April 19/11 More on the Weather

Oh Boy! The wind howled and then howled some more. Almost 36 knots in the anchorage and the waves built and broke and the water sprayed. Then… Bang! One of the ropes on the anchor bridle popped a strand and we have to make adjustments to keep the whole thing from fraying to bits. I guess 100 tons pulling on one 3/4" three strand rope is too much (anchor bridle is a rope yoke fitted to either side of the bow and then the anchor chain to keep the chain from banging from side to side). Yep! We guessed wrong about where to park. Rather than spend another night wondering if we are going to hit the rock wall behind us (and since we are now technically injured) we decide to haul up and head for Opua Harbour for protected waters. Well… and we thought things were hairy in the anchorage… we faced some 60 knot gusts and short, choppy seas about 3' height and walls of salt mist being blown from the surface water, all of this in the protected area of the Bay of Islands - crazy. But aside from getting the boat completely drenched in salt water we make it to Opua safely and manage to set anchor with only two tries (windy here too - but not so much).