Weather has been atrocious intermixed with fine sunny periods...plan was to leave on Tuesday, but o'night the wind has not yet gone SW and we received this from Bob McDavitt.
WHEN TO DEPART NZ FOR FIJI/TONGA?
Winds around Northland/ Auckland may be around 20 gust 30 knots on Monday Tuesday --- but are also likely to be 30 gust 40 knots in passing showers, so that's one reason to delay until Wednesday.
Also the Tasman Sea is filling up now with large swells, probably peaking in mid Tasman on Tuesday 17 May at around 8 metres!
Heavy swells are likely as far north as New Caledonia and Fiji from Wed 18 May to Friday 20 May.
Departing from Northland on Wednesday/Thursday seems to be the best - avoids the possible squally showers on Monday Tuesday and, if your trip is into part of the north Tasman Sea, these departure days mostly avoid the big swells.
Those big swells do not have much impact on a trip to Tonga, but we are expecting some strong winds and heavy swells around Minerva on Thu/Fri 19/20 May due to a brief trough/low forming near Southern Tonga
to Niue.
Departing from Friday 20 May onwards puts you in the easterly winds on the northern side of H2.
These winds may be enhanced into a squash zone near 20S next week, but at this stage things are looking OK.
SO, for us it looks like we wait until Wednesday now ........
WHEN TO DEPART NZ FOR FIJI/TONGA?
Winds around Northland/ Auckland may be around 20 gust 30 knots on Monday Tuesday --- but are also likely to be 30 gust 40 knots in passing showers, so that's one reason to delay until Wednesday.
Also the Tasman Sea is filling up now with large swells, probably peaking in mid Tasman on Tuesday 17 May at around 8 metres!
Heavy swells are likely as far north as New Caledonia and Fiji from Wed 18 May to Friday 20 May.
Departing from Northland on Wednesday/Thursday seems to be the best - avoids the possible squally showers on Monday Tuesday and, if your trip is into part of the north Tasman Sea, these departure days mostly avoid the big swells.
Those big swells do not have much impact on a trip to Tonga, but we are expecting some strong winds and heavy swells around Minerva on Thu/Fri 19/20 May due to a brief trough/low forming near Southern Tonga
to Niue.
Departing from Friday 20 May onwards puts you in the easterly winds on the northern side of H2.
These winds may be enhanced into a squash zone near 20S next week, but at this stage things are looking OK.
SO, for us it looks like we wait until Wednesday now ........