47 Deg 82 Min North
125 Deg 19 Min West
Mistress is 125 miles from the Strait of Jun de Fuca and believe they will arrive in Victoria Monday
afternoon.
The weather is warmer for the crew and they have eaten the last of the prepared meals made for them
in Waikiki.
Creative cooking skills will be called upon to make meals with all the endless packaged and tin
food on board. They are all really lucky to have Nicole on board as she bakes fresh bread, cookies,
scones etc.
Mistress is only days away from her final destination, the crew is in great spirits.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Friday, June 27, 2014
MISTRESS UPDATE 27/06/14
47 Deg 19 Minutes North
37 Deg 24 Minutes West
Mistress is 459 miles from Cape Flattery and is experiencing strong 35 knot winds behind her which is making for a slower time. They are hoping for the winds to come more from the west and then it will
allow for an easier and quicker sail.
The crew is dining on pasta as that is the easiest meal considering the winds and they are all
warm down below but it is cool on deck and rather wet.
The crew would appreciate some warmer weather - the heat of Waikiki feels like a dream.
Rob is still hopeful their arrival time may be as early as Monday but he will keep us posted.
The crew is all great but looking forward to a change in the wind and weather.
37 Deg 24 Minutes West
Mistress is 459 miles from Cape Flattery and is experiencing strong 35 knot winds behind her which is making for a slower time. They are hoping for the winds to come more from the west and then it will
allow for an easier and quicker sail.
The crew is dining on pasta as that is the easiest meal considering the winds and they are all
warm down below but it is cool on deck and rather wet.
The crew would appreciate some warmer weather - the heat of Waikiki feels like a dream.
Rob is still hopeful their arrival time may be as early as Monday but he will keep us posted.
The crew is all great but looking forward to a change in the wind and weather.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
MISTRESS UPDATE 26/6/14
We are still covered in warm weather gear but the wind has finally found us again, and it looks like we may be in as early as July 1st all being equal.
As of June 24th
45 deg 15 min North
145 deg 19 min West
We are 800 miles from Cape Flattery.
The crew was happy to hear some world cup soccer scores.
Dinners continue to be a feature of the evening and each cook has put their creative
touch to the meals.
Looking forward to warmer weather, showers and sports TV.
The crew are all going well.
.
As of June 24th
45 deg 15 min North
145 deg 19 min West
We are 800 miles from Cape Flattery.
The crew was happy to hear some world cup soccer scores.
Dinners continue to be a feature of the evening and each cook has put their creative
touch to the meals.
Looking forward to warmer weather, showers and sports TV.
The crew are all going well.
.
Monday, June 23, 2014
MISTRESS UPDATE 24/6/14
Mistress is going well but they are wishing for some wind as they have hit a windless patch. They are all asking you to send them some breeze.
42 degrees 54 minutes north
152 degrees 37 minues west
Mistress is now 1200 miles from the entrance to Jun de Fuca Strait.
The crew is all well and Dylan made a fabulous dinner last night.
They celebrated summer solstice with party hats made of navigational maps
no longer required, great food which included the last savoured bit of Ben and
Jerrys icecream and a celebratory drink.
The warm weather gear is all on as they have hit the cooler weather.
It is hopeful they will arrive in Victoria on July 1st or 2nd.
Cheers Mistress
42 degrees 54 minutes north
152 degrees 37 minues west
Mistress is now 1200 miles from the entrance to Jun de Fuca Strait.
The crew is all well and Dylan made a fabulous dinner last night.
They celebrated summer solstice with party hats made of navigational maps
no longer required, great food which included the last savoured bit of Ben and
Jerrys icecream and a celebratory drink.
The warm weather gear is all on as they have hit the cooler weather.
It is hopeful they will arrive in Victoria on July 1st or 2nd.
Cheers Mistress
Saturday, June 21, 2014
MISTRESS UPDATE 21/6/14
39 Degrees 10 mins N
167 degrees 56 min W
They are 1500 miles from the Strait of Juan de Fuca
After sailing 32 days from Auckland, Mistress is now on Port tack.
The crew happy but frustrated to not know how the World Cup Soccer positions sit, not to mention the NMBA. We will work to find the stats for them for Sunday when Rob makes contact again.
The menu tonight is pasta with meat sauce and parmesan possible a sip of wine or beer.
They have all watched the Games of Thrones and do not know the last episode of the
first series and I think once off the boat it will be a must be for the crew to find out.
It is safe to say all is good, the seas and wind are in favour of Mistress and crew and we
will all be there to welcome them home in a matter of days.
167 degrees 56 min W
They are 1500 miles from the Strait of Juan de Fuca
After sailing 32 days from Auckland, Mistress is now on Port tack.
The crew happy but frustrated to not know how the World Cup Soccer positions sit, not to mention the NMBA. We will work to find the stats for them for Sunday when Rob makes contact again.
The menu tonight is pasta with meat sauce and parmesan possible a sip of wine or beer.
They have all watched the Games of Thrones and do not know the last episode of the
first series and I think once off the boat it will be a must be for the crew to find out.
It is safe to say all is good, the seas and wind are in favour of Mistress and crew and we
will all be there to welcome them home in a matter of days.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
MISTRESS UPDATE19/6/14
Mistress continues to struggle with communication with the sats phone.
34 degree 21 minutes North
158 degree 07 minutes West
Mistress is sailing into the North Pacific High
They are motor sailing due North.
Yesterday sailed 201 miles
Today 175 miles
They are experiencing flat calm seas and sunny skies but the warmer weather gear is now being
modelled.
The crew are all in good spirits,
Rob in charge of making dinner. Looks like it is chicken florentine
34 degree 21 minutes North
158 degree 07 minutes West
Mistress is sailing into the North Pacific High
They are motor sailing due North.
Yesterday sailed 201 miles
Today 175 miles
They are experiencing flat calm seas and sunny skies but the warmer weather gear is now being
modelled.
The crew are all in good spirits,
Rob in charge of making dinner. Looks like it is chicken florentine
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
MISTRESS UPDATE 18/06/14
28 deg 08 min North
158 deg 05 W
Sailing due north
Sailed 400 nm
Caught 3 Mahi
158 deg 05 W
Sailing due north
Sailed 400 nm
Caught 3 Mahi
Saturday, June 14, 2014
THE MOON IS OUR FRIEND
The Moon is our
Friend!
Sailors can
be a superstitious lot….don’t sail with bananas……don’t sail with women…..don’t
leave port on a Friday….and certainly not on Friday the 13th…..
Not that we
are falling into the realm of old sailors tales…..but we are now ready to set
sail for Canada…..crew has settled in, the boat is provisioned, fueled and
water….all we have to do is cast off…..
Of course we
don’t want to be inhospitable to our hosts the Hawaii Yacht Club and their
regular Friday night racing and BBQ……so we will do the right thing and enjoy
the evening food and drink and set sail at first light in the morning….Saturday
the 14th!
Waikiki has been a great pit stop. Alex has surfed the
local break…”Bowls”…..Nicci has found the Waikiki beach strip’s best Mai
Tai…..and Skip has caught up on his sleep……
Mistress has had another crew change for the final sprint
north around the Pacific High and easing of sheets into the Strait of Juan de
Fuca….more than three years after leaving in April of 2011…..Milllsy; Skip’s
constant number two has flown back to New Zealand to resume land based work and
family duties…..Alex and Nicci continue to shine as the old hand’s of this
voyage even at the tender age of 24 and 27 respectfully…. Joining the boat are
Dylan Sydneysmith; a veteran of Mistress’s inaugural voyage from San Diego to
San Francisco and his McGill University friend Hector Haynes from Gibraltar….
So Skip has four twenty something crew….. to share the
adventure and pure exhilaration of sailing Mistress to her final destination….
It will be a great sail…..we depart on virtually a full
moon, which will be our friend and help ease us back into the beauty and
serenity of night time sailing….
Stay tuned and we will update you as best we can over the
next couple of weeks.
Aloha!
The Mistress Crew
Sunday, June 1, 2014
TWO DOWN ONE TO GO
Two Down….One to Go!
Thirty days
after departing Auckland, Mistress is now tied safely to the dock at the Hawaii
Yacht Club, Honolulu…..looking like she simply went for an afternoon sail in
the Hauraki Gulf as opposed to the almost 5000 miles of water that has slipped
under her keel….
The passage
from Papeete was right out of the brochure….warm winds and water, plenty of
breeze for the most part, and some great Trade Wind reaching sailing….The crew
of Millsy, Nicci, Alex and myself evolved further into an even better team,
sharing the sailing and shipboard duties. It has been challenging at times….but
certainly rewarding for all of us.
Having spent
virtually 27 days sailing on starboard tack (we did have a couple of hours in
the lee of the Big Island of Hawaii when we did tack out to sea to find more
breeze!), life aboard will feel strange when we finally spend some time on port
tack. The joke aboard is that with our new North’s mainsail we could advertise
to sell the sail once back in Vancouver that it “had only been used once for a
7500nm passage and never been tacked!”
So the
Mistress Crew is now enjoying life ashore once more. The contrast from the
beauty and solitude of the tropical Pacific Ocean to the concrete jungle and
crowds of Waikiki Beach is immense…..for the moment though the change is
good….. friendly fellow boaties and staff at the wonderful Hawaii Yacht
Club….great shore based fresh water showers, Cheese Burgers In Paradise…..and
cheap cold beer! I don’t doubt that in a few days we will start casting our
mind to life at sea once more and the preparation for the final hurdle…..the
last leg to Vancouver…..
Aloha!
The Mistress Crew
Friday, May 30, 2014
30/05/14 POSITION
17 DEG 58 MINUTES NORTH
155 DEG 20MINUTES WEST
SAILING 200 NM A DAY
SHOULD BE AT WAIKIKI TOMORROW
REGARDS
CHRISTINE
155 DEG 20MINUTES WEST
SAILING 200 NM A DAY
SHOULD BE AT WAIKIKI TOMORROW
REGARDS
CHRISTINE
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
28/04/14 5AM POSITIONN
12 Degrees, 46 minutes north Lat.
151 Degree, 15 minutes north Long.
600 nm from Honolulu
There best ever 24 hours sailed 203 miles.
There have been satellite problems that is why the blog has not been updated.
Crew all good
regards christine
NZ
151 Degree, 15 minutes north Long.
600 nm from Honolulu
There best ever 24 hours sailed 203 miles.
There have been satellite problems that is why the blog has not been updated.
Crew all good
regards christine
NZ
Saturday, May 24, 2014
24/05/14 NOON POSITION
5 deg56'N/146deg 50'W
Now 1100 NM to Honolulu.
Tough past 24 as Mistress worked through Doldrum minefield of no wind and squalls.
Broke through into NE trades of 15Kts @ 1000 this morning and now rhumblining to Hawaii.
Crew almost finished season 1 of Blacklist, ration of 1 episode per day.
MC
Now 1100 NM to Honolulu.
Tough past 24 as Mistress worked through Doldrum minefield of no wind and squalls.
Broke through into NE trades of 15Kts @ 1000 this morning and now rhumblining to Hawaii.
Crew almost finished season 1 of Blacklist, ration of 1 episode per day.
MC
Friday, May 23, 2014
22/05/14 NOON POSITION
0Deg 33'N/146deg 5 9'W
24 Hr run 177NM
Mistress sailed across the equator this morning and we celebrated with initiations
for first time shellbacks and champagne.
Skipper handed out clean sheets to all which was the best news since Papeete
SE Trades still blowing fresh making great sailing
MC
24 Hr run 177NM
Mistress sailed across the equator this morning and we celebrated with initiations
for first time shellbacks and champagne.
Skipper handed out clean sheets to all which was the best news since Papeete
SE Trades still blowing fresh making great sailing
MC
Thursday, May 22, 2014
21/5/14 NOON POSITION
2 deg 20'S/147 deg 0 2'W
24 hr run 183nm
We cross the equator at first light -
new crew are justified to be nervous,
Wonderful sailing conditions albeit very hot above and below decks.
It will be good to be back in Northern hemisphere almost 3 years to the day when we crossed South bound.
Cheers MC
24 hr run 183nm
We cross the equator at first light -
new crew are justified to be nervous,
Wonderful sailing conditions albeit very hot above and below decks.
It will be good to be back in Northern hemisphere almost 3 years to the day when we crossed South bound.
Cheers MC
20/5/14 NOON POSITION
5 DEG19's/147deg 2 1'W
24 hr run 185nm
Trades have eased to 12 - 15kts from E- smooth seas and almost dry decks.
Millsy made a great chicken past salad tonight, washed down wtih a chilled NZ Chardonnay
bumer icecream all gone - life can be tough on the high seas.
Cheers MC
24 hr run 185nm
Trades have eased to 12 - 15kts from E- smooth seas and almost dry decks.
Millsy made a great chicken past salad tonight, washed down wtih a chilled NZ Chardonnay
bumer icecream all gone - life can be tough on the high seas.
Cheers MC
Monday, May 19, 2014
19/05/2014 NOON POSITON
8deg 22'S/147 deg4 6'W
24 hr run 197nm
Should cross the equator thursday morning.
I asked the two newbie crew in Papeete to Google what a Shellback was -
didnt do it
King Neptune will not be happy
Stars tonight are unbelievable
Big Dipper is visible in the north sky - still no Polaris
Cheers
MC
24 hr run 197nm
Should cross the equator thursday morning.
I asked the two newbie crew in Papeete to Google what a Shellback was -
didnt do it
King Neptune will not be happy
Stars tonight are unbelievable
Big Dipper is visible in the north sky - still no Polaris
Cheers
MC
18/5//2014 NOON POSITION
11deg 34'S/148deg 16'W
24 hr run 199nm
Trades still SE 20kts
still no fish, new lures are not delivering.
Crew into Season 1 of Blacklist
Cheers
MC
24 hr run 199nm
Trades still SE 20kts
still no fish, new lures are not delivering.
Crew into Season 1 of Blacklist
Cheers
MC
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
GREAT TRADE WINDS
First 24 hrs out of Papeete
has seen a continuation of great Trade Wind sailing in 20 -25kts out of SE as we head slightly
E of N .
Noon today 14deg 46'S/148deg 57'W.
Wet on deck and very hot below (30deg)
Icecream already gone,
Everyone is happy aboard at sea again.
MC
has seen a continuation of great Trade Wind sailing in 20 -25kts out of SE as we head slightly
E of N .
Noon today 14deg 46'S/148deg 57'W.
Wet on deck and very hot below (30deg)
Icecream already gone,
Everyone is happy aboard at sea again.
MC
MISTRESS TO HAWAHI
Mistress To Hawaii……
Four days in Papeete after the 13 day sail from Auckland has been plenty of time for the crew and boat to recover from leg one and prepare for leg two……Papeete to Honolulu Hawaii.
Papeete has changed little in the three years since I was last here….traffic is worse and things are seemingly even more expensive if that is possible…..The city is such a cultural contrast between the simplicity of South Pacific Island lifestyle and the strong brushstrokes of Parisian influence and commerce. I am not sure what makes this city tick….but it certainly is an interesting placed to watch and observe the interaction of those who seemingly have and those that do not……
The contrast from 30 years ago when I first sailed over the eastern horizon to arrive on these Tahiti shores to today is remarkable; however, the same could be said for most places in this world of ours…..instead we have simply enjoyed, relaxed and stored a few new memories in the bank of life……
The two Canadian crew (Rob & Andrew) have returned to their Rocky Mountain homes, hopefully with a positive experience from their first ocean passage. They were great company and made life aboard Mistress richer for their presence. I am not sure how they can live so far from the beach…..but they would easily counter that I have a long drive to find a 10,000 foot high mountain…..!
So Mistress is ready to go again. She has only been on starboard tack since leaving Auckland and this is unlikely to change in the next two weeks as we sail northward into the SE and NE Trade winds respectively. It should be great sailing in warm wind and seas and Mistress will once again be in her element. Mistress’s home-port of registration is Lahaina Hawaii, so it is fitting in some ways that she is coming home!
Aboard for this leg is the remaining four of us from Auckland, Millsy, Nicci and Alex and myself. We have learned how to work well together as a team and to keep both Mistress and each of us safe…..
Cheers
The Mistress Crew
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
TAHITI SIGHTED
13/5/14 NZ TIME
Starbord tack to Tahiti.
Tahiti was sighted behind the rising sun this morning.
50NM to go.
Been an amazing sail with us sailing on starboard tack the entire way and on the virtual rumbline
in just 13 days.
Except for the first day motoring there has been plenty of wind and the boat and cew have made the
most of it.
Mistress has been fantastic.
We are all looking forward to Papeete and enjoying the benefits of life on land agan.
MC
Starbord tack to Tahiti.
Tahiti was sighted behind the rising sun this morning.
50NM to go.
Been an amazing sail with us sailing on starboard tack the entire way and on the virtual rumbline
in just 13 days.
Except for the first day motoring there has been plenty of wind and the boat and cew have made the
most of it.
Mistress has been fantastic.
We are all looking forward to Papeete and enjoying the benefits of life on land agan.
MC
Saturday, May 10, 2014
TRADES BLOWING
11/5/14 NZ TIME
NOON POS
21DEG 18'S/154 DEG 05'W
336NM TO PAPEETE ESE
TRADES BLOWING 20KT ALL DAY
MISTRESS WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SAILING AND SHE IS LOVING IT.
MC
NOON POS
21DEG 18'S/154 DEG 05'W
336NM TO PAPEETE ESE
TRADES BLOWING 20KT ALL DAY
MISTRESS WAS DESIGNED FOR THIS SAILING AND SHE IS LOVING IT.
MC
PIZZA FOR DINNER
10/5 NZ TIME
NOON POS 23 DEG 16'S/156 DEG 18'W
500NM TO PAPEETE.
To celebrate fair winds we are making pizza for dinner tonight and shifting happy hour forward two hours
MC
NOON POS 23 DEG 16'S/156 DEG 18'W
500NM TO PAPEETE.
To celebrate fair winds we are making pizza for dinner tonight and shifting happy hour forward two hours
MC
Friday, May 9, 2014
WINTER CLOTHES PACKED AWAY
9/5/ (NZ time)
Noon post 24 deg 51'S/158deg 4'W
Distance to Papeete 674 nm
bearing 36 deg M.
wind SE 12 kits
Winter clothes now packed away
sunblock out with new apparel
MC
Noon post 24 deg 51'S/158deg 4'W
Distance to Papeete 674 nm
bearing 36 deg M.
wind SE 12 kits
Winter clothes now packed away
sunblock out with new apparel
MC
Thursday, May 8, 2014
THURSDAY 8TH MAY 7.30PM
MISTRESS POSITION AS AT THURSDAY 8TH MAY 7.30PM
25S 160W
800 MILES FROM TAHITI
CREW ALL SAFE AND HAPPY
25S 160W
800 MILES FROM TAHITI
CREW ALL SAFE AND HAPPY
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
TUESDAYS UPDATE
NOON POS 28 DEG 14'S/168 DEG38'w
24 HR RUN 166NM
LITTLE CHANGE IN WIND STRENGH OR DIRECTION FROM YESTERDAY.
STILL CHASING SLOW WEAKENING NE MOVING LOW
MC.
24 HR RUN 166NM
LITTLE CHANGE IN WIND STRENGH OR DIRECTION FROM YESTERDAY.
STILL CHASING SLOW WEAKENING NE MOVING LOW
MC.
Monday, May 5, 2014
LITTLE CHANGE IN WIND
NOON POS 28DEG 14'S/168 DEG 38'W
24 HOUR RUN 166NM
LITTLE CHANGE IN WIND STRENGTH OR DIRECTION FROM YESTERDAY.
STILL CHASING SLOW WEAKENING NE MOVING LOW
MC
24 HOUR RUN 166NM
LITTLE CHANGE IN WIND STRENGTH OR DIRECTION FROM YESTERDAY.
STILL CHASING SLOW WEAKENING NE MOVING LOW
MC
Sunday, May 4, 2014
crew damp
NOON POS 29 deg 16's/170 deg 27'w
24 hour run 179nm
wind eased to 25 kts overnight and shifted to SE making it even wetter on deck.
Crew damp but happy.
Cheers MC
24 hour run 179nm
wind eased to 25 kts overnight and shifted to SE making it even wetter on deck.
Crew damp but happy.
Cheers MC
FLYING
NOON POST, 30 DEG
54'S/173 DEG 10'W
24 HR RUN 190NM
BEEN BLOWING 30KT STHLY SINCE DAWN WITH GUSTS CLOSE TO 40KTS
DOWN TO STORM STAYSAIL AND STILL FLYING
MISTRESS AND CREW ALL GOOD AND EATING WELL
THANKS TO MANY PREPARED FROZEN MEALS - THANKYOU LADIES
CHEERS MC
54'S/173 DEG 10'W
24 HR RUN 190NM
BEEN BLOWING 30KT STHLY SINCE DAWN WITH GUSTS CLOSE TO 40KTS
DOWN TO STORM STAYSAIL AND STILL FLYING
MISTRESS AND CREW ALL GOOD AND EATING WELL
THANKS TO MANY PREPARED FROZEN MEALS - THANKYOU LADIES
CHEERS MC
Friday, May 2, 2014
FRESH SASHIMI
NOON POS .32 DEG
07'/S/176
DEG 23
W-24 HR RUN 180NM
14KT SOUTHLY
WARM WITH CLOUDY SKIES BUT DRY DECKS
FRESH SASHIMI IN HAPPY HOUR LAST NIGHT
WAS PERFECT.
CHEERS MC
07'/S/176
DEG 23
W-24 HR RUN 180NM
14KT SOUTHLY
WARM WITH CLOUDY SKIES BUT DRY DECKS
FRESH SASHIMI IN HAPPY HOUR LAST NIGHT
WAS PERFECT.
CHEERS MC
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Goodbye Long White Cloud…..
Goodbye Long White Cloud…..
After three
wonderful years of having Mistress based in New Zealand, the time has come to
leave the land of the ‘Long White Cloud’ and to head Mistress’s bow Northeast
back into the Pacific for the long sail back to Vancouver.
Time in New
Zealand has seen Mistress sail the local waters of the Hauraki Gulf, enjoying
the very best of sailing and cruising New Zealand. Friends and family have been
the best of crew.
The sail back to
Canada is planned to only have two stops, Tahiti and Hawaii. With some 7,500 nm
of sailing over the next 2 months it will be a busy time for both boat and
crew.
Once again I am
blessed with having some great crew aboard. I leave Auckland with Millsy aboard
as my ‘wingman’ for his 4th voyage on Mistress. His offshore
experience, ability to fix almost anything and his great humour makes him
invaluable! The rest of the crew for this first leg include two Canucks from
Alberta…..Rob McNeill and Andrew Hicks. While they live a long way from the
beach when at home, they both are capable sailors and keen to learn on what
will be their first offshore passage. The crew is rounded out with two
twenty-something’s in Kiwi sailor Nicole Halliburton and American Alex Carter.
Having the company of youth for us older baby boomers. is a real plus. Everyone is settling in and I
am confident we have an excellent team.
Mistress herself is in better shape than ever and I sense she is itching to get back to sea again and do what she does best…..sail with speed and strength and to deliver us safely to our destination....
We will keep you
posted on our progress as best we can.
Cheers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)