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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