Location: 40° 20S, 171° 26E
Sunday 12:00, 05.06.2007

The Schooner Maggie B was at 40° 20S, 171° 26E at noon on May 6th. We were under power, making turns for 6 knots, so as to arrive at Nelson at 0800, as arranged for with NZ Customs. The wind was 3-5 knots from the west and the skies clear. We have come 1131 NM from Hobart and have about 120 to go to Nelson.

We are drying out gear, enjoying the sun and having a lovely lunch in the cockpit. We need to eat up all our fresh provisions as NZ Quarantine will seize everything.

Right after lunch we had the huge pleasure to see our first Snowy Albatross — an adult with a wingspan of at least two meters!

We then heard the NZ weather report, which changed everything. It is hard to listen to weather reports in a new area because one generally doesn’t know the demarcations: “From Cape Seggatiania to Port Whammationial, the wind will be….” But we did hear clearly that “Cook” will have a gale to 45 knots tonight. While technically we are entering Tasman Bay when we round Cape Farewell (and pass Farewell Spit, where we will spit), Cook Passage is just around the corner. At 1500, when I’m writing this, the barometer has fallen three millibar’s since noon, though just from 1018 to 1015. We don’t need any more clues. The engine is now to full cruising speed, and if we arrive Nelson early for Customs, we’ll just sort it out.

Tasman Bay, with Nelson at the bottom faces North. Not a nice place to be in a Northerly gale, but Nelson harbor should be the best harbor of refuge around as the entrance is north/south, closing to 200 meters, then with a dogleg to the West, where one is immediately protected by “Boulder Bank” with lots of room behind it to anchor, if no suitable quays are available. Should be “interesting.” ETA at Nelson is 0400 at this speed.

All is well.