Day 5: Passage Tonga to NZ

Sunday, November 10, 2024:  Passage Tonga to New Zealand Day 5

This morning…more of the same?!  Big beam seas, winds 20-28, amazing to watch these waves lumber through the ocean, as we go up and over, Terikah is flying!  Calder, doing dishes below, gets a mist of saltwater to the face as a big wave hits the galley port and forces water through the (not so tight?) window sealant.  The seas do not match the GRIB (Predict Wind and Windy are examples of GRIB) files, being rougher and more extended than predicted. Why is this?  There is much volatility at the top of the high pressure system (dubbed a “dirty high”) due to interaction with the SPCZ (South Pacific Convergence Zone); models can’t quite capture this well.  That’s why we ask for help with weather; we are learning so much.

This morning, breakfast was “mighty oatmeal” (which is better than “mitey oatmeal” that we had before…ewwww).  New Zealand Biosecurity does not allow certain foods into the country and we’ve been trying to gobble up all nuts, seeds, oats, fresh produce, open blocks of cheese, etc…Made a loaf of bread today, but between old yeast (dead) and boat movement, it is a heavy chunk of bread (hard tack anyone?).

We are trying to outrun a system that will hit NZ on Thursday and pack a punch.  Right now, if we can keep this speed, we should get in by Wednesday late afternoon/early evening, hopefully before dark.

Overnight, seas mellowed out and winds stayed 15-22, awesome sailing.  Feels so great not to be in a giant pinball machine, bouncing off the walls.  Sunset is notably later, gaining daylight hours as we tuck into a New Zealand summer. 

Brought out our fleece blankets for sleep, as well as our warmer clothes (which we had tucked away).  So proud of my family – watching Calder jump into action and adjust the sails on his own, Cora at the helm keeping a close eye on the radar at night for squalls and other boats. Chris, always thinking and responding in measured calmness, a wealth of growing knowledge and intuition.  My own fear of the sea has decreased, while my respect has increased.  The incremental growth on this year’s voyage cannot be measured.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” -Jacques Yves Cousteau