(November 7 to 9, 2024) Starlink has been a game-changer! Having high-speed internet at sea feels unreal, making it easy to access real-time weather forecasts and update my blog on time.
Before we departed, we met with Customs and Immigration Officers at Marsden Cove Marina. Passports no longer get departure stamps, but we received clearance documents for our first port of entry in Australia. One of the officers even shared the latest U.S. election results with us.
After not sailing for the last ten months, I was a bit nervous. On the first day, we motored almost 20 hours straight. Realizing we had 20 gallons less diesel than we started, we slowed down and motor-sailed whenever we caught a light breeze. Once we had steady light winds, we shut off the engine and raised the code-zero sail, which worked beautifully. The sea was calm. No engine noise, just peaceful silence. The cats started exploring and wanting to go out on the deck. Dolphins swam alongside us, fish leapt out of the water, and birds fed nearby.
I barely slept that first night. My watch began at 2 a.m., but I switched on early at midnight. It was a starry night—the calm sea reflected the stars, creating an awesome view. We covered 125 nautical miles the first 24 hours period. On the second night, I took a sleep aid and woke up feeling much more refreshed.
Now, we’re sailing across the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia, with the Coral Sea to the north of Australia. Checking the weather, we decided to head north toward New Caledonia before sailing west to Bundaberg. We’re currently moving at 5-6 knots with the mainsail, Jib sail, and staysail up. Wind speeds are steady at 11 to 16 knots (Beaufort scale 4), a pleasurable sailing experience.
