Day 72 Optimistic 12/11/13

Position: 45.10 S, 157.41 E

I’ve been on deck for an hour this morning. The wind has come around to the north east and torn away the quilted grey clouds that covered us for  the past two days. It has left a sky still grey but a little stronger in character and the wind is picking up. After an hour on deck my hands are numb, cold and wet.

I came down below closing the hatch tight behind me and found my fingers could not turn the igniter on the stove so had to resort to a pair of pliers. It seems the only way to get the fingers warm is to to use the arm pits or deep in my fleece pockets. The winds over the past few days have been very good and we are closing in on Tasmania very quickly. I was kept company on deck this morning by a very small black petrel about the size of a Centennial Square pigeon only more delicate. He flitted about with one long black webbed foot touching the water as if he was checking the temperature before he jumped in. I did not see him jump in but his flitting motion caught me eye while I was on deck lowering the pole and raising the main. He was my lone feathered friend this grey blustery morning and it is always nice to have company even if (s)he was doing a weird dance. 

My sails are set for the wind at hand and if all goes well I will not have to go back on deck for a few hours so I will enjoy my hand warming hot chocolate and make some oats. I keep trying the phone and keep getting the lady with the message.

The feeling I have today is very optimistic as we are making good time with the wind behind the beam for three days in a row. I have not seen the sun for three days and down below is clammy, my feet and socks have been damp for a week. I said goodbye to Meri at Bluff Fisherman’s radio last night and thanked her for being there over the past few weeks. I had another wonderful sked with Barry and Alek last night at 10 pm my time. I’m looking forward to talking with them as I get closer. I’m changing my evening sked to 8:00 UTC as this will consolidate the evening use of the radio and save me power. I am still using the phone but to no avail as yet. My elbow has settled right down these last few days. I will check the dressing a little later. I had my first bag of low sodium chips in the middle of the night last night. I was worried they may have spoiled but they were great. I am juggling the volts these days so will send this off now while I have some volts to spare. 

Course 278 Speed 6 kts Wind N 15 kts Waves N 1.5 m Cloud 100% Temp 10 C Baro 1028 Miles in last 24 hrs: 145 nm