Pacific 62 Yacht Delivery – Tasman Sea Low Pressure Monitoring

-


 Mid-passage on this Pacific 62 yacht delivery from Opua to Bundaberg - conditions have shifted from manageable following swell to more dynamic quartering seas.

Overnight wind remained moderate at 10–15 knots, but 2–2.5 metre swell from the aft quarter created significant yaw. The vessel was repeatedly lifted and slewed to port before dropping off the back of the wave and attempting to round to starboard. The Garmin autopilot corrected effectively each cycle, but the result was continuous lateral oscillation.

This “yo-yo” motion is typical when quartering seas interact with hull form and speed. It is not dangerous when controlled, but it is uncomfortable and requires speed discipline to reduce surf acceleration and stern lift.

Speed Control and Surfing Management

By midday Saturday wind increased to 20+ knots, with sea state building. With energy from the aft quarter, the Pacific 62 briefly surfed to 17.1 knots.

For delivery work, that speed is excessive. Surf-induced acceleration increases rudder load, steering correction frequency, and potential for broach if compounded by wave interference. Engine RPM reduction and course alignment adjustments are used to moderate these spikes.

The objective remains controlled average passage speed — not peak numbers.

Developing Weather Systems – Routing Decisions

Current forecast models indicate:

  • A developing low on the east coast near Sydney, extending northward along the coast

  • A secondary low forming south of New Caledonia

Forecast guidance currently suggests potential 4 metre plus sea states as these systems evolve.

At this stage, routing options include:

  1. Maintain direct course toward Bundaberg, accepting increased sea state but reduced overall exposure time.

  2. Alter westward earlier to tuck in under the northern edge of the developing system.

  3. Adjust speed to time arrival relative to coastal wind rotation.

It is premature to commit definitively. The correct decision depends on how the pressure gradients tighten and whether the two systems remain discrete or interact.

Tasman Sea routing is not about reacting to single forecasts. It requires continuous reassessment over 24–48 hour cycles.

Tasman Sea Delivery Discipline

The corridor between New Zealand and Australia regularly produces complex low-pressure development. Even when wind strength is moderate, swell direction and period can generate uncomfortable or structurally demanding conditions.

For a 60+ foot motor yacht, professional delivery involves:

  • Active autopilot monitoring

  • RPM and fuel burn management

  • Continuous GRIB and synoptic comparison

  • Avoidance of exposure to steep opposing sea states

Yacht Delivery Solutions manages Tasman Sea yacht deliveries between Opua, Auckland, Whangarei, Bundaberg, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast, specialising in vessels over 45 feet.

Forecasts will continue to evolve over the next 48 hours. The routing decision will be based on exposure minimisation, not convenience.

  

Location: 4VM4GGJR+M7

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Hong Kong commissioning "Pikorua"

-
Image
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024 Location: Hong Kong The Intricacies of Commissioning in Hong Kong Greetings from a bustling Hong Kong ! It's Saturday, November 23rd. The Yacht Delivery Solutions team has been immersed for over two weeks in the detailed process of commissioning "Pikorua," a stunning new 2024 Granocean W60 destined for Sydney. Our temporary home is a barge in the Kwun Tong typhoon shelter, a far cry from a typical marina – no shore power, no water hookups, and the constant rhythm of nearby construction. Even simple trips ashore require hailing a local sampan to avoid the barnacle-encrusted seawalls. Commissioning: More Than Just Checks Commissioning a brand-new yacht, especially one of this complexity, goes far beyond simple pre-departure checks. It's a meticulous process managed by Yacht Delivery Solutions, involving activating, testing, and calibrating every system onboard – from engines and generators to navigation electronics, plumbing, and sa...
Read more

A new delivery! New Fountain Pajot 59ft from Rome-Malaga and beyond

-
Image
OK - after a month's holiday in the UK and Italy with my good lady I jumped on a new Fountain Pajot 59 sailing catamaran in Rome.  My son, Declan, joined me for a leisurely 2 week jaunt to Malaga some 900 nautical miles away along with Coco the dog that I was baby sitting.    He then got off and the owners Belinda and Richard jumped back on after their 2 week holiday to Africa.   We then went over to Tangier in Morocco where my crew mate Kel joined us.  Kel and I have completed 5 delivers so far together.  He was with me for the 60ft power cat from Hong Kong.   We have just spent a few days here in Tangier and plan on departing for the Canary Islands tomorrow, Sunday 2nd. From there we will re-provision and head across the Atlantic with the plan of arriving in the Caribbean island of Martinique where Kel and I will fly home from. That's the plan, let's see how it goes.........
Read more

And We're Off! Pikorua Heads South.

-
Image
Finally! Departure day arrived. After the Yacht Delivery Solutions crew ran through all the final pre-departure checks – engines, nav gear, steering, the works – making sure everything was spot-on for the trip, we tossed the lines off just after 10 AM this morning, Saturday, November 30th. Getting out of the Kwun Tong anchorage required a bit of careful maneuvering, but Pikorua handled beautifully, showing how nimble this Granocean 60 can be even in tight spots. As soon as we left the shelter, we were greeted by the usual Hong Kong harbour chaos! It took some careful timing and a sharp lookout to weave our way through the traffic – plenty of big container ships and fast ferries zipping about. Thankfully, the view from the helm station is great, which was a huge help. Pikorua took the wakes from passing boats in her stride, feeling really stable right from the get-go, which was reassuring. Once clear of the main shipping channels, the next game was dodging the local fishing fleet ...
Read more