


No blogs available for this yacht.

Loading map and updates ....
Loading track, please wait ....