The Tide Is High & We're Moving On - Nov 2016

Balvenie
Mark Farrell & Amanda Church
Sun 20 Nov 2016 04:22
Day 2 Underway Minerva Reef to Opua, New Zealand
Position at 5pm 20 Nov   26:00S  178:44E
Heading 203T, Speed 6knots,  Wind up and down but trying to settlle at 10-12knots ESE    Sea down to under 2metres and flattening,  80% cloud cover
Miles to run  606 to Customs Dock in Opua
 
We snuggled in behind the southwestern reef at Minerva while the front passed below and the swell increased to over 3 metresExcept for an hour or so each side of high tide it was very comfortable, all looked a bit gloomy in the grey skies after such an outstanding run of wonderful weather though.
On Friday 12 of the slower yacts decided to leave and start bashing their way to Opua, we couldn't quite see the attraction in going out into over 20knots of wind coming from exactly where you want to go, especially as the weather window has extended about 12 hours at the other end and everyone should get in without problems.
The rest of us waited, yesterday morning dawned  somewhat gloomy but the winds had eased to 10 knots and had backed slightly to the south south west - it was time.   We were 2nd out of the remaining 14 to leave yesterday morning at slack water,  I expect the lobsters and fish are very pleased to see us all leave.
We have had very variable winds, the speeds have gone up and down like a yo-yo, the direction changing just as frequenty, but slowly backing around to the east, then it will hopefully settle in to a rythym for a few days to push us on our way.
Alls well on board, just trying to get some sleep