Ile des Pins, New Caledonia - Again
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Tue 14 Oct 2008 21:36
|
22:39.406S 167:26.323E
After filling up with duty free fuel, we left
Noumea as planned yesterday morning (10/14) for the Isle of Pines. What we
didn't plan for was 20-25 knots winds directly on our nose for the entire 68
mile trip. We knew we would be heading into the wind for a portion of the
trip, but the wind seemed to think it would be fun to toy with us, and
managed to change direction in time with each of our course
heading changes. We turned to the west to avoid a reef, the wind
turned with us. Turned east, same thing. Again and again and
again. The current added to the problem when
it decided to flow against us for most of the way. This wind
made for short choppy ugly waves in what was supposed to be a smooth
lagoon. Our 9 or 10 hour trip turned into a 13 1/2 hour motorslog from
hell. Motoring through calm water when there isn't enough wind to sail is
one thing, but motoring into fairly high winds and choppy waves against the
current meant our normal motoring speed was reduced from 6 knots to
4 - when we were lucky. We finally arrived at the Isle
of Pines about an hour after Lady Kay, just in time for dinner at 10:30 last
night.
So - that was a nasty start, wasn't it? But
it's Wednesday morning now and after a calm night's sleep we are ready to take
on the elements again. We'll be exiting the New Caledonia lagoon shortly
after leaving our anchorage and then we'll be in the open sea once again.
And there will be no repeat of yesterday's motorslogging performance.
If we can't make our course due to a less than favorable wind,
then we'll simply sail whatever course the wind allows, as long as it is
generally south and somewhat east.
More tomorrow from the high seas!
Anne
|