October 1, 2012 The Bad and the Good of It

Oct 1 (New Zealand time) Too much of a good thing - 5 days of pumice.  Pumice in the sink, on the dishes, in the toilet, clogging up the knot meter which then can't feed data to the true wind speed display which means we don't really know how hard the wind is blowing - or not.  It's in the raw water inlet causing work cleaning it up and out.  It seems this pumice doesn't just float on the surface it is under the surface too and that is how it is getting into our through-hulls.  Furthermore, we are cold - scrounging around trying to find blankets and warm clothes left over from the days sailing in the cold California current in May.  And it is taking FOREVER getting from Niue to NZ against contrary wind.

The good:  The sky here is much brighter and clearer for some reason.  Hole in the ozone layer?  Full moon.  Calm seas.  Cape Petrel.  Grey-faced Petrel from Kermadec Islands.  Maybe Kermadec Petrel.  I'm even starting to miss those rascals, the boobies.  Now we have, instead of boobies, the look-alike gannet.

Position :  30 35.04' S, 176 24.12' E

Speed : 4.4 knots,  Course : 286 degree