Entry Date: 23.09.2011, at 11:25:00 hrs (local)

Savusavu - Nadi

SPCZ

Image

PRID: 10264
LegID: 251
LegNo: 29
Latitude: S018°41.43'
Longitude: W174°47.91'
Day#: 308
Course: 270 °
Speed: 3 kn
Log (Day): 42 nm
Log (Leg): 42 nm
Log (Total): 18988 nm
It is raining cats and dogs and we say ”Good By” to Tonga. There is no point in waiting for better weather since the forecast does not give us any hope.

The reason for this bad weather is a phenomenon called SPCZ (South Pacific Convergence Zone). This is an area where the equatorial easterly winds converge with (bump into) the southeast trade winds. Unfortunately this happens in the moment right above our heads. The results are not exactly our most favored sailing conditions:

* Heavy clouds and lots of rain,
* Mostly very light winds,
* The clouds can bring heavy squalls (strong wind gusts) from different directions,
* Poor visibility,

We hope to get the area of this SPCZ behind us soon and looking forward to arrive in Fiji. Normally it would take us 4 days to cover the distance to Fiji. We will see how long we need when we remain in the SPCZ.