Great Start
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Tue 25 Aug 2026 02:46
Course: ESE Speed 7 knots
Wind: NNE F5 fresh breeze
Sea state: moderate Swell: N, 3 meters
Weather: cloudy, mild
Day's run: 164 nm
We are off to a good start, making good 164 miles in our first 24 hours, an average speed of 6.8 knots. Of course, to get old Sylph up to this speed requires a good fresh breeze which in turn makes for a bouncy ride, which has certainly been the case with the wind on the beam and the sea and swell building, causing Sylph to heel and roll quite heavily at times. While making good progress is always good for morale, a slower more comfortable ride is generally preferred.
One minor issue occurred overnight with the satellite phone deciding to die on me. Initially I suspected the battery had died as it was indicating that it was charging okay overnight. This forenoon has been spent fault finding and I am pleased to say after some significant messing around, pulling wiring and chargers apart, it appears to be operating okay. I thought I had a spare battery but I have not been able to find it (will be added to the 'to do' list when we get to NZ). I also have a spare older phone which I have now charged up just in case.
Otherwise, we are settling into our sea routine after a several months in harbour quite well.
The forecast is for a trough to pass through later tomorrow with winds strengthening ahead of it, then backing into the SW and easing. This is why we are heading well south of our rhumb line route to Cape Reinga, the NW point of North Island, being much more comfortable and faster, as well as allowing us to be able to reach on the opposite tack once the change has arrived.
We currently have just one reef in the main but will likely need to reduce sail further as the wind increases tomorrow. If the longer range forecast proves accurate then our ETA Opua will be sometime Wednesday or Thursday next week.
All is well.