Uto Ni Yalo - Update 2
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Report From Colin Philp – Onboard the Uto Ni Yalo via Sat Phone
Fiji Time : 1300, 30 March 2010
25º05’06”S 175º56’00”E

Currently the Uto Ni Yalo is blistering along at an average speed of 7.5 knots and they should be halfway to their destination sometime tonight.

Winds have been very strong with gusts up to 45kts and while it has now eased back to about 30kts, massive waves continue to crash over the bow of the Uto, resulting in even more crew members suffering from seasickness. Moala Junior, the youngest crew member at just 16 years of age, is suffering quite badly, along with Carson and Una. The good news is that Rupeni, the cook, has overcome his seasickness and the crew are all once again eating proper meals.

Vili, the crew member who lost the top of his finger while fishing yesterday morning, is recovering well. In fact, he is rather excited by the injury as this means he will now have to visit Shortland Street Hospital where he hopes to run into someone famous!

Following Vili’s incident yesterday, the rest of the crew is lamu to fish and given how much the boat is rocking in high seas, it’s probably just as well. However, they have passed countless schools of feeding fish and have seen many colonies of feeding birds, so it wont be long before they once again drop their lines overboard.

Overall the Uto Ni Yalo crew is doing well and spirits continue to be high. Despite the strong winds, waves, and seasickness, laughter continues to be heard throughout the ship.

At their current rate of progress, they should be in Auckland by Monday, and are looking forward to joining the rest of the contingent.

The attached Google Maps roughly shows their position yesterday at 1200 FST and the second mark is where they are now. The Uto sailing crew is trying to sail between 20 and 25 miles during each 3 hour watch watch. This means they are crossing close to 180 miles every day – much better than they had anticipated.