As I have learned a ‘weather bomb’ is not just media hype, but has a specific meteorologic definition:  a drop of pressure of 24 millibars in 24 hours.  For those of you in the United States, Liberia and Myanmar--the only countries that do not use the metric system--this low has dropped from 1000 millibars to 975, or 29.53” to 28.79”.

        The center passed near Wellington, whose reputation as one of the windiest cities in the world is well deserved, and is moving away to the southeast.  Winds of up to 80 knots were predicted down there.  Some power lines are down.  Cook Strait ferries have been cancelled.

        Here in the north, we have had little rain and the day is intermittently sunny.  The VHF weather channel reports readings on buoys along and off our coast of maximum gusts in the forecast 40 to 50 knot range.  Gusts in Opua have been around 25 knots and are stronger this afternoon from the southwest on the trailing side of the low.  In the southern hemisphere wind circulates clockwise around a low.   

                            

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        The New York Times today has a front page article about the return to bull fighting by Juan Jose Padilla only five months after a horrific goring in which he lost his left eye.

        Ignoring the merits or lack of same of bull fighting, which the article once refers to as a ‘sport’ but I don’t think is--rather it is a spectacle or a ritual; there is much to admire in Mr. Padilla:  his courage, determination, and his statement, “I’m one who has always accepted the risks of my profession, as well as its rewards.”  Many, including some sailors, don’t.

        Based on my own experience I wonder about the difficulty, almost impossibility, Juan Jose Padilla will have judging depth accurately at close distances.  You may recall my reaching for the mooring pick-up stick and finding it was not there.  The pick-up stick was not moving with the speed of a bull and could not gore me.

        I try to imagine what Juan Jose Padilla will be feeling those last few moments before he steps into the ring.  I hope it goes well for him.