25 October 2024 –Tonga -Tongapatu to New Zealand -Day 3

After supper Watty and I were on 8.00pm to 11.00am watch and we still seeing quite a few boats around us.  We sailed the best course we could and then handed over. We were now approaching the Minerva Reefs and had planned to go west of them but due to our course we were going to have to go south of them, which was not an issue as our courses took us south afterwards anyway.  

During the night the wind came round more to Northeast and then more North Northeast and was pushing us off course again to our waypoint and the wind also increased. I had heard Carolyn and Erika reefing the main and came to help. The wind was strong and we changed down from genoa to staysail as well and reefed the main. I thought this might be a good time to gybe and to take advantage of the North-Northeast wind so when Keith W and Joyce came on we gybed and were then heading for the south Minerva reef albeit that it was some miles away. Once settled I tried to get some sleep.

Watty and I were on again at 5.00am and it was time to gybe back again as we had come far enough to be able to get back on to our course and waypoint. We therefore gybed and were back on course. I had an email from Metbob our weather man and he said there was a front coming on Sunday and we could stay at the Minerva reef for a few days or if we carried on, he gave us some new waypoints which meant going more south to 30 degrees south and then headed direct for Opua as the North Northwest winds should help us. I asked him how bad the front will be and he said mild with 20kt winds and 30 kt gusts. We had almost had that on our passage so far and we could cope with this and so I decided to carry on. I discussed with the others and they agreed.

We continued on our course and were able to continue down our go to line to the waypoint and regularly maintain our 7 kt required speed. The wind came back to more what it should of just Northeast so it made our maintaining our course easier. We were probably about 3 hours or more ahead of schedule. We finished at 8.00am and had a fruit breakfast.

It was a rather grey drizzly day and more like the Solent on a bad day than the Pacific Ocean. By about 12.00noon we were off course again due to the wind going back to North Northeast so we tried to alter course to stay on track but the wind began to die and the swell came under us and backed the sails so they flapped. I therefore decided to come closer to the wind even though this took us off track but we can then gybe back at the appropriate point.

Then the worst nightmare a skipper can have occurred. One of the heads (toilets) which the 3 ladies used was blocked and not draining out. I thought it may be a problem with the macerator pump so I set about dismantling the toilet to get to the pump. I had to take the whole toilet out to get to it and discovered some string around the blade and hoped this would be the issue. I then put everything back. This took a couple of hours and is a smelly and horrible job. It is made more difficult by the movement of the boat. When re assembled the macerator pump was working properly and alas I could not solve the problem as it still would not drain out. I suspect a pipe is blocked. We tried everything but could not solve the problem.

 Watty therefore has had to give up his double suite and moved into the forepeak and will share my toilet and the ladies will have the en suite to the double cabin. I went for a shower after and felt quite tired after what had been a disturbed night.

We had lunch and then relaxed and by 4.00pm Watty and I were on again. Our run to 12 noon was 179 nm which was about the same as yesterday. We had seen on our chart plotter Aspro – a boat which my cousin Ben had met on our port side. They called us up and said could we go behind them as they were wing on wing (the main out one side of his mast and his genoa the other). We were on a collision course and he did not want to change his sail plan so Watty and I went behind him and they kindly took a picture of us which is picture of the day.

The rain came and went and we are making the best course we can. The wind is coming more to the North which is not forecast. We will prepare for another night and hopefully strong enough winds to keep our 7 kt average.    

Life on board continues in the routine. When off watch we read, sleep or chat. It is up to each individual to get enough sleep and we all have to prepare meals, cook, wash up and keep the boat tidy. We have to check the fruit and vegetables each day to see what needs eating or is going off. It is a team routine so that everyone mucks in for the benefit of all.

Carolyn and Erika had cooked a curry which we all enjoyed with a wrap. After supper we gybed and of course the wind started to turn against us again so we are essentially going west. It would be better if it was southwest. We will monitor during the night and see what we shall do in terms of gybes.

Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we move through French Polynesia and beyond. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com