http://www.crew.org.nz/team-vodafone-new-white-island-record/
Team vodafone, New White Island record
We started off Orakei in a light noreaster and slowly made our way out the Motuihue Channel, short tacking up the Rangitoto shore against the tide.
Once clearing Emu point we found a nice 12kts had come in, and just as well because the 50ft monos were looking quite close behind. We beat got out towards Rakino and then the breeze crumped again. Up the rig we saw small pockets of puff on the water but plenty of holes in it.
The majority of the crew spent the time hanging out on the front tramps trying to keep from dragging our arse. While a very patient Casper was on the helm trying to wiggle our way north into a building SW breeze allowing us to get the Genaker on and click along at around 13kts.
Until the NE won out and we were back on the wind. A tack out towards Little Barrier saw us lifting around Channel Island which was not ideal but I don’t think there was much puff in the Firth of Thames so maybe the better of two evils. Eventually making it around Channel Island at 1500 (6 hours for a 35 mile leg :-/ )
Once around we got a tight genaker ride with the car eased in and reached off towards Waikawu Bay getting lifted as we went at times getting along at 20kts, this was a bit more like it!
Once again ole Huey changed his mind and we parked it in a hole off Opito bay, getting in irons and having to back out of it. But we wriggled past Old Man Rock into a nice steady breeze running 130T and sipping on some soup with cabin bread for dinner.
Rod managed to pick up a skip jack tuna on the leward rudder! just T boned it and it got wedged there, we weren’t quite quick enough to grab it for sushimi, as we slowed down to see what it was it managed to swim off, a little dazzed me thinks.
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