The Fun Never Ends

The Fun Never Ends

It is a mind-numbing, soul-sucking, spirit-crushing close-hauled thrash to windward against the current, the mixed swell that continually stops us in our tracks, and the wind. The brochure, if memory serves, mentioned none of this.

And we have a 5 more days of it.

If there were any other option, and I mean any, I would have jumped on it. There just isn’t any as our hand has been forced by Tropical Cyclone Herald to the east, a remnant of the sub-tropical high to the south, and intensifying, vigorous lows to the west. Against all conventional wisdom, I am sailing directly towards Herald whose track is considered uncertain by the Joint Hurricane Warning Center in Pearl Harbour. Yet, given the model forecasts, it is the safest, quickest way east.

Safety aside, going anything close to North adds days to the trip and is something that prickles my skin something fierce. I will have to claw all these miles back so it’s a bit of a two-fer. One mile north means one mile back until we get to New Zealand. Which, I must say in all honesty, seems like it’s at the edge of the known universe.

The stove is on gimbals, is therefor level and should give you some idea of what it’s like down below. I’ve got us slowed somewhat to ease the slamming and to reduce the constant shock-loading of the sails and the rig. It also helps reduce the steering effort so the windvane isn’t constantly struggling to pull us back from a dead stop.

Ah yes, there’s nothing like going upwind for days and weeks on end. Out here, the fun just never ends …

Follow my tracks in real-time:
https://bit.ly/svseaburban