35:52.811 S  177:54.611 W

22/5/09

15:30

Had a lot of trouble sending the last blog entry. The MPDS connection kept saying it was busy.  It had been given a new dial-up connection.  I restored the old one but it didn’t make any difference. 

I had to resort to Iridium which didn’t want to play either  for the first 4 goes, but eventually did connect, but the routine went on for over an hour.  If it stays like this, I won’t be able to send any pictures whilst en route.

A while ago the generator kicked in but kept stopping.  Steve had to re-set its automatic control.  I’ve spent the afternoon trying to configure the new navigation displays  to my satisfaction and have very nearly succeeded.  The sun continues and so does the SW wind which is carrying us a bit South.  We are trying to avoid poling out which makes the boat very rocky and rolly.  

We haven’t seen a single ship of any description since leaving yesterday.  The only company is a continual parade of stunt Albatrosses (not sure of the plural) soaring and diving around the boat.

20:30

The Wind has dropped and  what little there is, is dead behind, so to stop the sails from flogging all night we decide to motor. There is stronger wind ahead of us.  Anthony, our  weather router has promised a briefing in a few hours. He couldn’t send one yesterday as promised as he was in the Kiel Canal and couldn’t get a signal.  He did get our position as of noon today. I think we’ll motor until we hear from him. At least we’ll make a better course for a few hours.

Sill no MPDS but the Iridium seems to be working.

Jon has distinguished himself by being practically the  first new crew member to remain vertical during his first few days on the boat. Must be the New England upbringing.

23/5/09  07:00

Well we certainly caught up with the wind or it caught up with us.  By 3AM we were sailing again in  a Southerly Force 6 which has backed to SSW 6/7.  We are doing over  9 knots as I write.  The Wind is behind the beam and the sea is up a bit.  Not much of a dawn this morning with too many big clouds on the horizon. A squall had been shadowing us but has passed in front, so we’re still dry.

Anthony did send a briefing and I enclose same in case anyone’s interested:

“At the moment the conventional route looks to be favoured.

Current situation and synoptic outlook

So far, the weather patterns have behaved as previously predicted. There is an area of low pressure to the east of you (moved from north of New Zealand) and high pressure to the south west with a ridge extending north east. There is a convective area which appears to be organising itself into a shallow low presently around 20S 164E. There is poor certainty regarding the future movement of this area, but it is possible that the high pressure will allow it to move south east in which case it would be on your track from 25th. The precipitation forecast (on the northwest of this low) suggests 40 to 50 knots in the frontal system.

After 25th the low is expected to continue moving south slowly to be at 36S 171W on 27th from which time it is expected to move east.

Routing

There are three options, rhumb line, north and east. Rhumb line puts you in the middle of this low which, despite being shallow, will give you strong winds in the frontal areas with lots of electrical activity. I certainly hate being near lightning and would not recommend this strategy although it does have the advantage of having the shortest time. The eastern strategy will give you headwinds for about 24 hours on the 26th whilst the low passes south to the west of you. The northern strategy is probably the most attractive option in the context of achieving downwind sailing during the passage, but it will put you into a convective area with heavy squall activity from 24th to 26th.

On balance, the eastern strategy is the one I would choose. This would mean heading for 36S 170W to be there by 1900 UTC on 24th. If you arrive there earlier, getting further east would be an advantage.

Wind forecast

On the recommended route the wind will be SW F4-5 occasionally 6 through to 2400 on 24th. Then you will have a period of very light winds with E winds filling in, building and backing to be NE F5 by 2400 25th. The wind will continue to back thereafter as the low moves south to give W F4 from 26th.

If you prefer to look at the north option, please let me know and I will detail a forecast for that.

I will monitor the low over the next few days and send you a further briefing on 24th.”

We are following the “eastern strategy,” although not too slavishly as we want to keep up boat speed.

12:00

We’ve had quite a bit of wind this morning. SW7/8 but now it’s settled in to a more moderate SW 6.