26 October 2024 –Tonga -Tongapatu to New Zealand -Day 4

At about 10.00pm the wind died so we took down the sails and motored to keep us moving in the right direction. When Watty and I came on at 2.00am the wind had increased so we put up the sails and continued toward the waypoint Metbob had given us. We had a boat beside some 2 nm away who was motoring and we could see their navigation lights. Once sailing we gradually moved away.

We were able to sail fast and in the right direction. I had seen from our WhatsApp chat which a load of boats had created that one boat Ruffian (an English boat) whom we had met in Neiafu in Tonga had had a mast failure and they had got rid of the mast overboard. They were now motoring but did not have enough diesel to reach NZ and were asking for others to help with this. Some boats were going to shadow them and to provide diesel. It was odd that it seemed to happen when the conditions are quite calm.

We went off watch at 5.00am and we slept well. I woke about 9.30am and it was a lovely day and the sun shone. We had a bacon and egg buttie which was delicious. The sea state was calm and we were sailing well in the calm weather and it was sort of champagne sailing. We knew a number of boats were going west and we continued on our course and I saw certain messages on the WhatsApp about going west. I checked predict wind etc and we had not had any change from MetBob so we continued on our course.

We are expecting tomorrow a front at about lunchtime to pass through with rain and changes in the wind. I was also looking at the rest of the passage as we are now about halfway. The wind is going to move about and there is also another, what appears to be a nasty front. coming round the top of the North Island on Wednesday. I was trying to calculate which route we should take. Predict wind sort of goes Southwest all the way.

We had lunch and continued sailing but the wind began to reduce. I message Bob and he says go west while you can and when the wind changes goes southeast. I asked him whether that means changing from our waypoint and he said yes- why he could not have told us before I do not know.

I have therefore spent some time working out a plan to get us there as quickly as possible. We continued sailing until about 7.00pm when due to the reduction in wind, I decided to motor again but not on a west course but a southwest course which give us some westing but is more direct as to where we want to go. I asked Bob for some more waypoints of which he only gave us one and so I am going to heed what he advises but also follow predict wind which makes more sense and we will see what progress we make overnight.

Keith cooked bangers and mash for supper which went down well and we then went into night mode. We had had a lovely sunny dry sailing day and we are into different weather tomorrow and the last push to NZ. Can we get there before the next front on Wednesday which will bring 30 Kt winds we will see. Hopefully we will be able to sail well and fast and get there in time. This is the thing about sailing. You have to be adaptable and flexible and change course/tactics as required.

The picture of the day is some enjoying themselves in the sun.

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