Musket Cove, Fiji > Noumea, New Caledonia - Day 1 (2014-11-14 23:00 UTC - 18:13.8S 174:08.8E - DTF 510 nm)

Aquamante
Vries Peter Pons
Fri 14 Nov 2014 23:57

Our first day started off with much stronger winds than forecasted, some 20-25 kn from SSE for ¾ of the day. It allowed us to do a respectable 189 nm in the first 24 hours and to stay well N of the rhumbline in anticipation of the wind backing to E and weakening. Seas quite rough and a bit confused, as was forecasted, the residue of quite an intense low that passed S of us. Especially with such seas it always takes some time to swing in, to pick up the rhythm of the boat, so little sleep the first night. We did have a chance to watch a recent episode of Downton Abbey, which I downloaded just before we left. Amazing how you can get immersed in such a beautiful costume drama, whilst pitching and rolling in the middle of this vast Pacific Ocean all by yourself.

 

Nice detail, when exiting the pass near Viti Levu we were seen off by a small group of dolphins, as if to wish us a safe passage, always a warm feeling.