Passage to New Zealand day 5
Nickanddenisesailing
Thu 16 Nov 2017 04:08
Position : 30 32.1S, 176 E
COG 185 deg T
Wind 10-15 kt E gusting 20
Seas moderate chop
pressure 1019 hp
We are getting closer! It seems so close but so far at the moment... only a couple more days we hope. Due to get in Friday afternoon/evening into Opua. We are sailing in race mode (a bit - I'm not allowed to go 'full race mode') to try and avoid as much as we can of this nasty low that might catch us on our way into Opua. It was a fast night for us - averaging over 6knts and this morning Ben and I (race team) have been managing to get us up to around 7knts. All eyes are on speed and weather at the moment.....
Unfortunatley we didnt manage to go out for a nice meal and drinks for Nicks birthday last night- although he did get a 'sea view' for his peanut butter and jam sandwich for dinner. It was a quiet one while we all try and get as much sleep and rest before the stronger winds kick in on our approach. We are all getting used to life 'on an angle' as we have been leaning to starboard now for more than 4 days straight. We laugh at each other when someone tries to open the tuppaware cupboard becuase EVERYTHING falls out all over you while you sit on the floor in front of it trying not to slip and slide over the floor. Its 100% booby trapped now so I'll try and get the next attempt on camera haha.
I had almost forgotten the two moments of excitement in the last 24hrs - firstly Nick and Ryan saw a container ship (the first on the trip) and I got a flying fish land on my head..... again!! So you are probably thinking - 'I dont know that many people that have been hit in the face by a flying fish before' - and I could totally agree - apart from its happened to me TWICE now! Once when I was sailing across the Atlantic with my family - square in the side of the face with a nice slime trail that followed. Then last night, outta no where one comes flying across the quarter bounces off the top of my head and nearly lands on Ben whos sitting near me. It must have had a good fright as it was flapping away like crazy. We had a very good laugh and Nick came up for a look. I am currently the most successful fisherman on the boat now haha!!
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