October 4, 2012 Moaning and maybe.....

Everyday we look at weather faxes, weather GRIB files, inmarsat weather from precise location in NZ and NZ weather in text over the inmarsat.  Everyday we strategize, carefully plot our course and calculate to make sure we are on the most efficient point of sail.  The forecasted wind direction varies daily and we take all that into consideration.  And everyday day the wind blows from the southwest blowing away with it all our plans!  Sunrise beats, slowly going SW into a SW headwind.  The only variable has been the wind speed - anywhere from 3 to 30 knots.  In case anyone cares, we would like a northerly wind - got that, NORTH, not SW!!  

If there ever is a next time we will hire some fool who is willing to spend 2 weeks of his or her life in misery for cash.  I would quit bellowing and go out and look for birds and pumice but it is cold,  gray and wet out there.  OK. I gave up and went out and there are zero birds, zero pumice and the wind is SW 20k.

The genoa has a hole in it and on a regular basis Barry goes out to look at it and lament that it is getting baggy and worn, not driving well (or pulling, lifting or whatever it does).Now the dinghy has come loose on the deck.  Imagine the damage a flailing dinghy could do wrapped up in the genoa, whacking against the boom, mast, sheets and rigging! Thankfully, the dinghy is not insecure but has only shifted slightly.  

I almost forgot to mention that the mast boot is leaking and has been since we left.  No big deal - a little rain water.  Now, however, there is the Pacific Ocean flowing over our deck and down the space where the mast goes through the deck to the keel and we have salt water raining down on my clothes, the settee, the file box and the rugs on the floor.  To plug that up we have rags stuffed in there now and over aforementioned items so you can imagine the décor of  the main salon.  

Oh, and, let's see.  The sink won't drain on this tack (design flaw) so I pass pitchers of dirty sink water out the boat to be poured overboard by Barry.  

Sailing from Niue to NZ has got to be the dumbest thing we have ever done.  Other than that, everything is just fine!  Heavy sarcasm.

8 hrs later:  Wait! The sun is shining!  The wind has shifted W and we are headed for Opua.  NW wind forecast for tomorrow (they usually lie, but it could happen).  We could even get there tomorrow afternoon.  We have communicated with Opua Marina and NZ Customs and Sheryl has even talked on the phone to NZ customs.  They are lovely she says and we know that.  Customs in Opua are lovely people, for sure!  

Sunrise is almost flat, going a moderate speed and not moaning and groaning like she was.  Maybe, just maybe, there is a rainbow out there.

Barry snorted when he read that Sunrise is "almost flat". OK. "Heeling less horribly than she was."  

Another thing: the paper towels that we bought in French Polynesia Barry says are made out of recycled toilet paper.  

We think we have the wind theology figured out - we didn't have this problem with it being contrary when we were naked.

Position :  33 15.28' S, 174 38.24' E

Speed : 6.6 knots,  Course : 152 degree

Getting close, slowly......