POSITION REPORT ON MONDAY 4 MAY 2015 AT 0800

31:17S  174:04E

So far we've done 245 miles with 715 miles to go - we did 130 miles in the past 24 hours. We've got 50% cloud cover, 25 knot ENE winds gusting 30 knots and metre waves, so we're pounding upwind at 5 knots - it's not very pleasant.  Here's what we did yesterday and overnight.

3 May 2015   New Zealand to Vanuatu (Day 2)

First thing in the morning, I downloaded a weather GRIB file via our satellite phone and the forecast for the next few days is for 20-30 knot winds continuing from the ENE. Our rhumb line course would be 345 degrees, but we're trying to head directly north in case the wind backs.  This course puts the wind at 60-70 degrees off the starboard bow, so we're just knuckling down and accepting that we have to endure going upwind in the building seas.

Most of our day was spent adapting to constant motion and life on three hour watches.  After five months without any real sailing, we've lost our sea legs.  We're not in any danger of throwing up, but both of us are a bit under the weather and feel the need to stare at the horizon every so often.

During the afternoon, we had 25 knot winds, gusting 30 knots and confused 2-3 metre seas, so the motion was horrible.  After nightfall, a mini weather system went through giving us gusts up to 35 knots.  I turned downwind for ten minutes and put another reef in the main and the staysail.  Once the system had gone through, I turned back onto our northerly course. The rest of the night was very unpleasant and cold, but at least we have a full moon.