October 30, 2007 - New Zealand Run, Day 7

It is like the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner around here. An albatross has been hanging around Mata'irea for 36 hours now. The boat is also the rimiest it has ever been. There is a thick coating of salt over everything on deck from the spume that has been circulating into the cockpit for the last several days. Every handhold feels like a car door handle in the Northeast in January. It is like floating around on a giant pretzel.

Overnight the wind backed and promptly died. We raised the main again, and are now making about 6 knots in 10 knots of breeze. We should arrive in Opua tomorrow morning. It is wicked cold. I'm wearing lots of fleece, including a hat - with ear flaps. The worst moment of this passage for me was when I realized that my fuzzy hat didn't fit over the headphones we use to listen to DVD's on watch. Even Sten has finally accepted defeat and put on long pants. The water temperature is 65 degrees - our refrigeration system has never been so happy. The cabin temp is 57 degrees. We decommissioned Mata'irea's air conditioning during our refit, and we've never missed it. However, an Espar heater is looking more and more attractive.

It will be at least six months before our next sunset at sea

We are pretty excited about the Red Sox World Series victory, but we are also a bit disappointed. We had been hoping to get to New Zealand in time for the last game. The whole series was played while we have been on this passage. Come on guys, couldn't you have thrown a game or two?