Latest from Kialoa II… 10:00 28/12/17

Overnight we had consistent breeze 20-25 knots NNE with cross-current flowing east. We maintained a just under 10 knot average last night with the genoa, trisail, mizzen and mizzen staysail flying.

Good progress made, we managed to close up on some of the clipper fleet having gained 10 or more miles on those well to the east.

Now in 15kts NNE and we have an A5 spinnaker up, trisail, mizzen staysail and mizzen up. We need to be wary of increasing wind strength as we don’t have a main to provide protection if we have to douse the A5.

We have 170nm to Tasman Island and would hope to be there mid-morning Friday however an approaching weak SW change will provide complications as to direction, with lower strength negatively impacting our speed.

Warm and cloudy, crew all well, fed and reasonably dry other than the odd quarter wave which catches some out and adds extra salt to Grunter’s one pot big eat breakfast.

Despite the overcast conditions now we had beautiful first light abeam of Flinders Island at 0500hrs – see image by Dallas Kilponen.

Lisa Ratcliff, OCC

L-R: Tony Hearder, Dave Sawdon, Gen White, Ian Goldsworthy, Jeff Beaton, Matt Souter, George Jackson.