We Made It.

What a last 24 hours, the wind picked up to a strong 30 knots NW with 2 reefs in the main and jib, BWR was flying up to 20 knots boat speed. As the wind started to change to the SW and increase to 37 knots we put in the third reef, by then the sea was getting nasty with very short steep waves. BWR was handling it very well and all we had to do was hang on tight as we approached New Plymouth in the dark. We dropped the jib to slow down a bit and to get our bearings before entering the port. The Port Taranaki Harbour Control put on the main shipping lead lights for us to come in, then had a security car with a flashing light on the wharf to show us where to dock for Customs clearance. We spent the rest of the night tied up to a old fishing boat, then in the morning MAF cleared us. It was still cold and wet when Harley showed us to our mooring and said welcome to bastard harbor. Overall a great crossing of the ditch in what was mostly moderate winds.

Are We There Yet ..... You Betcha!

Arrived@ 2213 AEST Wednesday 24th March 2010. (NZDT 0113 Thursday 25thMarch 2010.)

We had a very wild ride into the Port for the last 24 hrs,it’s cold and bloody wet.

Cleared Customs @ 1330 this morning and we spent the morning rafted up to a fishing boat on Motoura Wharf.

MAF cleared us @ 0825 and we are now on our allocated mooring.

Nm’s Sailed 1,350 Ave= 210.93 nm’s/8.78 knots

Are We There Yet? ....... Not Quite!

As at 2000 AEST Wed 24/03/2010:

Position: 38 55.6’S, 173 37.3’E COG: 70 SOG: 12.9 knots Wind: WSW 30kn
Barometer: 1025 Swell:3.5M Sea Temp:18.2 Cabin Temp:16.9

Day 6 Run:236nm Ave: 216.5 nm @ 9.02 knots DTG:20 nm to New Plymouth Sailing with Triple Reefed Main & Jib

Lots of Rain Squalls, 4 M Swells, Maximum Wind Gust 37 kn BLOODY Cold and Wet.

New Boat Speed Record = 21.3 knots under Double Reefed Main& Jib (SORRY JESS.)

Bruce is having a Radio Interview with John Stokes on CoastFM (ABC Radio) at 6.20 am AEST Thursday 25th March 2010.

Still running on those rails…SURFING.

As at 0821 Wed 24/03/2010:

Position: 38 17.6’S 171 22.7’E COG:94 SOG: 11.7 kn Wind: WNW 25-30 kn
Barometer: 1028 Sea Temp:19.0 Cabin Temp:21.5 DTG: 132 nm from New Plymouth
Sailing with Triple Reefed Main & Jib, Cloudy 45% with Sun Out, Rain Squalls overnight.

Getting There.

The last couple of days we have made great progress towards New Plymouth, the wind has been up and down a bit, but not too bad. It’s been between 10 and 30 knots and the right angle for BWR to sail fast.

We have had some great sailing, nice sunshine blue sky, full sail, down to two reefs and stay sail, speeds up to 19 knots and down to 6 knots. Sunday night we had some cloud and rain move in with a bit of lighting also. By Monday morning the SW change had come in at about 15 knots and wet. Monday night saw the wind drop right out and the great progress has slowed a lot, just hoping the wind gets up today.


SV Big Wave Rider @ Sea

As at 0800 Tue 23/03/2010:

Position: 37 20 S, 167 06 E Wind: 4-6 kn NW Barometer: 1032 Sea: 1.5m
Boat Speed: 6.2kn one motor on.

A nice sunny day, a very calm night.

Big Rail Rider?

As at 2010 Mon 22/03/2010:

Position 36 41.7’S 165 52.4’E COG 100 SOG 12 knots Wind SW 13.5 knots
Barometer 1028 Sea Temp 20 Cabin Temp 19.6

Day 4 Run 225 nm Average 9.29 knots DTG New Plymouth 412 nm
Sailing with Full Main & Jib Clear night ½ Moon and lots of stars

Still sailing on rails like a runaway freight train doing what BWR does best SURFING…….