On route to Port Vila; Vanuatu
16h30 UTC 12 October
Course: 262°
Distance covered last 24hrs until 23h00 GMT: 81nm
Distance to Suva: 259 nm
Position 18°15' S 172°35' E
All's well on board.
Planning for a trip... well at least looking for the best option for it. We tried our best BUT... Well we have had it all. We were going to leave on the Thursday but a weather system moved down from the north and cancelled that. So being a weekend with a holiday attached on Monday we decided to finally sign out but did not leave as we waited for a better weather window and left on the Sunday. It rained a little on the way out but the evening was pleasant and the wind light until we finally cranked up the diesel sail and motored through to the morning. At eight it all began to change with a northerly wind that would wind up to gale force (force7/35kn). The seas climbed to 3-4m and were very steep and breaking. With wet deck we ploughed on and by three it started to subside and we had a pleasant night doing 2-3 knots in a steady north wind of 5-8kn. Yesterday morning was like glass and later we had some rain squalls (tons of water) with winds from the west... guess which way we are going... but again had a pleasant night. Today it started off with no wind and then we had the wind turn 180deg and blast us from the south at 20kn. And has now settled to a light wind from the ENE. We were hoping to get in on Thursday but it looks like we will be lucky to get there by Friday and it's more likely that we will arrive on Saturday to Port Vila. Some of this weather was on the cards but it has been frustrating trying to point the boat in the right direction and keep it moving. Otherwise life goes on, looking at places still to visit, books to be read and food to be done.... till next time
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