New Zealand - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 353

Until it got complicated, that is. That lurking tropical depression surprised everyone by
taking its own good time to materialize. Instead of being swept away in front of an east-
bound high, the cheeky thing slipped in behind the high and suddenly stood directly over
our route. While some crews plowed straight on (eventually reporting sustained fifty knot
winds and heavy seas), most detoured west to skirt the edge of this low. A stopover in
Minerva Reef was no longer an option, so we steered Namani on a new heading of 330° to
avoid the worst. Even with a detour that took us as far west as 173°02 E, we hit forty knot
winds and rough seas. Happily, both came from behind and the boat rode it out well, even
if our stomachs didn't. For forty-eight hours, we subsisted entirely on pretzels and granola
bars and simply hung on. Namani made a solid five and six knots, even when we struck
the main and genoa to sail under our “baby” staysail - a pitifully small scrap of canvas we
were sure we would never, ever have to use. We were repeatedly soaked by slapping
waves, and many crews bailed swamped cockpits after being pooped by following seas.
All the while, sea birds soared overhead, then swooped through deepest troughs of short-
period waves, just a walk in the park as far as they were concerned. For us, it was an un-
pleasant two days that ultimately gave us more confidence in our vessel and ourselves, if
not in interpreting apparently “stable” weather systems - especially those fickle tropical
depressions! As the wind gradually abated, we headed back to the east. Nature gave us a
day off, with wind dropping to below five knots and seas rapidly easing.