28 53.7 degs. South 178 10.15 degs. West 110 NM Dist. made good 500 NM to Nuku’alofa on Tongatapu
As the rising sun illuminated Raoul Island (29 16S 177 55W) slowly about 20 NM off INTENTION’s Starboard bow we marveled at the greenery and the steep cliffs surrounding all its visible parts. It would not be easy toland a dingy on those rocky shores. Although the chart shows a small anchorage and landing bay on the opposite side of the island we could see. It would have been interesting to have investigated and even gone ashore to explore but the steady light winds and flat seas were allowing INTENTION and us to average 5 knots toward our intended destination. In New Zealand I took the opportunity to create another way of steering INTENTION by using an AUTOHELM 1000 connected to my HYDROVANE windvane to follow a compass course. Using it lowers my electrical needs to 1.5 Amps from the over 5 Amps needed by my B&G hydraulic autopilot. So my solar panels have been able to mostly maintain a fairly good charge on my batteries. Also my B&G autopilot has not worked since leaving NZ.