Monday 21st November
We have spent a few days at Arkles Bay, walking the beach and going to the shops. The weather is going to change again as another storm approaches, so we set sail for Motutapu and a more sheltered bay.
We started with 8kts of wind, hardly enough to move us. With full main and 140% headsail we reached 4.5kts , but it wasn’t long before the wind started moving us off course. We took down the headsail and were able to get back on course with the main swung right out. Approaching the shipping channel Andrew saw the 12kts of wind dropped to 6.
Suddenly it hit us like a freight train. The wind swung around to Starboard and went from 6kts to 28knots in a matter of seconds. The main did an accidental jibe in the high wind. Luckily the boom brake was on and slowed the boom down, but wasn’t on hard enough to stop it. The violent swing of the boom snapped the 6mm bolt on the vang pulley.
The high wind on the full main pointed Imagine towards a cargo boat. Andrew pointed Imagine into the wind and we centered the main, then turned her back downwind away from the cargo boat. With Imagine running almost directly downwind we ran at 6kts till the wind finally dropped back to 10kts.
By this time we were rounding the point of Motutapu we turned on the motor and headed to Home bay where we have anchored for the night.
Note to self, don’t leave sausages outside defrosting when there are hungry seagulls around!
We have spent a few days at Arkles Bay, walking the beach and going to the shops. The weather is going to change again as another storm approaches, so we set sail for Motutapu and a more sheltered bay.
We started with 8kts of wind, hardly enough to move us. With full main and 140% headsail we reached 4.5kts , but it wasn’t long before the wind started moving us off course. We took down the headsail and were able to get back on course with the main swung right out. Approaching the shipping channel Andrew saw the 12kts of wind dropped to 6.
Suddenly it hit us like a freight train. The wind swung around to Starboard and went from 6kts to 28knots in a matter of seconds. The main did an accidental jibe in the high wind. Luckily the boom brake was on and slowed the boom down, but wasn’t on hard enough to stop it. The violent swing of the boom snapped the 6mm bolt on the vang pulley.
The high wind on the full main pointed Imagine towards a cargo boat. Andrew pointed Imagine into the wind and we centered the main, then turned her back downwind away from the cargo boat. With Imagine running almost directly downwind we ran at 6kts till the wind finally dropped back to 10kts.
By this time we were rounding the point of Motutapu we turned on the motor and headed to Home bay where we have anchored for the night.
Note to self, don’t leave sausages outside defrosting when there are hungry seagulls around!
