Passage Time! Maupiti to Niue

I write this as I sit at the helm on my night watch, in between adjusting the autopilot and checking our course on the new disco chart plotter. I say disco as it flashes continuously or works perfectly, but at nights prefers to flash. Lucky none of us have epilepsy or the constant flashing would create a real problem! This is our third night at sea since leaving Maupiti. We started out early Tuesday morning with an exciting exit through the pass at over 6 knots outgoing current and 4 metre standing waves! Once clear of the pass we hoisted the sails and set off on our course for Niue. Our original intent was to stop at the Cook Islands of Atitaki and Palmerston, but as G had concerns about the weather and the comfortability of the anchorages, we wimped out.

The kids tend to doze throughout the day when they are feeling seasick, but by the third day they have better appetites and have stopped sleeping during the day. G has been a champion skipper, doing the navigating, weather routing and helping with the cooking. I've been feeling pretty good but get a bit queasy when I'm inside for too long. I did manage to reheat dinner on the first night, am so glad I pre-cooked meals!

My watch is usually 2000-0200hrs or until I'm too tired. The first night we sailed conservatively with 2 reefs in the main and about 30% of the genoa. Our wind was constant ranging from 18-24knots and the swell 3-4 metres. Last night was a squally night with gusts up to 32 knots on at least 3 occasions. I must say I did a great job helming our wonderful boat. I got rained on and felt cold for the first time since moving on board, then a wave broke over the side and covered me in slightly warmer salty water. I ended up calling G on the vhf to come up around 0200 as I was tired and maybe slightly hypothermic from being wet, and not sure how long the squall was going to last. After a busy 6 hour shift I slept soundly for about 5 hours. I've found it's best to try and have naps during the day so I can stay alert through my night watch. Tonight S did a watch after dinner with G while I had a snooze.

She then stayed at the helm with me til 2200hrs which was lovely, just chatting and hanging out together. It also makes the time go quicker with company. The weather tonight is beautiful with a steady 18-23 knots of wind, an almost full moon and a fairly clear sky.

When I get tired I usually listen to music, or sing out loud and even have a solo dance party. We haven't seen another boat since Tuesday night when Skylark disappeared over the horizon in front of us and Flying Cloud overtook us. We crossed over into Cook island waters this morning so have officially left French Polynesia.

Our passage is going well so far, everyone seems to be in the groove of it now. It took about 3 days to be comfortable with the swell, but I'm still not keen about cooking so will pre-cook meals whenever I can. Mother's Day yesterday was a great day with a slightly foiled breakfast as the bacon fell off the stove and a glass broke above the eggs, ruining the eggs. After G threw the eggs overboard he and J cooked up another batch of bacon with garlic for brekky followed by Oreos! The afternoon was spent at the helm with 7-10 knots of wind, so we moved very slowly. S spent the night watch with me until 2am when we woke G as the wind had picked up to 25 knots. S and I have been chatting the night away and it's made my watches so much more enjoyable, to have the company.

Tonight I stood at the helm and thought about my capabilities. Through this adventure I've discovered I can safely steer our boat and our family cross an ocean or a part of it! I am capable in 60km hour winds and 4 metre seas. Though I still need help to reef the mainsail or adjust the genoa. As I steered our boat over the breaking waves feeling completely confident most of the time while G and the kids all slept soundly below, I relished the fact that I can do it, that I am capable of such an adventure. I also hope our children realise they too, are extremely capable of doing a great many things, and search out their own grand adventure one day.

We have been on passage for 7 nights now and have about 50 nautical miles to go. At about 0900 hours I called out "Land Ho" as Niue came into view on the horizon. We were all very excited as we entered the lee of the island and the ocean swell dropped to less than a metre. We contacted Niue radio and Niue yacht club by VHF and then picked up a mooring ball and awaited customs for clearance.

Time at Sea: 7days 5 hours

Total Distance Sailed: 1139 nautical miles (Its actually about 100nm less to Niue than we sailed, G went chasing the wind....)

Average Speed: 6.6 knots

Next up, Niue!