Saturday 29^th May 2010. Passage Auckland to Fiji.

Although the wind had eased a bit to force 7 (28–33 kts) by midday day 3, it was still on the nose with reasonably big seas and was becoming somewhat tiresome. I had to remind myself that we had been expecting it but you do start asking yourself, or who ever’s in charge, would a bit if sun and some cracked sheets be too much to ask?

By 4 pm on the 28^th though the wind had backed a little and allowed us to sail the rhumb line, although close hauled and we even had a bit of sun to create an instant feeling of optimism and well-being amongst the crew.

By 7pm I had been in full cleaning mode, galley spotless, lasagne served and happy hour had. Des on the pm radio sked advised breeze filling in over night from the S.W. – we like that.

Suddenly this ocean sailings not a bad lark after all!

Holger and Steve – better conditions with 4 minutes to happy hour.

By 0700hrs on the 29^th we had 730nm to go and had come 411 from Auckland. A ‘cloth eared bint’ filling on for Jim on the Fiji radio net couldn’t figure of our boat name was “Glass Tango” or “Smashed Mango”! I gave up and called Taupo instead – they really shouldn’t allow American women near a microphone.

Dr Dick waits for his pineapple juice.

By midday we had the wind abeam and clear sky. We even had a whale broaching 50meters off the stern – definitely ocean cruising! In the evening Radio sked with Des (Opua Offshore) he advised “more of the same da morra”, so bring it on – by midnight we were about 50nm off half way.