Friday, 2013-11-22 00:00, 31:35.473S 175:29.570E, COG 200, SOG 7.5kn, Wind 20kn SE

 

Another twelve hours in the tumbling program of the South Pacific washing machine. The cockpit-fillers that are coming over today have a special quality. The first ones ever to defeat the concerted efforts of the spray-hood and closed companionway-slider. They overwhelmed the drainage system and dumped a bucket of water downstairs. Two hours after I mopped it up another bucket full of saltwater came to say hello. And just now another one. I have to sit on the floor and wedge myself with my legs between the furniture to avoid being thrown around while cleaning it up. And just to remind us who's boss one wave lifted the whole boat out of the water and it slammed down with a fearsome bang. That was just after another wave accelerated us to 12kn for a few seconds. Funny thing is, the waves aren't even big, mostly 2m with the odd one at 3m. But they are steep and fast and maybe a little angry about something.

 

Meanwhile Rob's gone catatonic in his bunk and leaves it only to pee. He now wishes for the wind not to calm down so that it's all over sooner. He wears a sweater and hat even inside because it got noticeably cooler - 15C water temperature = room temperature. Quite a shock from the balmy 30C in Fiji only a few days ago. No more jumping around on deck in undies and a light rain jacket, now we're wearing proper foul weather gear and thermals underneath.

 

At ten tonight the clouds suddenly disappeared and all the stars came out. All of them, even the ones that are on day-light duty on the other side of the world. Or so it appears, it's so many of them. I can't get enough of that sight. But now most are gone again because the (recently full) moon came around the horizon and scared them away. It's super bright in that eerie light and we're bumping and bucking towards New Zealand.

 

220nm to go