Leaving Norfolk Island

Moody Norfolk

A slow start, with some make & mend, ready for the final sprint to the finish: 500 nm from Norfolk Island to Opua, our arrival port for CIQ in New Zealand. That's 500 nm straight line, of course - probably well over 600 nm in the forecast strong E'ly and associated lumpy seas.

First some sail repair, though, as our trusty UK Sails Tapedrive Genoa had again developed tears. After a re-cut by Barry Hayes' team back in Hong Hong last August (while Harlequin was in Cairns), where they removed the roach entirely to extend its life as a basic cruising sail, we've covered about 2,000 nm in 6 months of Tropical sailing. And that's with a 5-year old sail!

This 155% Tapedrive still holds an excellent shape, especially when reefed (which is why we still use it as our primary headsail), and after 5 years of racing and cruising, owes us very little.

Just needing a few patches of sticky-back Dacron here and there, where the Mylar is delaminating. We'll hopefully get another summer and 2,000 nm out of her yet!

NI to NZ

Anchor a-weigh at 1030 on Fri, 8 Feb. Again with difficulty, with that blasted windlass acting up again - always when you have max scope out. Then double-reefed main and triple-reefed Genoa for the 25-30 Kt E'ly as we cleared Philip Island. Course about 165 degs (45 apparent), making 7.5 kts to the south for lighter conditions. Wet work!




And so it went for over 36 hours, as we fell back into routine, hardening up gradually to 35 apparent as the winds dropped to 100/17 kts. A gradual header, leading to our first tack at 0130 on Sun, 11 Feb.

Sunday saw us shaking out the reefs, swapping oilies for suntan lotion (always a rewarding part of a crossing) and setting the fishing lines. Again a day of rest, so a couple of beers allowed. Also a clock change that night, from 0315 to 0515 NZ time. A thrilling moment, strangely - implying "we're almost there"!

As if the wind gods overheard the small celebration, the breeze immediately dropped to a zephyr. Engine on (we needed some charging anyway - ain't that always the excuse?) and we could now point straight at North Cape.
Passing the Three Kings Islands at about midday on Mon, 11 Feb we landed the first Tuna. Heaved to in order to land the monster (at least Phil played it as such), the baking sun became too much for the crew.

Three Kings tuna

Man overboard!

Not for long though, as someone (who shall remain nameless) decided to - how shall we put this - squeeze one off from the boarding ladder, and everyone else was back on board in a trice!

    A very refreshing swim though. If brief...