Tumbleweed

Thu Aug 8 13:55 2019 NZST
GPS: 53 52.6038N 166 33.1248W
Run: 2836.8nm (5134.6km)
Avg: 4.4knts
24hr: 104.6nm
Weather: sunny, winds nil

Docked in Dutch Harbor after 32 days at sea. Total miles sailed: 3400 nm. Next stops will be at small anchorages on the way to Kodiak, AK, where we will winter with the boat.


Fri Jul 12 11:18 2019 NZST
Speed:
5.0 kts
knts
GPS: 33 40.248n 142 05.352e
Weather: Easterlies continue for third day. Steady 9-12 kts, ranging from 60 - 160 degrees T. Overcast with mixed cloud types, some sun. A few light showers. Temperature ~70 F.

20190711 1400 UTC, Day 4. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Wakayama, Japan. Inbound Port Townsend, WA USA. What excellent sailing. We've rediscovered upwind sailing. For most of the voyage around the Pacific, we've been sailing mostly downwind, with some beam reaching. The few times we've sailed upwind the seas have been large and rough...not fun. But these last few days with moderate seas, with tumbleweed at full sails 24 hours a day, we've been impressed with how well tumbleweed cuts through the waves and squeezes some speed out of so little wind. Of course the seas have to corelate with the wind, smooth seas if light wind, etc.. 4155 miles to go.


Fri Jul 12 6:06 2019 NZST
Speed:
5.0 kts
knts
GPS: 33 40.248n 142 05.352e
Run: 112.9nm (204.3km)
Avg: 3.4knts
24hr: 81.5nm
Weather: Easterlies continue for third day. Steady 9-12 kts, ranging from 60 - 160 degrees T. Overcast with mixed cloud types, some sun. A few light showers. Temperature ~70 F.

20190711 1400 UTC, Day 4. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Wakayama, Japan. Inbound Port Townsend, WA USA. What excellent sailing. We've rediscovered upwind sailing. For most of the voyage around the Pacific, we've been sailing mostly downwind, with some beam reaching. The few times we've sailed upwind the seas have been large and rough...not fun. But these last few days with moderate seas, with tumbleweed at full sails 24 hours a day, we've been impressed with how well tumbleweed cuts through the waves and squeezes some speed out of so little wind. Of course the seas have to corelate with the wind, smooth seas if light wind, etc.. 4155 miles to go.


Wed Jul 10 20:51 2019 NZST
Speed:
5.6 kts
knts
GPS: 32 44.910n 140 28.654e
Run: 1255.5nm (2272.5km)
Weather: Easterlies continue for third day. Steady 15-20 kts, ranging from 45 - 120 degrees T. Overcast with mixed cloud types, some sun. A few light showers. Temperature ~70 F.

20190710 0800 UTC, Day 3. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Wakayama, Japan. Inbound Port Townsend, WA USA. Winds have been consistently from the east for 2 days, 15-20 kts. Because our general route is ~50 degrees T, we have been sailing to weather for those 2 days also, and at times it has been rough. 2-3m seas, several wave trains, strong currents dominated by the Kuroshio, and complex coastal seabed topography result in confused seas for us. We are happy to have the winds to sail though. 330 nm VMG total for 3 days sailing, including 24 hours of motorsailing. 4370 miles to go.


Fri Feb 15 0:00 2019 NZDT
GPS: 15 13.0869N 145 43.4404E
Run: 279nm (505km)
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 127.4nm
Weather: isolated showers

At the transient dock, Smiley Cove, Garapan, Saipan


Tue Feb 12 19:27 2019 NZDT
Speed:
7.1 kts.
knts
GPS: 12 56.310n 149 09.543e
Run: 174.9nm (316.6km)
Avg: 7knts
24hr: 168.2nm
Weather: many squalls, high winds, mostly sunny, enhanced NE tradewinds 18-33 kts, averaging 24 kts., seas confused 3+m

20190212 0600 UTC, Day 10. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Weather is a bit calmer than yesterday, but it's still blowin'. We sail with a reefed genoa, staysail, trysail during the day, but furl in the genoa during the night. An excellent 146nm day, VMG. 240 nm to go. We're planning landfall on Thursday, 02/14.


Mon Feb 11 18:30 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.3 kts.
knts
GPS: 12 09.888n 151 37.655e
Run: 188.4nm (341km)
Avg: 7.4knts
24hr: 177nm
Weather: many squalls, high winds, mostly sunny, enhanced NE tradewinds 18-33 kts, averaging 24 kts., seas confused 3+m

20190211 05 UTC, Day 9. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Big seas and high winds. Wow those large squalls were powerful. We had not put away the double-furled headsail, given the calm weather. That decision, in retrospect, was not great. So with Headsail(double reef) + Stays'l + trys'l, we sailed through the night. When the first squall hit unexpectedly


Sun Feb 10 16:57 2019 NZDT
Speed:
7.4 kts.
knts
GPS: 11 32.106n 154 20.206e
Run: 320nm (579.2km)
Avg: 6.9knts
24hr: 166.2nm
Weather: high winds, mostly sunny, enhanced NE tradewinds 22 -33 kts, averaging 29 kts., seas strong 4m; 2 large squalls 38-43 kts sustained for over an hour each

20190209+10 03:45 UTC, Day 7+8. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Big seas and high winds. Wow those two large squalls were powerful. We had already reduced sails, given that it was night: Stays'l + trys'l. Tumbleweed + Monitor windvane handled the squalls beautifully...we didn't touch a thing during the squalls. On Sunday the weather settled to 22 kts NE. So now, reefed genoa + stays'l + trys'l. 550 nm to go.


Fri Feb 8 18:45 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 10 18.500n 158 53.000e
Run: 191.7nm (347km)
Avg: 7.3knts
24hr: 175.3nm
Weather: high winds, mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 22 -33 kts, averaging 29 kts., seas strong 3.5+m

20190208 05:30 UTC, Day 6. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Big seas and high winds. We had to put away the reefed genoa, and put up our favorite trysail on the mast, so now just it and staysail are up. Still sailing 6.5+ kts. We are expecting more wind, based on EC and GFS. Our ETA for Saipan is Thursday, Feb. 14. 822 nm to go(just about half way there)


Thu Feb 7 16:30 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 10 0.000n 161 41.000e
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 18 - 28 kts, averaging 23 kts., seas fully built, 3m

20190207 03:30 UTC, Day 5. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Great sailing conditions continue. We are hitting 150nm-days without much effort. We expect to pickup some free speed as we sail into westward currents at 1 - 1.5 kts. Our ETA for Saipan is Thursday, Feb. 14.


Thu Feb 7 16:30 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 10 0.000n 161 41.000e
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 18 - 28 kts, averaging 23 kts., seas fully built, 3m

20190207 03:30 UTC, Day 5. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Great sailing conditions continue. We are hitting 150nm-days without much effort. We expect to pickup some free speed as we sail into westward currents at 1 - 1.5 kts. Our ETA for Saipan is Thursday, Feb. 14.


Thu Feb 7 16:27 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 10 0.000n 161 41.000e
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 18 - 28 kts, averaging 23 kts., seas fully built, 3m

20190207 03:30 UTC, Day 5. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Great sailing conditions continue. We are hitting 150nm-days without much effort. We expect to pickup some free speed as we sail into westward currents at 1 - 1.5 kts. Our ETA for Saipan is Thursday, Feb. 14.


Thu Feb 7 16:21 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 10 0.000n 161 41.000e
Run: 158.5nm (286.9km)
Avg: 7.2knts
24hr: 173.7nm
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 18 - 28 kts, averaging 23 kts., seas fully built, 3m

20190207 03:30 UTC, Day 5. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Great sailing conditions continue. We are hitting 150nm-days without much effort. We expect to pickup some free speed as we sail into westward currents at 1 - 1.5 kts. Our ETA for Saipan is Thursday, Feb. 14.


Wed Feb 6 18:27 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 09 12.169n 163 51.810e
Run: 287.8nm (520.9km)
Avg: 12.6knts
24hr: 302.9nm
Weather: mostly sunny, noon serial squalls. NE tradewinds 18 - 26 kts, averaging 23 kts., seas fully built, 3m

20190206 05:30 UTC, Day 4. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. We are now west of the thick of the Marshall Islands, with the Saipan approach as the next waypoint 1122 nm away. It's a simple straight course we hope the NE tradewinds will help us keep simple. Many squalls near lunchtime. Seas are fiesty. VMG so far is 144 nm/day.


Tue Feb 5 19:39 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 08 42.400n 168 02.950e
Run: 53.6nm (97km)
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 15-25 kts, averaging 21 kts.

20190205 06:30 UTC, Day 3. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. Isn't it superb when crew and yacht and nature align to bring about wonderful sailing? We are on a rhumbline to Saipan, sailing on a broad reach with a reefed headsail and full staysail. We're making 144 nm days (VMG) without effort. Ahhh....


Mon Feb 4 16:39 2019 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 08 17.246n 168 42.534e
Run: 200.1nm (362.2km)
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. NE tradewinds 15-25 kts, averaging 21 kts.

20190204 03:30 UTC, Day 2. Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Marshall Islands. Inbound Saipan. We are headed for Chichijima, Japan, but first short stops at Saipan and Muag (just a sail through given that it's a protected wildlife habitat). Weather forecast with GFS and ECMWF look good for the next week. More to come...


Tue Dec 18 20:27 2018 NZDT
Speed:
0 kts. (moored)
knts
GPS: 07 06.166n 171 22.440e
Run: 75.3nm (136.3km)
Weather: mostly sunny, no squalls. 1008 mb. NE tradewinds 20 kts. SE

20181217 0600 UTC, Day 28. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. We have arrived at Majuro. Because of the vagaries of weather and ocean currents, we managed to turn a 12-day 1500 nm rhumbline passage into a 28-day 2000 nm extravaganza. But as I have written before, we are not complaining about the distance or time...it was a wonderful passage. Part of our plan was to drift instead of motoring if the winds slackened and that's what we did. During the 28-day passage, our motor was on only 16 hours. We don't see this as some sort of a merit badge or as a bragging point. We aren't critical of others who choose to motor more. But motoring to us on Tumbleweed destroys the magic of sailing, it breaks the zen like connection to wind and sea, and it's something we avoid, even if it means doubling the length of the passage. We are so fortunate to be on this journey. Next up, the continuing passage toward Japan in January?


Sun Dec 16 18:45 2018 NZDT
Speed:
3.0 kts.
knts
GPS: 07 00.000n 172 28.000e
Run: 65.2nm (118km)
Avg: 2.6knts
24hr: 62.3nm
Weather: partly sunny, cloudy, no squalls. 1007 mb. NE tradewinds 10-15 kts, avg 11 kts, 70T - 100T.

20181216 0600 UTC, Day 27. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17, maybe 12/18. Wind speeds have fallen to about 11 kts. To maintain boat speed and to stay in areas forecasted with higher winds, we changed course and are now going over the north side of Arno, the atoll east of Majuro. At the time we made the course change, it added about 10 nm to the route, but with the benefit of sailing on a beam reach in 10 kts, which gives us > 3 kts. in boat speed. We also expect to be able to gybe and sail SW toward Majuro's entrance once we have reached the northern tip of Arno. At this point, reaching Majuro by 1600 12/17 looks unlikely, so we may have to postpone until 12/18. 80nm to go (course).


Sat Dec 15 17:39 2018 NZDT
Speed:
4.7 kts.
knts
GPS: 06 24.000n 173 12.000e
Run: 102.7nm (185.9km)
Avg: 4.7knts
24hr: 113.1nm
Weather: overcast skies, occasional squalls. 1007 mb. NE tradewinds and local winds 15-30 sustained, gusts to low 30's. 70T - 130T.

20181215 0600 UTC, Day 26. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17. Weather and seas have settled a bit since yesterday, but 30 kts are forecasted (GFS) for our area during the next 6 hours. I had a bit of a panic today when I realized the passage was coming to an end...had we made it as excellent as we could have?....did we do everything?...when would the next passage be? One of the luxuries we've had on this passage is taking a daily shower. Tumbleweed has a dedicated shower, but we usually fill it with fenders and such on a passage. Not this time. It's been grand to shower, especially on the hottest of days. We've had a great time on this longer-than-expected passage, but I must admit that I'm ready for a little break. 140nm to go (course).


Fri Dec 14 19:51 2018 NZDT
Speed:
5.0 kts.
knts
GPS: 05 48.000n 174 34.000e
Run: 127nm (229.9km)
Avg: 4.9knts
24hr: 117.5nm
Weather: sunny morning, otherwise cloudy with squalls. 1007 mb. NE tradewinds and local winds 15-35 sustained, gusts to low 40's mostly, with one at 62 kts. 70T - 100T.

20181214 0600 UTC, Day 25. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17. Another existential threat: Chinese fishing vessels with AIS and lights OFF at night. We've heard similar reports from other sailors. If it weren't for Morgan's good watch habits, we would have hit one two nights ago. After Morgan changed course, the vessel we had been headed for turned on a small light, and then all 5 vessels in the group turned on their AIS as we sailed through the armada. 240nm to go (rhumbline) (we reported incorrectly on Day 24 yesterday, it should have been 360nm to go).


Thu Dec 13 17:54 2018 NZDT
Speed:
6.0 kts.
knts
GPS: 04 53.000n 176 10.000e
Run: 116.5nm (210.9km)
Avg: 4.8knts
24hr: 115.3nm
Weather: fierce squalls or fronts, heavy rains, high winds. 1007 mb. NE tradewinds and local winds 15-35 sustained, gusts to low 40's. 70T - 100T.

20181213 0500 UTC, Day 24. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17. When the first squall hit this morning, we were thinking that it would pass and then we'd have sunny weather again. Instead, that squall turned out to be the first of many that would morph into one large front or squal-line, blowing us to hull speed and showering us all afternoon. We want to arrive on Monday and must pace ourselves, and while exhilarating, the high winds aren't helping. The seas built swiftly today to at least 3 meters from the northeast, ~70T. 290 nm to go (rhumbline).


Wed Dec 12 17:39 2018 NZDT
Speed:
6.1 kts.
knts
GPS: 03 46.000n 177 26.000e
Run: 80.6nm (145.9km)
Avg: 3.5knts
24hr: 84.1nm
Weather: sunny, high cirrus, low scattered cumulus, a few squalls. 1007 mb. NE tradewinds 10-14 kts all day, 100T - 70T

20181212 0500 UTC, Day 23. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17. NE Tradewinds have arrived. It's been a beautiful sailing day with sunny skies, a constant 13 kts on the beam or quarter, seas are coherent with ~ 1m swell, 90T. Smooooth sailing, nice enough for a fancy Thai curry fresh! veggie lunch...good to still have ~fresh veggies after 23 days at sea. EC and GFS forecasts look good through Monday 12/17. We are a bit ahead of schedule and with the coming higher winds, we'll probably have to slow down a bit. One of our slow sail plans, which I love, is trysail + staysail. The trysail is a good alternative to the battened main, which in light winds will slap back and forth when the swell rocks Tumbleweed. The trysail is not battened, and when sheeted tight, won't slap at all, ditto for the staysail. So the combo is great for varying conditions and quiet sleep cycles. Tacking and gybing are a breeze. With 20 kts o n the beam, we easily see 6 kts. boat speed. 400 nm to go (rhumbline).


Tue Dec 11 18:39 2018 NZDT
Speed:
2.0 kts.
knts
GPS: 02 50.000n 178 08.000e
Run: 138.8nm (251.2km)
Avg: 2.9knts
24hr: 68.8nm
Weather: overcast, cloudy, large squalls, lightning. 1007 mb. Winds 8-25 kts, SE-S-SW

20181211 0500 UTC, Days 21 & 22. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17. What a long strange trip it's been. Yesterday's theme was crazy seas. We happened upon an area of converging currents and swell and it was hell. Tumbleweed had a difficult time making headway in light winds. With yet another electric-wonderland squall homing in on us, we decided to turn on the engine and motorsailed for an hour exiting the swirling seas and evading the super squall. Speaking of super squalls, this morning's excitement, and I mean that in a good sense


Sun Dec 9 18:12 2018 NZDT
Speed:
6.8 kts.
knts
GPS: 00 53.000n 178 37.000e
Run: 126.9nm (229.7km)
Avg: 5.2knts
24hr: 125.9nm
Weather: overcast, cloudy, large squalls, lightning. 1006mb. Winds 8-20 kts, SW-W-NW

20181209 0400 UTC, Day 20. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands, ETA 12/17. Only 30 nm VMG, but prospects are improving. Last night was a weird mix of wild currents and an odd fishing vessel. We were tired of the 1.5 kt eastward current, and with our newfound source of current current data via saildocs (thanks shesan), we began to consider motoring a bit north to escape it. But when a Chinese fishing vessel (70m) poped up, headed right for our drifting Tumbleweed, it was all engine full speed ahead! An hour later we had escaped the fisherpersons but were distressed to find that we were in a 3.5 kt. eastward current! Arggh, or is that arrgh!? But at this new location we had sailing winds and we were off and happy and soon to be free of the 3.5 current. Come morning, the Chinese were back, headed right for us again. I radioed them and told them where to go...literally. (Through miscommunication? or kindness? we thought they as ked us where we were headed, and we said Majuro, their reply was "Okay, we go towards Majuro!" and then they were gone.) Favorable sailing weather is forecasted to arrive by Tuesday and then stay through to the following Monday. 560 nm to go (rhumbline).


Sat Dec 8 18:00 2018 NZDT
Speed:
1.1 kts, (Equatorial Counter Current)
knts
GPS: 00 10.500s 177 07.000e
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus, scattered small squalls. Some early morning sailing winds, 6-8 kts.

20181208 0400 UTC, Days 18 & 19. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. -15 nm VMG. Although we're sailing a bit in the mornings, we mostly continue to drift, now a little more NE, further away from our destination than the day before. Someone, please make it stop. We had an excellent crossing-the-equator party, with swimming, games and a fancy dinner with a glass of wine (otherwise we are teetotalers on passage). The enhanced NE trades that we have been waiting for are a bit delayed and now GFS is forecasting a cyclonic cell near Majuro later in the week. This and the need to avoid a weekend arrival into the Marshalls means that we are now targeting December 17th for landfall. Egads. Oh well, lots of reading time. 590 nm to go (rhumbline).


Sat Dec 8 17:51 2018 NZDT
Speed:
1.5 kts, Equatorial Counter Current
knts
GPS: 00 10.500s 177 07.000e
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus, scattered small squalls. No wind. Zero.

20181206 0600 UTC, Day 17. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. -20 nm VMG. We are drifting eastward, further away from our destination than yesterday. This 1.5 kt eastward current is bugging us. We're not quite sure what it is. The Equatorial Counter Current is supposed to be much more north, 3-10 N. In previous posts for this passage, if I reported "no wind" I was misleading. Now we know no wind


Thu Dec 6 19:24 2018 NZDT
Speed:
1.5 kts, Equatorial Counter Current
knts
GPS: 00 10.500s 177 07.000e
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus, scattered small squalls. No wind. Zero.

20181206 0600 UTC, Day 17. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. -20 nm VMG. We are drifting eastward, further away from our destination than yesterday. This 1.5 kt eastward current is bugging us. We're not quite sure what it is. The Equatorial Counter Current is supposed to be much more north, 3-10 N. In previous posts for this passage, if I reported "no wind" I was misleading. Now we know no wind


Thu Dec 6 19:18 2018 NZDT
Speed:
1.5 kts, Equatorial Counter Current
knts
GPS: 00 10.500s 177 07.000e
Run: 36.9nm (66.8km)
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus, scattered small squalls. No wind. Zero.

20181206 0600 UTC, Day 17. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. -20 nm VMG. We are drifting eastward, further away from our destination than yesterday. This 1.5 kt eastward current is bugging us. We're not quite sure what it is. The Equatorial Counter Current is supposed to be much more north, 3-10 N. In previous posts for this passage, if I reported "no wind" I was misleading. Now we know no wind


Wed Dec 5 19:48 2018 NZDT
Speed:
1 kt, mostly current
knts
GPS: 00 11.000s 176 35.000e
Run: 42.4nm (76.7km)
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus, scattered small squalls. Very light winds 3-4 kts, NE to SE.

20181205 0600 UTC, Day 16. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. 5nm VMG. DOLDRUMS. HOT. But we really love the open sea. It's so peaceful. Dolphins visit us multiple times each day now. They are feeding on the school of fish under Tumbleweed. At times the water is smooth, rippleless, with large undulating long-period swell gently lifting us. We are going to continue to drift and wait for sailing winds, perhaps 5 days out. Our biggest concern with this plan is the potential for building swell from high winds to the northeast. 555 nm to go (rhumbline).


Tue Dec 4 20:43 2018 NZDT
Speed:
2.5 kts
knts
GPS: 00 38.000s 176 10.000e
Run: 83nm (150.2km)
Avg: 3.2knts
24hr: 76nm
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus, scattered small squalls. Light winds 3-10 kts, NE to SE.

20181204 0500 UTC, Day 15. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. 55 nm VMG, yippee. We had sailable winds averaging 7 kts all last night and most of the day. These NE to SE winds, combined with a favorable eastward current and calm seas, helped us get 3-4 kts SOG on a mostly northward heading. Dolphins and more dolphins. Not sure if they are the same group on each visit. 560 nm to go (rhumbline).


Mon Dec 3 18:30 2018 NZDT
Speed:
5.6 kts
knts
GPS: 01 50.000s 176 12.000e
Run: 49.5nm (89.6km)
Weather: sunny all day, small puffy cumulus, light cirrus. No winds last night and this morning, winds 5-10 kts NE 60 degrees since morning. Combined seas < 1m, gentle swell.

20181203 0500 UTC, Day 14. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. A return to good sailing conditions. We had no wind from yesterday evening to just after sunrise today


Sun Dec 2 18:21 2018 NZDT
Speed:
4.2 kts
knts
GPS: 02 32.000s 176 03.000e
Run: 44.3nm (80.2km)
Weather: morning rain, afternoon sunny. No winds morining, winds 8-11 kts W afternoon. Combined seas

20181202 0500 UTC, Day 13. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Only 30 VMG. We had no wind from yesterday evening to just after noon today, when a nice westerly arrived. We managed to find a northeastward current at 1.5 kts. Changing wind direction, scattered atolls, and currents have resulted in a bit of a meandering course for us, shaped like an 'S', but as long as we have a little north and a little west in our heading, we are happy


Sat Dec 1 18:45 2018 NZDT
Speed:
3.8 kts
knts
GPS: 03 02.300s 175 39.300e
Run: 71.7nm (129.8km)
Avg: 3knts
24hr: 72.6nm
Weather: partly sunny with 75% clouds, a few squalls. Winds 3-14 kts SW to SE, mostly < 6 kts. Combined seas 1m, gentle swell.

20181201 0500 UTC, Day 12. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Another wonderful slow day. Although we hitched a power ride on a couple of squalls, for the most part winds were very light with 4 or 5 big directional shifts, causing several sail changes and course ineffeciencies. We have seen 1 tanker, 3 fishing vessels, and 0 yachts so far on the passage. We have motored a total of 7 hours with 1050 nm sailed, 670 nm to go (rhumbline).


Fri Nov 30 19:03 2018 NZDT
Speed:
2.1 kts
knts
GPS: 04 04.000s 175 31.000e
Run: 54.7nm (99km)
Weather: sunny, clear skies. some cirrus. light winds 3-9 kts SW to SE, mostly < 6 kts. Seas calm, slight gentle swell.

20181130 0600 UTC, Day 11. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Because wind speed and direction are varying quite a bit, we've had to adapt our sail plan for easy single-handing during watch. We set up the whisker pole for the genoa which allows for broad downwind sailing angles...we were sailing on the lee a bit this morning. Checking Admiral W.H. Smyth's Sailor's Word Book, we are neither adrift nor becalmed, as I've said in previous posts. I'm not sure how, but we have managed to keep the boat headed in the direction we want, albeit sometimes at speeds around 1 kt. I guess we are just slow. At lunch we noticed a turtle swimming directly behind our boat. After playing around the boat a bit, the turtle swam on, passing us. 720 nm to go (rhumbline).


Thu Nov 29 19:21 2018 NZDT
Speed:
1.5 kts
knts
GPS: 04 51.500s 175 29.500e
Run: 162.6nm (294.3km)
Avg: 6.6knts
24hr: 158.6nm
Weather: sunny, clear skies. some cirrus. light winds 3-8 kts SE, mostly < 5 kts. Seas calm, slight gentle swell.

20181129 0600 UTC, Day 10. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. As GFS and EC forecasted the winds have dropped to under 5 kts. Tumbleweed is adrift but we don't mind. CAPE is really low, so there's not much threat of squalls...none in sight today. The calm seas make being adrift a joy. Tumbleweed is fully stocked with food and books. 760 nm to go (rhumbline).


Wed Nov 28 18:45 2018 NZDT
Speed:
5.5 kts
knts
GPS: 06 36.307s 177 04.573e
Weather: mostly sunny with small puffy low clouds, lots of cirrus. steady winds at 10-15 kts NE. Seas moderate with 1.5 m relaxed swell ENE.

20181128 0530 UTC, Day 9. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Good sailing weather continues with favorable winds and seas. But wind direction at 30-50T is more northerly than we want, pushing us to sail a heading of ~310T. While Majuro is northwest of us, we are using up too much west too early, risking an easterly heading as we close on Majuro


Tue Nov 27 18:36 2018 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts
knts
GPS: 06 36.307s 177 04.573e
Run: 131.1nm (237.3km)
Avg: 5.6knts
24hr: 134.5nm
Weather: mostly sunny with a few small squalls. steady winds at 10-15 kts NE. Seas moderate with 1.5 m relaxed swell ENE.

20181127 0500 UTC, Day 8. 2 PonB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. A return to excellent sailing weather with favorable winds and seas. Sailing mostly on a close reach with reefed genoa, full staysail, and reefed main (reefed sails allow us to single-hand tumbleweed through squalls during watches). Winds are expected to fall by Thursday, but CAPE is very low, so perhaps limited squalls. So far 780nm sailed realizing 640nm VMG. 900 nm to go (rhumbline).


Mon Nov 26 19:12 2018 NZDT
Speed:
3.6 kts
knts
GPS: 08 14.563s 178 02.407e
Run: 68.6nm (124.2km)
Avg: 2.8knts
24hr: 68.3nm
Weather: mostly cloudy, squalls and showers. variable winds at 5-15 kts NW, N, NE

20181126 0600 UTC, Day 7. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well, kind of. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Electrical squalls were a continued threat last night. Torrential rain and many cloud-to-sea lightning strikes. I read somewhere that marine lightning is 95% inter-cloud, but that's not the percentage we are seeing, 60/40 cloud-cloud vs. cloud-sea. Squirrelly weather meant for many sail changes. Some drifting with winds < 5 kts. Crew showing a little fatique. 1100 nm to go (rhumbline).


Sun Nov 25 19:06 2018 NZDT
Speed:
4.8 kts
knts
GPS: 08 51.000s 178 50.000e
Run: 98.2nm (177.7km)
Avg: 3.8knts
24hr: 91.7nm
Weather: sunny with scattered clouds and showers. variable winds at 8-12 kts NE,E

20181125 0600 UTC, Day 6. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Lightning puts us on edge like not much else (piracy?). Yesterday evening the winds dropped to less than 4 kts and we started drifting. Just before midnight, with a beautiful full moon, Morgan spotted a very large cluster of squalls headed our way. In the bright silvery moonlight, the cluster was black-black with lightning tendrils. We decided to motor to escape them and then spent the next 5 hours dodging spawning electrical squalls.1060 nm to go (rhumbline).


Sat Nov 24 17:24 2018 NZDT
Speed:
5.0 kts
knts
GPS: 10 16.000s 178 43.000e
Run: 139.1nm (251.8km)
Avg: 5.8knts
24hr: 138.8nm
Weather: sunny with scattered clouds and showers. steady winds at 8 kts E

20181124 0400 UTC, Day 5. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Good sailing conditions continue, but at slower speeds. After many downwind passages with high winds and big seas, we've rediscovered upwind sailing in light winds and calm seas, squeezing 5 kts out of 8 kts of true wind on a close reach with full sails. Several days of very light winds are forecasted by both GFS and EC, so we're planning our drifting sea-spa vacation. It is getting hotter. 95F/35C in the cabin midday. All of our hatches and portlights are covered with aluminum foil. 1140 nm to go (rhumbline).


Fri Nov 23 17:21 2018 NZDT
Speed:
6.4 kts
knts
GPS: 12 14.000s 178 17.000e
Run: 180.5nm (326.7km)
Avg: 7.6knts
24hr: 183.2nm
Weather: sunny with scattered clouds and showers. steady winds at 15 kts E

20181123 0400 UTC, Day 4. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Great sailing weather. GFS and EC both predict diminishing winds by Sunday 11/25. If the winds go below 5 kts, we plan to drift and wait for winds, rather than motor. Too bad Tuvalu has anti-gay laws, we may have stopped otherwise. 1240 nm to go (rhumbline).


Thu Nov 22 17:42 2018 NZDT
Speed:
7.4 kts
knts
GPS: 14 44.750s 177 33.000e
Run: 162.8nm (294.7km)
Avg: 6.8knts
24hr: 162.1nm
Weather: light rain morning, mostly sunny afternoon. scattered clouds, winds 12-18 kts, S then E, 180-90T

20181122 0400 UTC, Day 3. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Last night, general area winds increased as we passed to the NW of Bligh Water with its own geographic amplification, giving us 18 kts SE with seas < 1m. This gave Tumbleweed his sweetspot conditions, sailing a beam reach at 8.0 kts (hull speed) with a reefed main, full staysail, and reefed genoa...along with a big moon. As we sailed north of Fiji the winds shifted to the east and our heading shifted to the north, so we're still on a beam reach making good way. GFS and EC forecast these same wind conditions for the next several days, but the chance for rain will increase as we pass through the SPCZ. 1360 nm to go (rhumbline).


Wed Nov 21 17:36 2018 NZDT
Speed:
4.9 kts
knts
GPS: 16 59.0s 176 47.0e
Run: 60.2nm (109km)
Avg: 3knts
24hr: 73.2nm
Weather: mostly sunny. high clouds, winds 12kts 180T

20181121 0430 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. Slow night with light winds and < 1m seas, but we didn't mind. It was an easy first night. Today the winds have been S to SE 12 kts with 1m seas. Dreamlike sailing with the Yasawas to the east and a delicious hummos sandwich and backgammon at lunch. Winds are expected to build as we pass northwest of Bligh Waters. Winds look good several days out.


Tue Nov 20 21:51 2018 NZDT
Speed:
4.6 kts
knts
GPS: 17 50.696s 176 54.801e
Run: 31.2nm (56.5km)
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 12kts 170 T

20181120 0830 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Outbound Fiji. Inbound Marshall Islands. After good times and good friends in Fiji, we are thrilled to be back at sea. We had a beautiful sail from Denarau to Navula Pass, and then sailed west into a sharp sunset to make some sea room from the reefs. The winds are a bit higher than GFS and EC forecasted, while Fiji met was correct.


Sun Nov 11 7:21 2018 NZDT
GPS: 17 46.3620S 177 22.9259E
Run: 154.1nm (278.9km)
Weather: Partly cloudy, calm

Docked at Denarau Marina, Fiji, waiting for favorable weather for our passage north to the Marshall Islands. Candidate departure date is 2018-11-16.


Mon Sep 24 20:00 2018 NZST
Speed:
6.3 kn
knts
GPS: 19 31.200s 178 50.600e
Run: 170.4nm (308.4km)
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 15 kts. SE

20180924 0700 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. After good times in Falaga, Fiji, we are inbound Musket Cove, west of Viti Levu, Fiji. ETA is Wednesday 0700 local at Navula Pass. We are concerned about forecasts of increasing SE winds in the vicinity of the Navula Pass on Wednesday morning.


Sat Sep 15 7:21 2018 NZST
Speed:
0.0 (anchored)
knts
GPS: 19 08.365s 178 34.543w
Run: 213.5nm (386.4km)
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 15 kts. SE

20180901 1900 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. After good times in Savusavu and off Taveuni Island, we are now in Falaga, Fiji, anchored amongst floating limestone islets in 3 meters of turquoise water over a pure sand seabed with 300 degrees of protection from winds. The village on the seaside, reached by a 45 minute walk through the jungle, is filled with some of the friendliest people on Earth. We plan to stay here about a month.


Tue Jul 10 0:00 2018 NZST
GPS: 16 46.656S 179 19.862E
Run: 317.9nm (575.4km)
Avg: 5.7knts
24hr: 136.4nm
Weather: mostly clear, light clouds

We arrived in Savusavu, Fiji at 10:00 local time on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Check-in with Fiji Customs, Biosecurity, etc. went smoothly with some of the friendliest government officials we've ever met. Town is filled with more friendly people and lots of supplies. Lunch at Grace Road was outstanding. We bought a 1.5 kilo fresh (alive) crab at the market that is within sight of Tumbleweed on a mooring. Suvasuva will be an excellent place to supply for our adventure around the Fijian islands.


Sat Jul 7 16:03 2018 NZST
Speed:
7.2 kts.
knts
GPS: 21 07.354s 179 04.238w
Run: 175.5nm (317.7km)
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 25-30 kts. SE

20180707 0400 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Next destination Savusavu Fiji. After light winds last night, we've been sailing in strong winds all day, 25-30 kts. SE, combined seas 2-3 meters.With just a double reefed genoa, we have no problem approaching our hull speed, 7.8 kts. Because there have been several light squalls with winds above 30 kts, we plan to downshift to our staysail by sundown. We expect to arrive in SavuSavu either late Monday or early Tuesday. As we enter Fijian waters, we are going take the channel east of Totoya Island to preserve our easting.


Sun Jul 1 18:06 2018 NZST
Speed:
0 kts. (anchored)
knts
GPS: 23 39.422s 178 54.044w
Run: 200.6nm (363.1km)
Avg: 2.8knts
24hr: 67.3nm
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 23 kts. SE

20180701 0600 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Next destination Savusavu Fiji. Because of unfavorable winds and seas in Fiji, we diverted to Minerva Reef, and we're so happy that we did. Apart from avoiding the "HIGH SEAS" forecast in Fijian waters, meaning +6 meter seas, we are being mesmerized by Minerva Reef, with its beauty and history. Led by s/v Aka, we saw an ancient anchor on the reef from a centuries-past shipwreck. Ah, the sailing life.


Thu Jun 28 18:33 2018 NZST
Speed:
4.3 kts.
knts
GPS: 25 34.316s 178 41.953e
Run: 126.4nm (228.8km)
Avg: 5.3knts
24hr: 126.7nm
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 16 kts. SE

20180627 0615 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Destination Savusavu Fiji Calmer conditions today as high pressure builds to the west of us. Winds for the last 24 hours have been 12 - 25 kts, excluding squalls. Combined seas at 2 meters, period 12 secs., manageable.


Wed Jun 27 18:36 2018 NZST
Speed:
5.0 kts.
knts
GPS: 27 18.628s 178 04.068e
Run: 155.2nm (280.9km)
Avg: 6.5knts
24hr: 157.2nm
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 18 kts. S

20180626 0700 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Destination Fiji. Another night & day of fantastic sailing. More squalls last night. Combined seas at 3-4 meters, period 13 secs., manageable.


Tue Jun 26 18:54 2018 NZST
Speed:
5.5 kts.
knts
GPS: 29 31.921s 177 41.783e
Run: 177.2nm (320.7km)
Avg: 6knts
24hr: 143.2nm
Weather: mostly clear, winds 22 kts. S

20180625 00700 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Destination Fiji. Another night & day of fantastic sailing. Stays'l only last night helped us through 15 or so squalls, two with 2-minute sustained winds of 43, with gusts to 50 kts. Today was another brilliant sunny day, with a steady 25 kts., sailing at 7 kts. most of the day, with just a single reefed 110% genoa.


Mon Jun 25 13:12 2018 NZST
Speed:
7.5
knts
GPS: 31 57.837s 176 45.230e
Run: 117.7nm (213km)
Avg: 4.1knts
24hr: 98.9nm
Weather: partly cloudy, winds 25 kts. W

20180624 0100 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Destination Fiji. Slow start, but now full sails. Strong winds arrived last night. Beautiful sailing with crisp air and brilliant sun. Swell fully built and confused, 2 meters.


Sun Jun 24 8:39 2018 NZST
Speed:
2.0
knts
GPS: 33 18.140s 175 30.135e
Run: 151.2nm (273.7km)
Weather: partly cloudy, winds calm

20180623 2030 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Destination Fiji. Adrift in very light winds, waiting for the front from the Tasman Sea to blow us to Fiji.


Fri Jun 15 18:42 2018 NZST
Speed:
0, at anchor
knts
GPS: 35 12.968s 174 13.242e
Weather: clear, winds calm

20180615 1830 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Preparing for passage north to Fiji via Minerva Reef. Waiting for a favorable weather window, departure likely 6/22.


Fri Jun 15 18:39 2018 NZST
Speed:
0, at anchor
knts
GPS: 35 12.968s 174 13.242e
Run: 9nm (16.3km)
Weather: clear, winds calm

20180615 1830 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Preparing for passage north to Fiji via Minerva Reef. Waiting for a favorable weather window, departure likely 6/22.


Sun Jun 3 8:51 2018 NZST
Speed:
0, opua marina
knts
GPS: 35 19.032s 174 7.216e
Run: 0.1nm (0.2km)
Weather: cloudy, winds calm

20180602 2030 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Preparing for passage north to Fiji via Minerva Reef. Waiting for a favorable weather window, departure not likely until after 06/10.


Mon Nov 6 16:27 2017 NZDT
GPS: 35 18.909S 174 7.264E
Run: 7577.9nm (13716km)
Avg: 225.5knts
24hr: 5411.4nm
Weather: Cool, sunny, big puffy clouds and a slight breeze.

We arrived in Opua yesterday 11/5 at 13:00. NZ Customs and Biosecurity check-ins went smoothly, but we had to ditch quite a few beans. The hills surrounding Opua seem to be manicured. The marina is really nice, new and modern. Quite a few yacht-focused businesses meters away from dock. Lots of space to anchor too. Opua will be a good place to be for at least a month if not longer.


Sun Nov 5 6:51 2017 NZDT
Speed:
6.3 kts - motoring
knts
Run: 7749.7nm (14027km)
Avg: 332.6knts
24hr: 7982.7nm
Weather: winds variable ~8kts NE; combined seas

20171104 1800 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. More dolphins! We have 36nm to go to the Q dock in Opua and are busy eating the last of our delicious tropical fruit. We are really looking forward to our time in New Zealand.


Sat Nov 4 7:33 2017 NZDT
Speed:
6.5 kts - motoring
knts
GPS: 32 55.555s 175 45.555e
Run: 108nm (195.5km)
Avg: 5.6knts
24hr: 134.6nm
Weather: winds variable ~10kts.; combined seas 1m E mellow; clouds 50% mostly cirrus, light; 1022mb steady

20171103 1800 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. Dolphins! After a night of below ~10 kts wind and boat speed of 3-4 kts, we decided to motor for a bit to avoid missing our Sunday 11/5 target for landfall at Opua, New Zealand. We have 155nm to go, and after a few hours of motoring to get back on schedule, we plan to turn the engine off and sail in with the better wind forecast ahead of us.


Fri Nov 3 12:18 2017 NZDT
Speed:
5.3 kts
knts
GPS: 31 32.842s 176 37.662e
Run: 191.9nm (347.3km)
Avg: 6.6knts
24hr: 158.3nm
Weather: winds sustained 12-17 kts.; combined seas 1.5m E period 12sec; clouds 90% mostly cirrus, light; 1022mb steady

20171102 2300 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. At daybreak we set about to deploy the whisker pole for the genoa, so that we could point the boat dead downwind, and immediately several problems popped up. Of these problems, all minor, the Monitor windvane power train lines had developed chafe and had to be replaced. While repairing it we lost track of time and missed the Gulf Harbor Radio SSB net. We'll be sure to post and to dial-in to GHR tomorrow.


Thu Nov 2 7:12 2017 NZDT
Speed:
6.9 kts
knts
GPS: 29 09.000S 178 15.000E
Run: 184.6nm (334.1km)
Avg: 7.7knts
24hr: 183.8nm
Weather: winds sustained 20-25 kts E (avg 100T); combined seas 2.8m E period 12sec; clouds 50% clearing, 1022mb steady

20171101 1800 UTC. 2 POB, Douglas & Morgan, all is well. When there is brief lull, we keep thinking the winds are subsiding, but they keep roaring back. Last night we had hours of 25-30kts. This is now day 5 of good sailing winds, straight toward our destination, Opua, with an ETA of 0800 Nov. 5 local, 2 days ahead of schedule.

...


Wed Nov 1 7:06 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.2 kts
knts
GPS: 27 11.000S 179 42.000W
Run: 195.3nm (353.5km)
Avg: 8.4knts
24hr: 201.2nm
Weather: 20-25 kts E quarter sustained, combined seas 3m E period 10sec, clouds 0% but some on horizon, 1021mb steady

20171031 1800 UTC. 2 POB, all is well. Another spectacular day of sailing. Beautiful clouds and seas with fresh winds. Winds last night were sustained in low 30's with gusts to 40 kts, all completely comfortable ( relatively) without sail changes. Winds are beginning to back anti-clockwise gradually as forecast. We are one full day ahead of schedule, with expected landfall at Opua, Bay of Islands on Sunday Nov. 5. Special thanks to Patricia & David for the excellent Gulf Harbor Radio. Weather discussion is superb.

...


Tue Oct 31 7:48 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.2 kts
knts
GPS: 24 49.356S 177 58.297W
Weather: 25-30 kts E, combined seas 3m E period 10sec, clouds 75% clearing, 1020mb rising slowly

Wonderful sailing. Seas are 3m but relatively smooth with longish wavelength, so we are able to sail beam to seas, riding the ridges and troughs. Must hang on tight though. We are making record time for Tumbleweed with the help of the South Sub-tropical current, sog often +9 kts., which is above our hull speed of 7.8 kts. 740 nm to go, and we are headed straight for Opua NZ, thanks to the big blocking 1038 high east of NZ. Concerned about landfall weather on Sunday, Nov 5, our current ETA.


Tue Oct 31 7:45 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.2 kts
knts
GPS: 24 49.356S 177 58.297W
Run: 195.6nm (354km)
Avg: 8.6knts
24hr: 205.7nm
Weather: 25-30 kts E, combined seas 3m E period 10sec, clouds 75% clearing, 1020mb rising slowly

Wonderful sailing. Seas are 3m but relatively smooth with longish wavelength, so we are able to sail beam to seas, riding the ridges and troughs. Must hang on tight though. We are making record time for Tumbleweed with the help of the South Sub-tropical current, sog often +9 kts., which is above our hull speed of 7.8 kts. 740 nm to go, and we are headed straight for Opua NZ, thanks to the big blocking 1038 high east of NZ. Concerned about landfall weather on Sunday, Nov 5, our current ETA.


Mon Oct 30 8:55 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.3
knts
GPS: 22 15S 176 41W
Run: 129.6nm (234.6km)
Avg: 7.3knts
24hr: 176nm
Weather: 20-25E

all well


Sun Oct 29 15:15 2017 NZDT
Speed:
7.1 kts
knts
GPS: 20 41.643S 175 33.543W
Run: 171.1nm (309.7km)
Avg: 3.9knts
24hr: 93.4nm
Weather: 20 kts E, combined seas 1.8m E, clouds 25%, 1017mb

Thrilled to get back onto the open seas. Looks like the 20-25 kt winds forecast for our area are here. It's what we wanted for a fresh sail, we hope it's not too much. We plan to call in to the Gulf Harbor Radio net tomorrow morning (radar interference this morning).


Fri Oct 27 19:18 2017 NZDT
Speed:
0knts
knts
GPS: 18 42.604S 173 59.233W
Run: 3.5nm (6.3km)
Weather: 5knts SE, clouds 10%, seas flat, 1016mb

Moored in Tapana, Vava'u Tonga. Checked-out of Tonga and ready to set sail to Opua, NZ tomorrow, 10/28. Thrilled to get back onto the open seas.


Wed Oct 25 9:06 2017 NZDT
Speed:
0knts
knts
GPS: 18 39.582S 173 59.029W
Run: 3.5nm (6.3km)
Weather: 5knts SE, clouds 10%, seas flat, 1017mb

Moored in Port of Refuge, Vava'u Tonga. Preparing to set sail to Opua, NZ on 10/28.


Sat Oct 14 8:53 2017 NZDT
GPS: 18 42.599S 173 59.234W
Weather: calm, 75% cloud

We are still in the Vava'u island group, Tonga, having fun and preparing for our passage to New Zealand, with a target departure date of November 1, 2017.


Fri Sep 15 8:55 2017 NZST
GPS: 18 42.587S 173 59.235W
Run: 5214.3nm (9437.9km)
Weather: Partly cloudy; Winds ESE 15 kts.

We're planning our passage to Opua, New Zealand, targeting November 1, 2017 for departure from the Vava'u Group in Tonga.


Wed Feb 22 9:11 2017 NZDT
GPS: 24 13.05945N 110 18.06632W

In La Paz, Mexico, finishing up preparation for our passage to French Polynesia in March, 2017


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