Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tion of the boat's rig now from sloop to cutter. I stand on deck between the two headsails
and feel the strong draft of air through the narrow corridor of sails.
Barometer high, up to 1018 mb. I expect the wind to drop off as I head farther north and
have adjusted my course to southeast, hoping to avoid the suspected high on my previous
course.
21
st
Mar: Now this is what I call a perfect day at sea! Course one hundred and twenty de-
grees mag. Winds a fresh ten to fifteen knots, seas flattish except for a large but easy swell.
A gorgeous, clear blue sky with the usual cotton wool clouds, jewels sparkling on the sea, a
crisp, bracing freshness about. Opened the ports to let the good air through the boat, hope
it will chase out the negative demons.
The guitar is out, Bo Jangles is in, and yesterday's bread was good! Today's dried beans
are disintegrating according to plan in the pot in the sun, and I received sixty free miles
towards New Zealand on today's fix; what more could a man ask for?
The staysail is pulling along well too and is giving us a good lift upwind I think. I risk sit-
ting out along the bowsprit in the sun. My feet trail through the chilly purple water; my
safety harness is on and clipped to the forestay. I proudly look back at her sweet lines and
the cut of her shapely full sails. She is like a woman, shapely skirts aflutter in the breeze.
22
nd
- 23
rd
Mar: Strong northeaster now which gave good mileage in the right direction.
Today the wind started off at fifteen knots and is now twenty-five knots northeast. I find I
am just off the northwest coast of New Zealand below the Three Kings Islands which I am
trying to pass. Of course, the bloody wind is now a very strong headwind, and I am crash-
ing and lurching through it. Poor Déjà vu is taking a pounding as she rides up a huge wave
and is smashed down into the resulting trough, her mast shaking violently from the force.
God, I get sick of sailing. I really must get off for a while.
24
th
- 26
th
Mar: Bad northeast storm in Tasman Sea. What can I say? I have been fighting
my way through the channel between the north coast of New Zealand and the Three Kings
Islands in forty knots of wind for two days now. Grim sailing, especially to windward. Déjà
vu is taking a mighty pounding. Seas very rough due to the channel between the land mass
and the island chain. Wave action is always worse in these confines as they are reflected
and refracted against the two solid bodies.
Tried all day and all night of the 24
th
to get through the channel, but by morning the wind
was too strong with rain and squalls, just no way.
