West of Christchurch, New Zealand 30 March 201 43S59 174E23

When we left Wellington our Spanish neighbors watched us go in dismay. It was as stepping in a ring with a bull at the other end. The bull was cyclone BUNE (pronounced MBU-NAY in Figeon English). We kept an eye on it. The weather forecast predicted a southwest wind of fifteen knots. We got twenty from the E/NE. Therefore the high pressure ridge wasn’t between us and the bull – and we had set sail expecting the bull to charge ahead of us. The next fax projected the beast going between the north island and the Chathams right on our tail. We ran wee wee wee all the way to Akaroa (south of Christchurch). Before we turned into the bay, the night’s forecast showed the beast turning into a beef to the slaughterhouse heading E/SE. We followed and are now heading toward the Chathams. “It’s our second day close-hauled in a tweenty knot breeze” says Logan with his perfect kiwi accent. Margo loves the new dodger she says it’s like going to the carwash (the kind where you get to stay inside the car and watch the bubbles). Tomorrow we should be able to run-in towards the Chathams with a strong southwest breeze delivered fresh from Antarctica. It’s a good thing we bought wool underwear.

Loife is sweeet as bro!

Frank

P.S. Tonight we come back to the other side of the world. Tomorrow will be today, East to the West and still down under.