Reading

I’m starting to wonder if cruising guides are a good thing. I’ve been studying Charlie’s charts, Cornell’s books, South Pacific anchorages, Landfalls of Paradise, and the Pacific crossing guide. My head is starting to spin! These are all good guides but everyone seems to have different opinions about things and I think it’s time to start listening to the little voice inside my head. Not the voice telling me to wear women’s clothes, the other one, just kidding!

Rarotonga in the southern Cook Islands is about a weeks sail to the WSW. Once I get everything together Rarotonga seems like a good option unless the wind clocks back to the South and I might head for Somoa. I really don’t like sailing to weather.

All the locals agree the wind is a bit strong this season which coincides with the “La Nina” effect this year. If anyone is a weather expert out there I’d like to talk to you. I’d like to know how La Nina will affect the westerly gales coming from Australia for a passage to New Zealand. I know La Nina usually brings low pressure in the west and high pressure in the east, and there is less likelihood of tropical storms moving east, but I want to know the affects in the South-western Pacific. Everyone tells me to expect at least one 2-3 day gale on a passage from Tonga to New Zealand. I just met a guy who came here from New Zealand who cracked his hull (wood). He had 3 days of sustained 60 and said the trip was “Bloody awful”! There are a few things I’d do before heading that far south. I’d have to rig and get my storm tri-sail in order along with my series drogue. My drogue is buried deep in a lazerette, I’d like it ready to go. Tonga is not the best departure point for New Zealand, it is a bit east. Fiji is better but New Caledonia seems to be the favorite departure point. Westing is a good idea on the passage especially if one needs so hive-to for the length of a gale or two.

I don’t like when I get into my “analytical mode”, “let come what may” is a lot less stressful, it’s better to just go with it if you know what I mean.

Today I need to go shopping for parts to fix my radar. I also need to find a piece of plywood to make a new dinghy floor.

This is a picture I took last week at the spear-throwing competition, I like it.

Cheers everyone.

Peace, Love, and Polynesia.

– Alex