Sailing in Windy Wellington

The race committee postponed the start of the first race until the southerlies kicked in. The southerlies are Antarctic winds that can't get over the Southern Alps-a ridge of alpine mountains running north/south along New Zealand's South Island. Their intensity builds until they reach Cook Strait-the gap between the North and South Island. Wellington is at the southern tip of the North Island.


Can you tell by this graph when the southerlies hit Wellington?

To the South Island

Here is SBH braving brisk Cook Strait winds. This ferry, which has room in its belly for a train and 150 cars, listed to lee between the islands. On deck, the wind put wrinkles in our faces.




View Larger Map