Position Update

Die Swaene
Mon 11 Mar 2013 23:28

37:50.3S 159:17.2E

 

Charles here, 7:00a.m. local. Winds steady from east across north end of high pressure system we are passing, 10-18knot winds, we on port tack 20 degrees to wind and pinching trying to get across fastest (currently in direction of south tip, cook’s straight, Wellington, but that is just a coincidence that 20deg is closes to wind we can sail, we are not aiming for Cook’s straight).  Going to put in a tack later today which will have us heading more northward in direction of north tip of NZ north island.

 

The big fun and surprise which has raised the pucker factor for everyone since last night is when we downloaded the most recent weather update and see the cyclone is no longer predicted to dissipate up north, but to roll right over where we are currently.  (ie we could not have crossed if we left 4 or 5 days later as we’d slam right into it).   We are not overly concerned just yet, if it stays on predicted course and timing, it will hit where we are now (see position above, roughly half way across) with strength on the 15th.  It is now morning of the 12th and if we continue on at this pace, then by 15th we’ll be very close to where we can round the NZ N. Island with only catching the very easterly end of the cyclone and winds that don’t look too bad 20-30knots predicted in that area as we round the north (unfortunately predicted on the nose there).

 

However, we are not trusting the storm will do exactly as weather predictions state (particularly after they were wrong about it dissipating), so we now have made 3 back up plans.   We should be in good stead on the 14-15 downloading most recent weather then and knowing our position which plan we may have to use:

 

Back up A:           We duck into Manukau Harbour (west side of island, across from Auckland) and wait it out;

 

B:                            We duck into Kaipara Harbour (north of Manukau if we happen to be nearer Kaipara when need to make a run for it);

 

C:                            We shoot through Cook’s Straight. 

 

The issue with all the above is the overfalls at each and the threading the needle to get in.  We also would lose days sitting it out.  If we go through Cook’s, it will be taking big winds on the nose for a few hundred miles as we round N to Auckland, what no one would look forward to.  But all above possible if we have to for safety.

 

Have covered about 460 miles since departed from Sydney harbour on Sat 9th..,, approx. 680 more to go to round New Zealand N. Island.

 

Our sat phone in case of emergencies:  +870 773 151 405  or +1 718 269 7806 then mobile link 222016

 

Best and will update again within next 24h.  -Charles

 

PS Yesterday we caught trolling two, 2-foot tuna.  Have good pics.   Tuna for next lunch n’ dinner.  Like when we caught the 6 foot marlin crossing pacific on way here, had to pull the lines out because we were catching too much too fast, no place to put it all in the freezers and no one feels like old fish…