Gybe
Where Next?
Bob Williams
Thu 27 Aug 2026 02:07
Course: East Speed 6 knots
Wind: SW, F4 moderate breeze
Sea state: moderate Swell: SW, 2 meters
Weather: partly cloudy, mild
Day's run (23 hours): 154 nm
As anticipated, the wind shifted into the SW late yesterday afternoon. We gybed then poled the jib out to starboard on a quarter run before the following breeze. However, a half hour later the wind backed further into the South, so it was down pole and jib to port for a broad reach with a reef in the main and the jib rolled to 80% in the freshening breeze.
We have continued to make excellent time, averaging 6.7 knots over the 23 hour day: having advanced clocks to time zone -11 yesterday as we move East across the meridians of longitude (Aotearoa/New Zealand's time zone is -12).
This forenoon the wind has veered back into the SW so I have poled the jib to starboard again to maintain an E'ly heading and our 100 mile southern bias from our rhumb line. The plan is to remain at roughly this latitude until we get to within 200 miles of North Island, then we will alter course to the ENE to head for Cape Reinga. Conditions are expected to remain fair for the rest of our passage, though the wind is forecast to back into the South and strengthen to 30 knots on Sunday as we get closer to NZ. This routing, I hope, will ensure we keep the wind aft of the beam and our ride as comfortable and speedy as possible.
ETA Opua remains 2 September.
All is well.