The Tide Is High & We're Moving On - Nov 2016
Balvenie
Mark Farrell & Amanda Church
Sun 20 Nov 2016 04:22
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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
metres. Except 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
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