Cyclone Season

Centuries ago European explorers learned the indigenous word hurakan, signifying evil spirits and weather gods, to describe the storms that battered their ships in the Caribbean. Today, "hurricane" is one of three names for giant, spiraling tropical storms with winds of at least 74 miles an hour. All essentially the same thing, the name differs based on where in the world the storm happens.

1) Hurricanes develop over the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific
2) Typhoons develop in the Northwest Pacific
3) A Tropical Cyclone is a broad classification, used to describe any weather phenomenon characterized by rotating, low-level systems of clouds and thunderstorms that develop over waters in tropical or subtropical regions. When a storm's sustained winds remain below 39 miles per hour, they are called tropical depressions. Once sustained wind speeds exceed 39mph, it becomes a tropical storm. Severe Tropical Cyclones (>74mph) form over the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs through November 30. Typhoons April – December. Cyclone season is typically between November and April. By November, cruisers need a way to deal with the coming cyclone season. Boat insurance companies require a comprehensive storm plan. Our plan is to sail south to the safety of New Zealand, where we will put the boat in drydock, get some needed work done, and take some “time off”.

Whitey is watching the weather predictions which show some big storms brewing. We sail off to NZ on Oct 22, knowing it will take about 7 days - in mostly good weather and some rougher seas. Keeping an eye on the weather apps, we are concerned about other boats getting hit by heavy winds, rains and waves. We catch some fish – barracuda, large bill fish – and even slow down some to let the bad weather die down ahead of us.

Yet, closer to New Zealand, we still find ourselves in some wicked seas (it is close to Halloween!) with winds at >35 knots (1 knot = 1.151 mph) gusting to 45-50, lots of pouring rain, swells at 5-7 meters (1m = 3.28’) for about 2 days and nights. (See us in this picture!?) One huge swell hit broadside and swept us off our seats – felt like we were on a water slide! Whew!

Finally, after 9 days at sea, we arrive NZ the morning of Oct 31 - just before the Nov 1 start of the cyclone season - with light winds and rain. And a few more things to get fixed.

Now we can all get some good sleep!

XO XO
Gma & Gpa