Day 6 at sea heading for Whangarei NZ from Niue on board FGT Fri 24rd September 2010 Noon Position Lat 28-05S Long 177-20W 610 Cape Petrel miles to Whangarei NZ Trip log 22462 at Noon today Days run 160nm – but only 151 good to NZ Wind 15-22 knots South-West. Then South and then S-SE from in front to onthe side – nice thanks to our weather guru Boat speed av 6.0 knots. Av boat direction 210 Barometer 1024.5 high = Easterlies – that’s what we want. Sails – was #4 reef in main , jib #2, midnight Jib2 and #2 reef in main – started trucking cloud cover varies 40 -80% Air temp 25C water temp 25C Really bright full moon. Things seen – Juv Wandering Albatross ( Naughty Girl) lots of Cape Petrels and one all black – petrel looking, no whales,one mahi-mahi – that’s what happens when you put the line out ( orange spoon lure)
Greetings from the less stormy South Pacific Ocean, Yesterday afternoon we were licking our wounds , bemoaning our fate, and generally hoping the worst of the weather had passed by. Still bouncy but pretty much it has but one small carp – being hard on the wind (or close to it) makes it difficult to function properly on board – the Sm keeps wacking his head on furniture – should get off the floor perhaps?? Not to worry – after a while it becomes kind of silly – look Sm – get out of your bunk and do something – what would you like given an open choice – muffins – yea – of course – so its out with the muffin mix and in quick time the blueberry mufflers were baked and cooling in the cockpit along with the hot chocky, then MtM -Martin the Marvellous – produced sweet rice – which was wolfed down by all crew so now things are picking up and the watches about to start as the Sm popped on Beyonce singing Naughty Girl – so those paying attention know we saw an albatross cruising smoothly past the FGT – hence the name of our first albatross – this morning MtM named an adult Albatross ‘Big Momma’ because of its size and 2m wingspan. – could watch these birds for ages – so graceful and they cast their eyes on you occasionally. Where ever albies cruise so do the petrels – lots of them. Now for the really big news – protein city – Michael hooked up a 4kg mahi-mahi. Jason claims to have ordered fish and chips for lunch ‘ see how it works guys – if you are behaving yourself sometimes you get what you wish for!!’ Allright hook to cook 1 hour – MM made the chips, the Sm hovered about, Jason preparing shasimi, and frying the fish, a real team effort. We congratulated ourselves around the table – all was well with the world – good and plentiful food – sun peeking out now and then, storm mostly blown by, and everyone feeling somewhat better. However we know the mark of wellness is the thirst for a beer which is sadly lacking still. All in all a pretty good fish and fowl day. Should be passing by Raoul early tomorrow – Saturday NZtime. Thanks to Karen for her words of support ‘a little rough should toughen up you softies’ – now that’s real ANZAC speak.
Cheers from the four post combatant sailors on the FGT
Greetings from the less stormy South Pacific Ocean, Yesterday afternoon we were licking our wounds , bemoaning our fate, and generally hoping the worst of the weather had passed by. Still bouncy but pretty much it has but one small carp – being hard on the wind (or close to it) makes it difficult to function properly on board – the Sm keeps wacking his head on furniture – should get off the floor perhaps?? Not to worry – after a while it becomes kind of silly – look Sm – get out of your bunk and do something – what would you like given an open choice – muffins – yea – of course – so its out with the muffin mix and in quick time the blueberry mufflers were baked and cooling in the cockpit along with the hot chocky, then MtM -Martin the Marvellous – produced sweet rice – which was wolfed down by all crew so now things are picking up and the watches about to start as the Sm popped on Beyonce singing Naughty Girl – so those paying attention know we saw an albatross cruising smoothly past the FGT – hence the name of our first albatross – this morning MtM named an adult Albatross ‘Big Momma’ because of its size and 2m wingspan. – could watch these birds for ages – so graceful and they cast their eyes on you occasionally. Where ever albies cruise so do the petrels – lots of them. Now for the really big news – protein city – Michael hooked up a 4kg mahi-mahi. Jason claims to have ordered fish and chips for lunch ‘ see how it works guys – if you are behaving yourself sometimes you get what you wish for!!’ Allright hook to cook 1 hour – MM made the chips, the Sm hovered about, Jason preparing shasimi, and frying the fish, a real team effort. We congratulated ourselves around the table – all was well with the world – good and plentiful food – sun peeking out now and then, storm mostly blown by, and everyone feeling somewhat better. However we know the mark of wellness is the thirst for a beer which is sadly lacking still. All in all a pretty good fish and fowl day. Should be passing by Raoul early tomorrow – Saturday NZtime. Thanks to Karen for her words of support ‘a little rough should toughen up you softies’ – now that’s real ANZAC speak.
Cheers from the four post combatant sailors on the FGT
