Team Gallagher slammed and broken in Tasman Sea

Santa has failed to deliver the westerlies Team Gallagher ordered. Instead they are being hammered by force 8 and force 9 (40knots+) easterlies and large seas. The attached photo illustrates the wind as it is. The crew are sitting in the ‘red zone’.

However, it’s the equipment that’s taking the biggest bashing. Several messages came in from the crew using their Skycom phone last night as they sat tethered to the Para Sea Anchor:
‘It is going to be a long night. Very big waves crashing over the boat. Some coming at us from a different direction. Angry Tasman.’

Eight minutes later a second message came in:

‘Hi Rob, massive wave just came over boat. Lost Vodafone aerial. Ripped clean off. Also have leak around seal on stern hatch....’

Then two and a half hours later this:

‘More waves crashing on boat and ripped off flexi solar panel from stern cabin. 36 more hours of this!’

So although Moana lost a bit of gear the crew have come through the night relatively unscathed. This morning’s message:

‘All good onboard today. A couple of big bowling ball waves knocked us in the night and sent us across the cabin but no more damage. Wind still around 35 knots...’

The tropical depression that has affected Team Gallagher so adversely is set to pass and then the crew should get some long overdue favourable weather for rowing.

For what it’s worth, you might like to take a look at this weather predictor. I’ve been watching it for the last two weeks and it has proven remarkably accurate http://magicseaweed.com/msw-surf-charts2.php?chart=11&res=750&type=wind&starttime=