Laptop down

Katipo within 36 hours of Tongatapu. Located at 23 27.4S 175 08.73W. Laptop batteries were flat so no update today.

All is well on the boat based on a text message update via sat phone. The winds are quite strong from the SSE (on the beam). The prediction says 20 rising to 25kn tonight, but tending SE which will mean a broad reach into Tonga for the evening of the 1st of morning of the 2nd.

Shay

great day

Coordinates:24 56.5 176 01 .3
Bearing:15 T
Boat Speed: 5
Wind Direction: ESE fluctuates from NE to ESE
Wind Strength: 12 but everything from 8 to 33 knots today when squalls come through
Sea state: moderate

Crew health: excellent

Fish caught: not fishing today

Other points of interest:
late afternoon is beautiful sailing with wind forard of beam but most of day and last night frequent sail changes due to squalls etc and short vicious seas with spray flying , so it is good to have a more restful time now

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getting warmer

Coordinates: 26 24.9 S 176 51.1 W
Bearing: 24 T
Boat Speed: 6.4 kn
Wind Direction: varies a little was SE the E then ENE 9 to 23
Crew health: fine

Fish caught: one small tuna

Other points of interest:
another bright sunny day , going well but we will try and sail a little further to the East before heading directly to Tonga lest stronger easterly winds set in later , We received Bob McDavits weathergram by email via satellite phone , it sounds like the weather back in NZ is not too good

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Update

Coordinates:28 81.6 S 178 00.3 W
Bearing: 50 T
Boat Speed: 5.6 kn
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Strength: 8 to 15 Kn
Sea state: mild

Crew health: great

Fish caught: still trying

Other points of interest:
a good steady day , just passing north of Raoul island 71 miles to the South of our position. Wind analysis from Predict Wind web site via Shay in Auckland has been very helpful
Sunny bright weather . Tested engine today which had not been run since we left Opua , started first time .
We certainly feel fortunate to have favourable winds so far.
As usual some fantastic star filled skies at night .

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nearly shorts and tee shirt weather !

Coordinates: at 16.00 hours 29 10.9 S 179 58 E
Bearing: approx 65 T
Boat Speed: 6.5 Kn
Wind Direction: light mainly southerly
Wind Strength: 3 knots to 15
Sea state: fairly smooth

Crew health: excellent

Fish caught: to busy sailing to fish today

Other points of interest:

After a night of fairly light winds this morning looked too calm, we feared the large high weather high system had caught up with us . However things improved and we have had winds up to 15 knots at times often much less,
We set the large light weather furling reacher which has been great , we did not even have to hand steer as the sail responded well to the wind vane self steering system. Blue sky , sun and light winds meant it was a good day to tidy up the boat
We stil see albatross this far north, and found a fair sized flying squid lying on deck this morning !

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a little warmer , tropics getting closer

Coordinates: 30 10.9 S 178 26.3 E
Bearing: 60 T
Boat Speed: 5.5 kn
Wind Direction: ssw
Wind Strength: fluctuates a lot 18 to 40 max
Sea state:at the moment 2 m but there have been some giant seas with breaking crests at times , which Katipo takes on the Starboard quarter fine

Crew health: marvellous.

Fish caught: not yet

Other points of interest: found our first flying fish on deck today , must have been escaping a predator and crash landed onto Katipo, only 3 cm long however.
have the storm jib up which gives a steady speed set on outer forestay. This means no excitement like the record speed under one small staysail
the other day which resulted in the bent pole end !! It was pretty amazing for such a heavily loaded boat with a small rig.
Cooking a large hot meal midday between watches which works well

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Not warm yet!!

Coordinates:31 21.9 S 176 36.6 E
Bearing: 50 T
Boat Speed:6.2
Wind Direction: SW
Wind Strength: 17
Sea state: 2 m

Crew health: great

Fish caught:nil

Other points of interest:

another sunny day and another dark moonless night last night . A few squalls came through which is why, particularly at night, we only have a modest amount of sail up. Often the towering black masses of cloud bearing down from up wind dont deliver much , maybe 25 to 30 knots for a short while .
There was another just after dawn and Ted had gone below at the change of watch to sleep , a relatively benign cloud mass loomed into view but this one packed quite a punch and the wind reached 30 knots and kept on rising . At the time we were running before the wind and had not organised any extra sail on which was good . The wind must have been somewhere between 45 and 50 knots it kept on coming. It is one of those situations when you appreciate two long lean hulls which makes the boat very directionally stable, compared with say a monohull with a deep fin keel and no skeg. As I moved quickly forward to lower the sail, spray flying everywhere, there was an ominous bang as the fitting on the outer end of the pole broke Ted was on deck now and we pulled down and secured the flogging sail. No serious damage as a block has been lashed on and it is now working fine. A keeler unless well handled could so easily broach and be laid on its side in those conditons.
The wind is still holding well in the SW so progess is pleasing
Don

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A good wind

Coordinates: 32 52.4 S 174 48 E at 16.00 hours
Bearing:25 T
Boat Speed:6.5 Kn
Wind Direction: SW
Wind Strength: fluctuates 18 to 30 mainly about 23
Sea state: increasing 2 to 3 metres

Crew health: great

Fish caught: nil

Other points of interest:

we have the wind behind us and are making good progress. Saw several albatross today , skimming and gliding over the waves , seldom needing to flap their wings , Sunny weather , no rain . Saw a few boats nearer the coast last night but none out here. We usually spotted them on our new AIS instrument before seeing lights. This instrument is fantastic enabling us to identify ships by a transmitted wireless signal , know their course and speed and if on their current course there will be any risk of collision. They can also identify us in the same way.
We set off from Cape Brett going NE then due to weather advice turned north at 6 pm yesterday to try and catch better winds, then the last 3 hours 25 degrees T awaiting next report

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Update

Coordinates:35 00 .800 s 174 20 . 124 E
Bearing: 48 T
Boat Speed: 5.5 kn
Wind Direction: SW
Wind Strength:12 fluctates but fairly light
Sea state: 0.5 metre
Crew health : first class

Fish caught: no time to fish

Other points of interest:

After a horrible arrival at cape brett 2 days ago , today has been perfect
Up at dawn to scamper up the mast to the top to retrieve the lost halyard , the snap shackle was ok , it must have been a fluke that it was knocked open when flogging as the wind kept changing in the squall the other night.
motor now all fine , so left early to motor up to Opua to clear customs at 11.30 am . buy some more diesel , fill a water container and departed by 12.30 pm.
What a glorious day , sun out , blue sky and we were soon running before the wind with poled out head sails.
The Bill Belcher designed wind vane was connected and took over the steering , correcting the course by small degrees as it wafts from side to side. Good old Bill , he used to live on Waiheke island , he has passed on now. The $ 100 I spent on materials to build it was a marvellous investment as it has steered Katipo for over 10,000 miles now !
We spent the afternoon tidying up the decks and stowing things not required for a while and have just eaten a hearty meal.
more news about the joys of sailing the ocean tomorrow
Don

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Bit of a problem !!

Coordinates: anchored on Bay of Islands this evening
Bearing:
Boat Speed:
Wind Direction:
Wind Strength:
Sea state:

Crew health:


Yesterday we had a great sail up the coast with strong winds , mainly aft of the beam. However later that night was not so good . Because of our good speed we arrived at 11.30 pm at Cape Brett , these craggy rocks mark the entrance to the Bay of Islands. The forecast was of lighter winds overnight , in fact we had to turn on our engine to motor sail round the point intending to anchor overnight further up the bay. About half an hour later the wind began to build and the seas with a wind against tide situation. became steep. It was an inky black night and we were relying on the chart plotter. A squall came came through with winds at times gusting 40 to 50 knots. Suddenly the halyard ( for non sailors a line that is used to pull the sail up the mast ) to the foresail gave way and the sail half sliding down the forestay flogged horribly in the high wind. While I was sorting out that situation and Ted helmed the boat there was a nasty crunch and the engine stopped. Peering into the water with torch light over the stern of the cockpit we were dismayed to see that the end of a sail sheet rope had washed overboard
and now formed a huge tangled mess round the propellor and drive shaft, but worse, the stainless steel rod which normally holds the drive shaft down in position was bent out of recognition, and probably the drive shaft would be bent too.

We turned and sailed off down wind back out to sea, we hove to with just a third reef in the main and it was now 2.30 am and extremely cold. We took turns to keep a watch in case the wind changed and took us onto rocks, or we be taken by currents. Also of course to watch for other boats or ships.
We had a discussion of what course of action to take, sail south again to home to sort it out, abandon the voyage, or to sail up the harbour in the morning and try to fix the problem in Opua in the Bay of Islands. We decided on sailing up to Opua.

We were off at dawn in 18 knots of breeze but this failed about an hour later and except for periodic puffs of wind we were becalmed in the middle of the outer bay. The water was too deep to anchor although we did calculate that we actually had 130 metres of warp and chain and another 110 metres of Parachute sea anchor warp giving 240 metres. Ted did not volunteer to wind it all back in however if we tried this while awaiting wind and being safe at night so close to shore.
However the calm enabled us to launch our dinghy from Katipo's deck and inspect the mess just under water at the stern between the hulls.
We dismantled the pieces after removing the tangled rope, and by clamping pieces of the metal to the largest anchor stored on deck we levered and straightened it out. We found that the the drive shaft fortunately was not damaged or bent. At last late afternoon we gleefully motored up the bay to anchor for the night in a delightful spot in the sheltered Onera bay, just over the hill from Russell.
Tomorrow I have to climb to the top of the mast to replace the halyard, and this evening after a meal, check out the weather forecasts again
for the next few days,
Customs clearance can be carried out in Opua.

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Update

Coordinates:
Bearing:
Boat Speed:
Wind Direction:
Wind Strength:
Sea state:

Crew health:

Fish caught:

Other points of interest: brief message ,

fairly windy
just passed Bream Head with 50 knot squall down to 25 knots now SW
all going well, good steady speed 6 to 8.5 knots , over 9 at times .
still hoping to clear customs tomorrow

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Update

Coordinates:
Bearing:
Boat Speed:
Wind Direction:
Wind Strength:
Sea state:

Crew health: all well

Fish caught:

Other points of interest:

quick test message typed at 3.10 pm just north of motatapu doing 6 to 8 knots in about 20 knots of wind
had to motor for quite a while as no wind or not much SW seems to be kicking in
may stop at north of Whangaparoa or Kawau possibly
will re assess afternoon forecast
I may contact you by mobile phone later this evening

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We're off to Tonga!

Katipo is loaded up, water tanks filled, victuals stowed , and the last minute fresh fruit and vegetables are on board.  Safety gear like flares, satellite phone, liferaft, emergency locator beacon, harnesses, life jackets are all ready.  

The decision when to clear customs and depart for the open ocean requires careful consideration. Ted, who was my crew  on Katipo to Rarotonga and also from Fiji back to Auckland three years ago (2011), is coming on this voyage too.

We have been watchingon  our computers the various weather charts and information daily, some of which give a seven day forecast.Bob McDavit New Zealand's weatherman produces an excellent analysis and forecast once a week with recommendations for ocean sailors.

There was a short window of suitable weather last week but on balance Ted and I, after much discussion, decided since we are in no rush, to wait in the hope of a better forecast. It looks like this is the week and we are planning to depart Shelly Park today on the tide.

We will be checking in daily via email and text with Shay, one of my sons who will act as contact person in New Zealand. Our position will be updated each evening on the map here, and our posts will be on this blog.

 

 You can contact us with short messages by emailing Shay through the Zero Energy House website contact page. He will contact us by text to my satellite phone or forwards email to my satellite phone which are then downloaded onto a laptop computer. I find this modern technology fantastic ! We are not able to receive  long messages or attachments to emails as they are  prohibitively expensive to download on board Katipo via Satellite phone.

More information to come just as soon as we are ready to set sail.