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Day 18 - Mainsail back up and driving! |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
| Date | May 18 2007 05:14GMT | | Position | 036° 47'S 161° 35'W | | Speed | 9.3 knots | | Course | 324 Degrees True | | Wind Conditions | SW 16 knots |
After the battering Tony Bullimore has received from a series of 50knot gales for the past two weeks, a welcome break in the weather yesterday gave the British yachtsman the opportunity to re-hoist the mainsail on his 102ft catamaran Doha.
"I've pulled the main up to the second reef and she is flying again. It is a big difference to having just the storm jib set and keeping the speed down to minimize further damage to the rig." He said yesterday.
The southerly fetch in the wind has also allowed him to take a north westerly course which Tony will continue, to avoid the centre of a High pressure system, before taking a more direct heading for Auckland.
Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore's weather router predicts:
"A weak front will stall just to the east of Doha, while a reinforcing front moves up from the southwest.
Wind trend: Light and backing through 19/00:00 GMT. Squalls.
06:00 GMT: SE 25knt, becoming SSW to S 30-40kt by 19/09Z. Squalls will be accompanied by temporary higher gusts.
Tony needs to take whatever NW-ish heading that he can manage in the sea state.
19/18:00 GMT: SSE 25kt
20/06:00 GMT: E 10k"
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