Total Miles sailed so far=17,160 NM.
Miles sailed last three days=416 NM.
Distance to go to date line= 450 NM.
Top speed so far 14.1 Kts.
THE REST OF THE STORY
DAY 127= 24 hr.Run=135 NM.
Position: Lat.47* 44′ S. Long.165*03’E. Weather: Wind=N 12-25 kts Seas=N 6-12ft.
Cabin Temp 68*-54*. Bar=1010mb
Today we are closing on New Zealand, and New Zealand is called the land of the great white cloud, and lo and behold I saw the cloud but New Zealand itself remained invisible.
THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD THAT THEY SAW
I got on the SSB this am at 1900 U.T.C. and talked to Ed on SV AKA, the net controller filling in for Jim Bandy who is in Fiji, until he gets his new radio and generator going after cyclone “Winston”’ a Cat-5. Ed was the first human being I had spoken to in 127 days, and that was really strange. The frequency is 8173.0 USB.
Debbie and I would like to put a shout out to our many great New Zealand friends as well as our friends from all over the world that are cruising or now living there. Good on ya Mates!
DAY 128= OUR 5TH AND LAST CAPE -YAHOO!! 24hr. Run=126 NM.
Position: Lat.47*02’S Long. 168*10E. Weather: Wind=N 8-30kts. Seas. N 6-10ft.
Cabin Temp=58-60*. Bar=999mb
A BIG WIDE SMILEY FACE AT WEST CAPE,NEW ZEALAND AS THEY SAILED BY
Today is a Monumental Day of the Voyage, as Sailors Run pulls abeam of West Cape New Zealand after 127-days 11 hours and 55 minutes.
This being our 5th and FINAL CAPE and now I must say, “Debbie I’m coming home” keep a light on.
As we came in under the Cape we were about 8-miles north of the Snare Islands and I could actually see them. The first land I have seen since Cape Horn and I must admit although there not so large they were green and looked pretty inviting for this sailor in off of the “blue”.
SNARE ISLAND THE FARTHEST SOUTH OF STEWART ISLAND WHERE THEY SAILED BY
LAND OF SNARE ISLAND
It is a rainy day here south of New Zealand and I want to thank all of you out there for your prayers and best wishes as I have arrived here in pretty good shape.
The Barometer soup is about to kick in and the next 5-days look like they will be rough, easing on Friday.As tonight as darkness fell, a front arrived out of the SE and I had 40-50kts. of wind and under stay sail alone I recorded a speed in excess of 13 knots
The main thing is now I can get into open ocean and fight it out with what’s coming.
One of the worst things is it’s going to blow like Hell from the NW then switch around to The SW where a big swell is being created by a low that is coming up over New Zealand and pushing up against the high creating a squash zone that will intensify the winds in the area.
I suspect there will be 45-50kts with extremely rough seas and this is at its worst on Thursday.
I’m currently shooting north in 35 kts under staysail alone trying to avoid the worst of the low that is coming. ‘Only Time will tell”, how this all works out.
DAY 129- 24hr.Run=155 NM.
Pos. Lat.46*31’S. Long.170*57’E. Weather Wind=NW. 15-40kts. Seas=WNW-8-15ft.
Cabin Temp=56*-59*.Bar=1012 mb.
Today is windy and a sunny day as we reach to the north. The winds are starting to die down as this day progresses, but that will be short lived as that Nor wester should fill in by morning.
Early this am I had one wave break on Sailors Run and I got a small amount of water below through any breach it could find or create.
I now have over 50 hours of hand work into repairing “Patches” and still much more to go.
I just love the thoughtfulness of many of you out there, I even had one caring person offer to bring me food if I needed it since I was so close to New Zealand, and I truly appreciate the thought, but as you know the rules say (Unassisted,) which means no such help, but it sure felt great to know how much people are willing to do to keep Sailors Run and Crew going.
Getting “Battle Ready” for what’s coming!! The Jefe’.