Position Update
36:10.8S 166.40.4E It’s 7:20a.m. local Sydney time. Soo… it appears although we have been motoring for days plus sails to make up speed and distance, the cyclone system is travelling south faster than predicted and the outer/south eastern quadrant of the storm will intersect with us in approx 12 hours. It will then become some interesting sailing. By then we should be 200 miles or so from the north rounding point of north island. We are currently 311 miles west south west from there. We are 360miles from back up shelter at Kaipara. We’ll make a decision later today in approx. 12 hours when we’ve done the next 100 miles and see how fast the end of the cyclone comes and how bad the winds.. we are currently on a trajectory towards between Kaiapara and north rounding point so we keep options open (course over ground 80deg true from position above). Whichever path we choose later today, I’ll update. -Charles From: S/Y Die Swaene [mailto:dieswaene {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com] 37:35.9S 163:28.5E 9:00a.m. Sydney time. Winds steady from east across north end of high pressure system we are passing, 10-12knot winds. Still on port tack 20 degrees to wind and pinching trying to get across fastest. Cyclone coming south on track as predicted, we are still on course to get ahead (east) of it before it gets too far south or in front of us, barring any changes to predictions of 24 hours ago by the major weather services. Have covered about 635 miles since departed from Sydney harbour on Sat 9th..,, approx. 480 more to go to round New Zealand N. Island. Best and will update again within next 24-36h. -Charles |