Noon Position:  36 02.4 S  170 56.6 E

Course: NE   Speed: 5 knots

Wind: NNW, F4 moderate breeze

Sea: slight  Swell: Negligible

Weather: sunny, mild

Day’s run:  120 nm

 

Despite the continued headwinds, the weather has remained mild so sailing close-hauled has been quite pleasant. The sun is shining, the seas are relatively smooth, and the northerly breeze has flattened the southerly swell. Sylph heels gently to the breeze coming over her port bow, now with full jib, staysail and one reef in the main. The water swishes past and only the occasional wave throws a sparkle of water over the decks. For now we remain ahead of the front crossing the Tasman while the Tasman high remains on holiday in the Pacific. At least it has the courtesy of throwing a ridge of warm weather and light breezes our way. Unfortunately, however, the pleasant weather still has us clawing our way to windward so as to be able to round North Cape. As things stand we are going to make landfall off Tauroa Point, falling short of North Cape by some 55 miles. Unless the wind backs more into the west, this means we will have to tack our way north along the coast, likely adding another day or so to our passage time. Not to worry. As long as the weather remains nice, we will take the opportunity to see a bit of New Zealand coastline that we would otherwise have missed.

 

All is well.