Heading to the deep south

 After a cold, grey and misty day yesterday, we woke to blue skies and sunshine.  

7.45am off the visitor's buoy, leaving picturesque Port Chalmers and we're on the road again - an overnight dash for Stewart Island in between two nasty weather fronts. 

And it's positively balmy!  Minimal wind again so motoring in a 3m uncomfortable sloppy swell.

Had a bit of a David Attenborough moment with albatross ducking and diving all around us, seals laying on their backs, flippers in the air having a sun bathe, fish jumping and the odd penguin was spied.  Spotted plywood and other bits of flotsam and jetsam, avoiding the big patches of kelp floating on the surface (otherwise known as brown whales) as they can tangle with the propellor.

10.20am Genoa out, motor sailing.

11am Mainsail up plus genoa, sighted Dunedin, easterly 10 knots, cruising along at 8knots.

6pm passing Nugget Point, no wind, motoring at 6knots.  Seas still lumpy.  A grey and wet mist settled in.  77nm to Stewart Island, looking at a dawn landfall.