Coordinates: 29 12 S 172 38 E
Not a breath of wind . Sunny , blue sky and we had a great Thai curry with the last of the kumara included for lunch , but no wind !
However this is as expected and forecast as the centre of a high passes over us. Plenty of good books on board to read and a few odd jobs about the boat to sort out.
No wind last night either but there was a light sailing breeze from the south this morning so we a made a few miles.
All is well on board.
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Friday 31 October 2014
Thursday 30 October 2014
weather
Coordinates: 28 39.13 S 173 20.54 E
Bearing: 240 T
Boat Speed: 4
Wind Direction: wind changing
Wind Strength: 13
Sea state: some swell
Crew health: great
At the moment we are not sailing the best course . The wind is fickle , in fact a little while back we were sailing along fine when within 2 minutes the wind direction shifted 90 degrees ! All is well on board however and better wind is forecast within 48 hours. We hear on the radio that the weather has been a bit grim down there in NZ , and boats which have been racing along from the north at higher speeds than Katipo must be finding it uncomfortable nearer the coast.
So we cooked an excellent vegetable curry for lunch and are ticking along quite pleasantly. As for fishing - this area of the Pacific has been totally fished out !!!!
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Bearing: 240 T
Boat Speed: 4
Wind Direction: wind changing
Wind Strength: 13
Sea state: some swell
Crew health: great
At the moment we are not sailing the best course . The wind is fickle , in fact a little while back we were sailing along fine when within 2 minutes the wind direction shifted 90 degrees ! All is well on board however and better wind is forecast within 48 hours. We hear on the radio that the weather has been a bit grim down there in NZ , and boats which have been racing along from the north at higher speeds than Katipo must be finding it uncomfortable nearer the coast.
So we cooked an excellent vegetable curry for lunch and are ticking along quite pleasantly. As for fishing - this area of the Pacific has been totally fished out !!!!
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Wednesday 29 October 2014
Excellent sailing
Coordinates: 27 19.7 S 173 21.5 E
Bearing: 17 5 T
Boat Speed: 5.5
Wind Direction: NNW swinging more to NW just now
Wind Strength: 8 to 14 knots
Sea state: slight swell
Crew health: fine
An great day , almost perfect catamaran sailing conditions . Good following wind , head sails poled out one each side . no main sail up , and the Katipo nearly steers herself. It is like a smooth magic carpet ride. Decks are dry , no spray flying as happens when one sails to windward.
Keel boats would be rolling from side to side now I am sure, in a most uncomfortable way !
Last night we hammered along through the darkness after the wind rose at about 10 PM.
Cooking and all the other tasks are so much easier under these conditions, and I nearly forgot to mention the usual blue sky and sunny shorts and tee shirts weather!
Wind just swinging to NW so have re organised sails but still good progress
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Bearing: 17 5 T
Boat Speed: 5.5
Wind Direction: NNW swinging more to NW just now
Wind Strength: 8 to 14 knots
Sea state: slight swell
Crew health: fine
An great day , almost perfect catamaran sailing conditions . Good following wind , head sails poled out one each side . no main sail up , and the Katipo nearly steers herself. It is like a smooth magic carpet ride. Decks are dry , no spray flying as happens when one sails to windward.
Keel boats would be rolling from side to side now I am sure, in a most uncomfortable way !
Last night we hammered along through the darkness after the wind rose at about 10 PM.
Cooking and all the other tasks are so much easier under these conditions, and I nearly forgot to mention the usual blue sky and sunny shorts and tee shirts weather!
Wind just swinging to NW so have re organised sails but still good progress
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Tuesday 28 October 2014
A painted ship
Coordinates:25 47.38 S 173 03.6 E
Bearing:175 T
Boat Speed: 2 to 3 Kn
Wind Direction:NNE
Wind Strength: 1 to 7 knots
Sea state: swell from SE
Crew health:fine
Last night it was a little like the Ancient Mariners Ship - " as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean"
No albatross about but totally becalmed all night . A few puffs of wind early morning but not much all day. We have the large red light weather furling Reacher sail up and that is giving two or three knots plus the current is adding 1.4 knots !
The excitement today was to be buzzed by an Airforce Orion plane . It circled Katipo after swooping to what appeared to be about 100 metres at the most above the water. We had a friendly chat over the VHF radio . They were just checking boat name , last port . and port of destination including ETA . I could not help much on the last point and I told them the winds were light and it was hard to know.
I thought we had caught a fish this morning when checking the line at first light. It was a fair sized Wahoo but was just a ghastly corpse
mainly head and back bone. Hungry teeth tearing at the flesh had been at work in the black depths during the night, maybe squid?? You would not want to fall over board round here!
Very hot again but all is well and we are making steady if slow progress. So much better than the 45 knots of wind at times on the way up here in July.
We have checked the boat speed and distance run each day by several ways against the reading of boat log device in the side of the hull under water. This little wheel which spins around around as the water goes past must have been invaded by weed or barnacles !
However it is not important it just means that initially we had gone faster than we had thought.
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Bearing:175 T
Boat Speed: 2 to 3 Kn
Wind Direction:NNE
Wind Strength: 1 to 7 knots
Sea state: swell from SE
Crew health:fine
Last night it was a little like the Ancient Mariners Ship - " as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean"
No albatross about but totally becalmed all night . A few puffs of wind early morning but not much all day. We have the large red light weather furling Reacher sail up and that is giving two or three knots plus the current is adding 1.4 knots !
The excitement today was to be buzzed by an Airforce Orion plane . It circled Katipo after swooping to what appeared to be about 100 metres at the most above the water. We had a friendly chat over the VHF radio . They were just checking boat name , last port . and port of destination including ETA . I could not help much on the last point and I told them the winds were light and it was hard to know.
I thought we had caught a fish this morning when checking the line at first light. It was a fair sized Wahoo but was just a ghastly corpse
mainly head and back bone. Hungry teeth tearing at the flesh had been at work in the black depths during the night, maybe squid?? You would not want to fall over board round here!
Very hot again but all is well and we are making steady if slow progress. So much better than the 45 knots of wind at times on the way up here in July.
We have checked the boat speed and distance run each day by several ways against the reading of boat log device in the side of the hull under water. This little wheel which spins around around as the water goes past must have been invaded by weed or barnacles !
However it is not important it just means that initially we had gone faster than we had thought.
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Monday 27 October 2014
Creeping along
Coordinates:24 55S, 173 10.7E
Bearing:207 T
Boat Speed: 2 Kn
Wind 6 Kn ESE
Another glorious day , blue sky , occasional fluffy white cloud , deep blue coloured sea and a lazy swell rolling in from the SE
A good day for relaxing , tidying up on board and doing a few minor jobs.
Fortunately there is a current of about 1 knot going our way here so that is helping us along.
Last night all the stars were out a huge glimmering dome overhead which one rarely sees in NZ
We can now receive Radio NZ national program from about one hour after sunset until about one hour before dawn. During the day solar cosmic radiation interferes with reception.
So should you wake up at say 2.30 am you can guess that out here I will be sitting in the cockpit keeping a lookout whilst listening to the radio!!
I am afraid I overlooked the time today hence this message is a little later than usual
Don
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Bearing:207 T
Boat Speed: 2 Kn
Wind 6 Kn ESE
Another glorious day , blue sky , occasional fluffy white cloud , deep blue coloured sea and a lazy swell rolling in from the SE
A good day for relaxing , tidying up on board and doing a few minor jobs.
Fortunately there is a current of about 1 knot going our way here so that is helping us along.
Last night all the stars were out a huge glimmering dome overhead which one rarely sees in NZ
We can now receive Radio NZ national program from about one hour after sunset until about one hour before dawn. During the day solar cosmic radiation interferes with reception.
So should you wake up at say 2.30 am you can guess that out here I will be sitting in the cockpit keeping a lookout whilst listening to the radio!!
I am afraid I overlooked the time today hence this message is a little later than usual
Don
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Sunday 26 October 2014
sailoing south
Coordinates: 23 16 S 174 03 E
Bearing:210
Boat Speed :5
Wind Direction: SSE to SE
Wind Strength:15 to 22
Sea state moderate but some steep chop at times!!
Crew health: fine
All well . Last night and this morning a SSE change was forcing us further west but better this afternoon after the wind backed some
Trying fishing but no luck
Ted cooked a fine rice dish for lunch and it has been a bright sunny day . However it is getting slowly cooler . Thermal under wear on the night watch . Bit of a shock after all that time in Tonga and Fiji !
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Bearing:210
Boat Speed :5
Wind Direction: SSE to SE
Wind Strength:15 to 22
Sea state moderate but some steep chop at times!!
Crew health: fine
All well . Last night and this morning a SSE change was forcing us further west but better this afternoon after the wind backed some
Trying fishing but no luck
Ted cooked a fine rice dish for lunch and it has been a bright sunny day . However it is getting slowly cooler . Thermal under wear on the night watch . Bit of a shock after all that time in Tonga and Fiji !
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Saturday 25 October 2014
brief update
Coordinates: 21 46.6 S 175 10 24 E at 16.10 NZ time
Bearing: 210 T approx
Boat Speed: 4.5 to 5.5 kn occas 6.5
Wind Direction: ESE
Wind Strength: 15 to 17
Sea state:fairly calm
Crew health: fine
Cloudy start to day and fairly slow night speed. Gusting 30 at times this morning and often had to reef sails but now sun out all afternoon and wind has steadied so making good pleasant progress. Shay in Pt Chev Auckland is watching several marine weather web sites and our course is being tailored via his satellite phone advice as to the best course to take advantage of the winds around the current high pressure system.
Plenty of fresh vegetables on board so Ted cooked a big meal at midday.
Two large flying fish on deck this morning
All going well
Don
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Bearing: 210 T approx
Boat Speed: 4.5 to 5.5 kn occas 6.5
Wind Direction: ESE
Wind Strength: 15 to 17
Sea state:fairly calm
Crew health: fine
Cloudy start to day and fairly slow night speed. Gusting 30 at times this morning and often had to reef sails but now sun out all afternoon and wind has steadied so making good pleasant progress. Shay in Pt Chev Auckland is watching several marine weather web sites and our course is being tailored via his satellite phone advice as to the best course to take advantage of the winds around the current high pressure system.
Plenty of fresh vegetables on board so Ted cooked a big meal at midday.
Two large flying fish on deck this morning
All going well
Don
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Friday 24 October 2014
settling into life at sea
Coordinates: 20 26.83 S 176 07.7 E
Bearing: 210 T
Boat Speed:
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Strength:20 knots mainly
Sea state: better than yesterday , settling
Crew health: fine
Today the sun is out , the head winds are less strong and the steep short waves have calmed so everything is going well. Sailing to windward is never very comfortable but we are making steady progress and more favourable winds are forecast in the next few days. Leaving Fiji there is usually a SE wind to contend with initially.
Sweet Fijian tomatoes for lunch today with cucumbers , beetroot the last of the fresh bread eaten in the cockpit . The sailing life is pretty good
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Bearing: 210 T
Boat Speed:
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Strength:20 knots mainly
Sea state: better than yesterday , settling
Crew health: fine
Today the sun is out , the head winds are less strong and the steep short waves have calmed so everything is going well. Sailing to windward is never very comfortable but we are making steady progress and more favourable winds are forecast in the next few days. Leaving Fiji there is usually a SE wind to contend with initially.
Sweet Fijian tomatoes for lunch today with cucumbers , beetroot the last of the fresh bread eaten in the cockpit . The sailing life is pretty good
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Thursday 23 October 2014
Update
Coordinates:19 14.37 S 176 48 E
Bearing: 200 T
Boat Speed: 4 to 5
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Strength:20 to 28 kn
Sea state: fairly rough
Crew health: fine
:
head winds down coast yesterday so later than wished at pass but went through in daylight
fairly rough night sailing into SE trades on port tack , Sails reefed at moment but all is well
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Bearing: 200 T
Boat Speed: 4 to 5
Wind Direction: SE
Wind Strength:20 to 28 kn
Sea state: fairly rough
Crew health: fine
:
head winds down coast yesterday so later than wished at pass but went through in daylight
fairly rough night sailing into SE trades on port tack , Sails reefed at moment but all is well
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Wednesday 22 October 2014
departing Fiji
A short early message today as we will be busy later today exiting the Navula Pass into the open ocean.
All is well , we are all stocked up with supplies . The forecast suggests a slowish light weather passage but you never know.
We will send daily messages and position reports from now onwards every afternoon
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All is well , we are all stocked up with supplies . The forecast suggests a slowish light weather passage but you never know.
We will send daily messages and position reports from now onwards every afternoon
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Monday 20 October 2014
message from Denerau Fiji
Dave went back to Upper Hutt two days ago after a good week sailing round some local anchorages on the coast here and over on Malolo Island. Ted flew in from Auckland to crew on the voyage bound for NZ. The cruising boats are starting to thin out as some have gone south already and most will in the course of the next month. The only alternative is to stay here on board in a suitably protected spot or just leave your boat here during the cyclone season in such a place like Vuda Point Marina. However in the last cyclone there was still damage to many boats left there. Some folk head north to Pacific Islands nearer the equator to be north of the danger zone.
A few interesting points last week. Firstly I had been swimming under the boat scraping weed and barnacles off and had just climbed back on board when a sea snake swam by along the side of the hull - all black and yellow banded and looking very threatening . The bite of some species is very poisonous.
While under water I had to scrape off quite a large number of Goose Neck Barnacles which I have never seen on the hulls before. They can grow quite large and hang on a fleshy stalk.
The other unusual visitors were a bunch of what some people call 'Jesus Bugs' because they can walk on water. Ten delicate little insects prancing about next to the dinghy on a calm early morning. The other name is Pond Skater and I remember seeing them on ponds in England years ago whilst quietly fishing. Apparently 10% of the species live in marine environments skating about on their long legs which have huge numbers of tiny hairs which helps repel the water. The surface tension of the water is the main factor holding them up.
Ted and I are busy studying the weather reports at the moment, trying to work out when will be the ideal time to head south on Katipo.
Next message will be sent later in the week with an update and to let you know how the weather is going.
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A few interesting points last week. Firstly I had been swimming under the boat scraping weed and barnacles off and had just climbed back on board when a sea snake swam by along the side of the hull - all black and yellow banded and looking very threatening . The bite of some species is very poisonous.
While under water I had to scrape off quite a large number of Goose Neck Barnacles which I have never seen on the hulls before. They can grow quite large and hang on a fleshy stalk.
The other unusual visitors were a bunch of what some people call 'Jesus Bugs' because they can walk on water. Ten delicate little insects prancing about next to the dinghy on a calm early morning. The other name is Pond Skater and I remember seeing them on ponds in England years ago whilst quietly fishing. Apparently 10% of the species live in marine environments skating about on their long legs which have huge numbers of tiny hairs which helps repel the water. The surface tension of the water is the main factor holding them up.
Ted and I are busy studying the weather reports at the moment, trying to work out when will be the ideal time to head south on Katipo.
Next message will be sent later in the week with an update and to let you know how the weather is going.
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Saturday 11 October 2014
news from Fiji
Since the last update about a week ago there have been comings and goings !
We spent a few days in Denerau restocking with food , diesel , water and petrol ( for the outboard engine) and doing some sorting out and re-stowing on board . Sadly Denise flew out back to NZ last Wednesday, we have had an excellent adventure together over the last two months but the cyclone season approaches at the end November and I know that she will be looking forward to catching up with our family and especially seeing our grand daughters again. Dave a friend from Upper Hutt flew in yesterday for a week. Next weekend Ted from NZ arrives to crew on the return voyage bound to Opua from Lautoka our check out port.
Denise and I met John a fellow Wharram catamaran enthusiast recently, its amazing what a web of contacts exists.
One repair job which I have completed on Katipo was to replace the worn universal joint on the port hull windvane trim tab on the back of the port rudder. Ted and I had noticed an early problem on arrival in Tonga and despite the fact that it still is holding together, I did not want to trust it on the ocean voyage back to NZ. Peter a friend in Howick sourced one and son Tim brought it with him when he flew in .last month
The work involved marking very accurately the positions for the bolt holes in the fitting then finding someone with a drill press to drill through the stainless steel fitting. The work was done by the Indians working at the local boat yard . they did a great job although had I spoken Hindi communication would have been easier.
I nearly had a major disaster on returning to Katipo as I unloaded from the dinghy a re-filled gas bottle, a bucket with the bolts and fitting just drilled and my back pack with all the ships papers inside. It was one of those unfortunate sequences - the gas bottle fell over , tipped up the bucket nearly spilling the contents into the sea , and as a made a grab for the bucket I dropped my back pack overboard. I just managed to save the pack before it sank and fortunately all was well.
Dave and I sailed out to Malolo Lailai island today into a brisk SW wind and as I intend to just potter about locally this week I will send out another update early next week when Ted and I have had a chance to review the weather patterns for our voyage southwards.
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We spent a few days in Denerau restocking with food , diesel , water and petrol ( for the outboard engine) and doing some sorting out and re-stowing on board . Sadly Denise flew out back to NZ last Wednesday, we have had an excellent adventure together over the last two months but the cyclone season approaches at the end November and I know that she will be looking forward to catching up with our family and especially seeing our grand daughters again. Dave a friend from Upper Hutt flew in yesterday for a week. Next weekend Ted from NZ arrives to crew on the return voyage bound to Opua from Lautoka our check out port.
Denise and I met John a fellow Wharram catamaran enthusiast recently, its amazing what a web of contacts exists.
One repair job which I have completed on Katipo was to replace the worn universal joint on the port hull windvane trim tab on the back of the port rudder. Ted and I had noticed an early problem on arrival in Tonga and despite the fact that it still is holding together, I did not want to trust it on the ocean voyage back to NZ. Peter a friend in Howick sourced one and son Tim brought it with him when he flew in .last month
The work involved marking very accurately the positions for the bolt holes in the fitting then finding someone with a drill press to drill through the stainless steel fitting. The work was done by the Indians working at the local boat yard . they did a great job although had I spoken Hindi communication would have been easier.
I nearly had a major disaster on returning to Katipo as I unloaded from the dinghy a re-filled gas bottle, a bucket with the bolts and fitting just drilled and my back pack with all the ships papers inside. It was one of those unfortunate sequences - the gas bottle fell over , tipped up the bucket nearly spilling the contents into the sea , and as a made a grab for the bucket I dropped my back pack overboard. I just managed to save the pack before it sank and fortunately all was well.
Dave and I sailed out to Malolo Lailai island today into a brisk SW wind and as I intend to just potter about locally this week I will send out another update early next week when Ted and I have had a chance to review the weather patterns for our voyage southwards.
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Friday 3 October 2014
Denerau
We have had a busy day starting fairly early. We are anchored outside the Denerau inner harbour near the entrance channel just off the mangrove lined shore. The water is about 5 metres deep and the holding seems ok. It takes us about 15 minutes to motor into the harbour with our small dinghy with its 2 HP outboard. It is an easy dinghy to row too which we do at times or if the engine will not go! The dinghy also has an elegant shape. Oars are a rarity within the cruising community as 95 % of boats have inflatables as tenders and fairly large outboards. Inflatables are not easily rowed!
Anyway we caught the express coach in Nadi to Lautoka for the equivalent of about $2.70 NZ for a 40 minute comfortable ride. The only concern was the driver using one hand at times while chatting on his cell phone.
The immigration department in Lautoka soon had the paperwork sorted to take Denise off the crew list and to supply a letter for crewman Ted to authorise his arrival on a one way airline ticket later this month.
After a good lunch we spent about an hour in the large fruit, vegetable and fish market with the usual huge variety and bright colours. Added to all this is the smell of curry powders and spices on the Indian stalls.
Then back to Denerau to sit at a bar on the wharf as the boats come and go and the sun goes down. Not a bad day.
Since we will be pottering about locally until Denise goes on Wednesday and I have a few minor jobs to do about the boat later in the week I willl send out another blog in about a weeks time.
Don
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Anyway we caught the express coach in Nadi to Lautoka for the equivalent of about $2.70 NZ for a 40 minute comfortable ride. The only concern was the driver using one hand at times while chatting on his cell phone.
The immigration department in Lautoka soon had the paperwork sorted to take Denise off the crew list and to supply a letter for crewman Ted to authorise his arrival on a one way airline ticket later this month.
After a good lunch we spent about an hour in the large fruit, vegetable and fish market with the usual huge variety and bright colours. Added to all this is the smell of curry powders and spices on the Indian stalls.
Then back to Denerau to sit at a bar on the wharf as the boats come and go and the sun goes down. Not a bad day.
Since we will be pottering about locally until Denise goes on Wednesday and I have a few minor jobs to do about the boat later in the week I willl send out another blog in about a weeks time.
Don
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Thursday 2 October 2014
Denerau
This evening we are anchored off Denerau having sailed over this morning from Musket Cove. Since the last blog a few days ago Denise and I have mostly been at Solevu Bay , Liku liku or Musket Cove where we were lucky to secure a vacant mooring. Time has gone quickly and Denise flies home next Wednesday. Last Tuesday we had arranged to sail over to Denerau to meet Lynn and Grant from Whitford for dinner but the weather was pretty grim that morning so we came over on the ferry for lunch instead which was very pleasant.
The next day it rained and was quite cool so we stayed on board and did a supplies stock take with a view to having a big shopping expedition to Nadi to stock up for the return voyage. The wet weather gave me a chance to test the new rain water collection system I had organised on the centre pod roof. I am pleased to report we quickly had 20 litres in the collecting container.
It is surprising who you meet up here . A couple anchored nearby hailed us , they had recognised Katipo as they walk past our house at Shelly park on the public walkway quite often, and today a fellow boat club member who this season has been sailing his catamaran to Tonga and Fiji visiting many of the same places we have visited.
Tomorrow we are of to Lautoka to sort out the paperwork for crew changes , ready for when Ted flies in later this month to crew on the NZ bound voyage.
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The next day it rained and was quite cool so we stayed on board and did a supplies stock take with a view to having a big shopping expedition to Nadi to stock up for the return voyage. The wet weather gave me a chance to test the new rain water collection system I had organised on the centre pod roof. I am pleased to report we quickly had 20 litres in the collecting container.
It is surprising who you meet up here . A couple anchored nearby hailed us , they had recognised Katipo as they walk past our house at Shelly park on the public walkway quite often, and today a fellow boat club member who this season has been sailing his catamaran to Tonga and Fiji visiting many of the same places we have visited.
Tomorrow we are of to Lautoka to sort out the paperwork for crew changes , ready for when Ted flies in later this month to crew on the NZ bound voyage.
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