Nov 21

Written by:
11/21/2010 11:28 AM 

A few days ago I was sitting at Big Mama’s yacht club in Tonga with the crews of Mooneshine and One Flew Blew. We were all a little nervous about the 1000+ mile crossing to New Zealand. For most of us who sail between 20N and 20S latitude gale force winds are rare occurrences. Now, sailing South to 35S gales are much more likely. We waited for weeks trying to pick the best weather window and thought we had one. Unfortunately, all things, including the weather, change.

I just pulled down some updated weather and I don’t like what I found. Where I was supposed to have light winds I will now be facing a proper gale. On the Beaufort Scale, that’s winds of F9 and F10. Seas reaching up to 5.3 meters. In simple terms, 28 – 42 knots (32 – 50 mph) of wind and seas up to 17 feet.

When I got the forecast my first instinct was to look for safe harbor. Raoul Island is 215 miles to the SE, but I have no information on that island other than a chart. While I might make it before the gale grows to full force, I might not as the winds shift from that direction. Even if I could make it, the chart shows a bottom of rock and gravel. Less than ideal holding for a boat in a gale. There is an old adage that the only safe place for a boat in a storm is at sea. I’ll continue to make what way I can towards my goal of New Zealand, 750 miles away.

I am lucky in the fact I pulled weather when I did. I have almost 24 hours to prepare. Every small item on board Jargo must be stowed before they can be turned into projectiles. As soon as I hit send on this I’ll run my jack lines, ready my safety harness, add extra lashings to the dingy, climb to the spreaders to rig an inner stay for my storm jib, drop the hatch boards in the companion way, make some soups and broths for a soon to be sea sick stomach, and generally get ready for hell.

The anticipation of the storm is far worse than the actual conditions. I’ve seen 40 knots before in squalls, but never sustained. With a double reefed main and storm jib I should be able to handle whatever comes. The jury rigged forestay has held up extremely well and should weather these conditions. I have no doubt about Jargo’s ability to weather this blow. Her work will be coming up, right now it is my job to do everything I can to make her ready.