4 October 2024 –Tahiti – Niue
Before I start I have another need. Someone now cannot make the New Zealand to Sydney leg in early January 2025 so I need ideally a sixth person. You would have to be in Auckland, New Zealand by about 3/4 January 2025 with a view to us leaving for Sydney weather permitting by about 7 January 2025. We should get to Sydney by about 14-16 January 2025. If anyone is interested please email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com Thanks
It was another rolly night with the large waves on our port side as we had to get passed the first of the Cook Islands. Sean and I had the red eye slot 2.00am to 5.00am and this passed relatively easily and you could see the horizon just by 5.00am. During our watch we had eased the sails a bit and used the main preventer. Carolyn and Erika took over from us and I had gone to bed and got up about 8.00am when we had some breakfast. Unfortunately, the coffee pot spilt over Erika and she has some burns on her left leg which she is treating.
It was quite a nice morning with some sun and blue sky. The underlying strength of the wind was 18-22 kts but then it regularly crept up to 24-29 kts so we stayed with the reefed staysail and main. Niue time is one hour behind so we decided to put the clocks back at 8.00am so Keith and Joyce did an extra 30 minutes and Sean and I 30 minutes. When we came on we shook out the reef in the staysail and it has been like that all day. We also decided as we came pass the first and most southern Cook Island to bear away and make the best course we could toward Niue. Whilst this does mean we can sail direct we are only about 20 degrees off which we will have to deal with by gybes etc.
The day passed pleasantly with the motion more comfortable apart from when the big waves when they came under us but there was nothing we could do about this. The waves will reduce a bit but will continue to be 2-3 meters until about 7 October. The wind will also stay at this level until the 7th as well. We therefore have to do everything with this motion and it does make sleeping quite difficult. We have not fished as a result as it will make bringing it in quite difficult.
I made a loaf of bread as we have had bread so far and Carolyn made a bean stew supper with rice. We then settled down for our night watches and we see where we are in the morning and when we should gybe.
The picture of the day is Sean and I on watch so you can see he exists!! Our run to 12.00 noon was 164 nm which is ok due to the conditions.
Crewing 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