Chapter Five

Log entry: Date: 2/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: Slight.
Pos: 20⁰.58's Course: 210^om
178⁰.048' w Speed: 2.5kn
Weather: Fine: Barometer: 1014mb
Wind: 5-10k Southerly

The wind started to drop off at around 3 am. I did the midnight to 3 am watch so it was Jamie's turn to have the failing wind during his duty. I have found getting good sleep difficult and I have to say that for a person that can fall asleep in front of TV or even on a plane this is most unusual. Jamie on the other hand just needs to lay down and he goes to sleep, still I guess after you have sailed 100,000 blue water miles you will have sorted out your sleep patterns.

At 06:30 we had breakfast and at 08:00 we started up Methusula as the wind had died right away. Birthday on board today. The best looking and most intelligent of the sailors on board got another year older and the motley crew all sang Happy Birthday.

When we started the motor we dipped the diesel tank and found we had 40 ltrs left so we have used 20 ltrs of fuel since clearing Vava'u and have run the engine for 23 hours. Using .87 ltr per hour. Today we will clear the north Minerva reef system to our south so there should be NOTHING to hit before we sight NZ. ( Land that is.)

Finding some shade while the iron spinnaker is on.

Another hot day and Frank is still working on his tan. I think he might be looking to apply for some "Tribal " land when we get home. Fat chance Frank! Your accent will be a dead giveaway. Motoring, motoring, motoring. At noon we had 511 nm to mid pacific way point. 24 hour run 70.4 nm. We finally turned the motor off at 1:10pm as we had a 10knt SE wind fill in. Our average daily runs so far are 70-75 nm. Too slow!

Log entry: Date: 3/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: Slight.
Pos: 21⁰.59's Course: 210^om
179⁰.13'w Speed: 4.5kn
Weather: Fine: Barometer: 1013mb
Wind: 10-12k SE

Frank Sunbathing

We re-rigged the cover over the cockpit this morning to try and get better shade for the person on watch. The sun is still very hot. We also have set the staysail and have the Genoa poled out. At noon we took a sextant sight and noted readings. We took a second sight at 4pm and our calculations put us within 2.5 miles of our GPS position.

Sighted more whales today and a pod of large dolphins. They were very wary and only approached the boat after some considerable time and even then kept their distance. Too many encounters with Japanese or Asian fishing vessels we wondered?

Frank had a good 6.5 hour sleep to day which made him late for watch but it was important for him to catch up as we think he has been having difficulty sleeping too. We ate the last of the Papaya for lunch today, they have lasted well.

Log entry: Date: 4/11/98 (Wed)
Time: 06:00 Seas: Mod.
Pos: 23⁰.00's Course: 200-210^om
179⁰.45'e Speed: 4.5kn
Weather: Fine: Barometer: 1014mb
Wind: 12-15k SE

Wind shift at 10 am to North so we changed to starboard reach. Hot sticky day; could be some rain about. Should reach half way point in voyage tomorrow and our GPS waypoint on Friday. 90 mile run in 24 hours. That's better!

Hey we hook another Mahi Mahi and guess what? It would taste delishimo if only the line didn't break AGAIN! Off he swam trailing another lure but this time he was being chased by a big black fish with a fin and a spear for a nose so I guess he ended up as a fishkebarb.

Log entry: Date: 5/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: Mod.
Pos: 24⁰.08's Course: 200-210^om
1780.22'e Speed: 5.0kn
Weather: Overcast. Barometer: 1011mb
Wind: 15k N

Heavy rain shower through at 2.30 pm with not much wind, then at 3.30pm heavy line of cloud sighted and this was really stuck down on the sea. This reached us about 30mins later with 25-35kn winds from SW and a short steep sea at right angles to the swell. Reefed main and headsail.

Shitty weather ahead "1st front"

As Frank was off watch he wisely decided to stay below where it is dry, to a degree, but bouncy, while Jamie and I relished the elements. Even several Yahoooo's were to be heard from "some fool" on the fore deck. This only lasted about 1.5 hours but left us with a confused sea and little wind. Ahead we could see another band of cloud so we decided to start up the engine and head for it to try and punch through before dark. After about an hour the seas abated and the clouds lifted and we had a swing in the wind back to the SSE. We broke the 100 miles in 24 hrs today with a run of 108.2nm.

Log entry: Date: 6/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: slight.
Pos: 25⁰.19's Course: 200-210^om
177⁰.18'e Speed: 3.0kn
Weather: Overcast. Barometer: 1012mb
Wind: 10kn Variable

At 4am this morning we had another front come through with an associated squall, 3/4 reefed main and staysail only with the headsail all furled away. This lasted about 40 minutes during which time both Jamie and I got soaked through. Only 30 rain drops to a 2 litre pail!. 30 -40kn squall winds but with the seas being beaten flat by the rain. We are now able to confirm that the windows leak! So much for that "bloody plumbers silicon!." After the squall passed the wind dropped off and went swung to the WSW. Sun came out and we are sailing again at 3-4knts.

Log entry: Date: 7/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: slight.
Pos: 25⁰.49's Course: 200-210^om
176⁰.44'e Speed: 3.0kn
Weather: Fine. Barometer: 1015mb
Wind: Variable.

At 1 am we sighted a ship on the horizon. This passed 1-2 miles off but somehow our VHF had been turned off, so we lost an opportunity to have our position relayed to Auckland and get a weather update.

Lots more motoring due to no wind. Passed 1/2 way mark Saturday night.

Log entry: Date: 8/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: slight.
Pos: 26⁰.36's Course: 210-220^om
175⁰.55'e Speed: 3.0kn
Weather: Fine. Barometer: 1017mb
Wind: 10-12kn SE(filling)

On Sunday the 8th we sight a sail on the horizon and tried calling them up on the VHF but we got no response. Weather getting cooler at night. Wind filling in and its getting bouncy but the old girl has hitched up her skirts and has the bone in her teeth. We had to help the wind vane by hand steering during the night as we had the boat running at 6-7 knots. Our phosphorescent wake streamed out astern.

Log entry: Date: 9/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: Mod.
Pos: 28⁰.06's Course: 210^om
174⁰.34'e Speed: 3.0kn
Weather: Overcast. Barometer: 1019mb
Wind: 15-20kn

Really humming along with a 12 hour run of 68.8nm. At 6pm 24 hour run 125.9nm. An average of 5.24 knots. Turning South.

Log entry: Date: 10/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: slight.
Pos: 29⁰.35's Course: 195^om
173⁰.20'e Speed: 3.0kn
Weather: Fine. Barometer: 1020mb
Wind: 10-15kn SE

Another good nights sailing. At 08-15am there is a loud Bang and the boat shudders, next a shout from Jamie for help NOW! As I exit the companionway I see Jamie hanging on to the self steering rudder. We've hit something with it he said "quick help me" as it has already come off one pintle. As I snap my safety harness on to the cockpit traveller suddenly Jamie and the self steering are shaken violently and the whole boat shudders. We both look over the stern in disbelief! Hanging on to the bottom of the rudder is a large pissed off "Crunchie" (Shark!). It lets go and Jamie & I try to get it back on the pintle, but the boat's forward speed and the return of the shark for another bite mean we have to stop the boat. Frank brings the boat around into the wind which achieves two things, 1: the shark loses interest as there is nothing to chase and the vortex that was coming off the bottom of the blade disappears. And 2: we are able to get it back on both pintles.

The shark swims around for one last look and then moves off. After 5 minutes we start sailing again as we can see no sign of the shark but it becomes apparent that he has damaged the self steering trim tab. So after heaving the boat too we unship the assembly and lift it on board being extremely wary of putting any parts of our body over the side. As I mentioned early in this story the blade is 2mtrs long and it takes all three of us to lift it aboard. It is made of solid kauri, covered in fibre glass but there were still deep teeth marks all over the bottom and the stainless bottom pintle on the trim tab has been all but ripped off. We straighten the trim tab shaft and re-attach the bottom pintle with longer screws. We then re-hung it after straightening the top 'A" bracket which had also been bent. After a liberal coating of grease on all moving parts we are back in business.

The shark was either a big Mako or a medium sized great white. My bet is the first. We either hit it accidentally and it then attacked or it was attracted by the vortex off the bottom of the self steering. Either way it provided a bit of excitement for an hour. North Cape 260nm@ 168⁰ m

Log entry: Date: 11/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: Moderate.
Pos: 25⁰.19's Course: 150^om
177⁰.18'e Speed: 3.8kn
Weather: Fine. Barometer: 1020mb
Wind: 10-15kn

We have used the motor on and off to try and keep up daily average of miles covered. Barometer dropping. North Cape 159nm bearing 150⁰ m and BOI 229nm @ 140⁰m.

Log entry: Date: 12/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: slight.
Pos: 32⁰.29's Course: 120^om
172⁰.26'e Speed: 3-4.0kn
Weather: Fine. Barometer:1014mb(dropping)
Wind: 5-10kn.

Once again we have the motor on as No Wind. At 8.30am dipped tank down to 14 litres diesel. Motor on large part of day as the wind died. At 6.30pm we heard Northland maritime radio on the VHF. We tried to call but got no response. Must be atmospheric spike. North Cape now only 89nm @ 146⁰m and BOI 162nm @ 138⁰m .
Should sight New Zealand tomorrow.

Log entry: Date: 13/11/98
Time: 06:00 Seas: Moderate.
Pos: 33⁰.33's Course: 200^om
173⁰.06'e Speed: 3.0kn
Weather: Overcast. Barometer: 1012mb
Wind: 15kn SE.

Just before dawn the flash of Three Kings light was reflected on the clouds. We raise North Cape at 1pm with the boat making good progress. During the afternoon we see several ships coming and going around the top of New Zealand. At 4pm we raise Northern Maritime Radio and report our position. We request that this be passed on to the crew at home, which they kindly do. Swell building from SE and wind rising 20knots plus. At 7pm we are off Hohora and tack out to sea for the night crossing the shipping lanes. During the night we sight 3 ships and manage to avoid them. We would not be a strong radar target due to all the sea clutter. Swells starting to get large and breaking. Wind build to 30 knots. We have 2 reefs in the main, a small amount of headsail and the staysail. Forecast not good. Lots of radio traffic from another yacht near by. He has a coastal vessel near him and is very worried about being run down. A real possibility in these conditions. We go about at 1.30 am and head back towards NZ and discover we are taking water aboard.