Friendly faces and familiar voices
Passed halfway now. Daily runs continue to be good with our worst run so far of 141 miles and best of 151 miles. Todays run should be about 150. Not shabby runs for our heavy old girl of 32 foot on the waterline. Weather continues to be good with winds between 15 and 25 knots. We have managed to reach (wind on the beam) all the way so far with just the odd trim of the sail or reef put in. At present we have a staysail, genoa and triple reefed main, nursing that boom! The wind is now in the North and we are on a course of 138 (T) which will take us all the way to the entrance to the Marlborough Sounds. A change of wind direction to the west in a couple of days will mean our first sail maneuver for the voyage, a gybe, but the wind should be stronger then so we will be down to the trisail.
Signs of our arrival home are appearing all around us (or should that be brining our home home?). The Albatross are always lovely company with their faces watching you as they glide past. Our bird book has been out a few times to help identify a bird we haven't seen for some time. Familiar voices are also there on our HF radio. We are reporting daily to Taupo Maritime Radio, and the voice at the other end is very familiar from our many years working ships round the NZ coast and our sailing. Hello to all at Maritime Radio if you ever read this. Nice to hear a familiar and friendly voice, and many thanks for always being there the instant we call.
We are heading for Picton now rather than Nelson. This will allow us to get the boom fixed and do some cruising there while the work is underway. Thanks Evan for the reminder that work is fast approaching.
Last night I heard the sound of running water. Not a sound that goes down well on a boat out at sea. It was about midnight as we had just finished a handover of the watch. I tracked thee noise to the heads (bathroom) and found Alasdair our friend and crew, fully dressed standing under the running shower. Mmmm some strange habit maybe? He had knocked the shower tap on and was trying, unsuccessfully to turn it off. Whilst a shower is a nice thought I think I'll stick to a flannel wash and have a nice warm shower in Picton. I do feel for the Customs and MAF Biosecurity staff clearing in a yacht after all those days at sea, and before we have that shower.
Signs of our arrival home are appearing all around us (or should that be brining our home home?). The Albatross are always lovely company with their faces watching you as they glide past. Our bird book has been out a few times to help identify a bird we haven't seen for some time. Familiar voices are also there on our HF radio. We are reporting daily to Taupo Maritime Radio, and the voice at the other end is very familiar from our many years working ships round the NZ coast and our sailing. Hello to all at Maritime Radio if you ever read this. Nice to hear a familiar and friendly voice, and many thanks for always being there the instant we call.
We are heading for Picton now rather than Nelson. This will allow us to get the boom fixed and do some cruising there while the work is underway. Thanks Evan for the reminder that work is fast approaching.
Last night I heard the sound of running water. Not a sound that goes down well on a boat out at sea. It was about midnight as we had just finished a handover of the watch. I tracked thee noise to the heads (bathroom) and found Alasdair our friend and crew, fully dressed standing under the running shower. Mmmm some strange habit maybe? He had knocked the shower tap on and was trying, unsuccessfully to turn it off. Whilst a shower is a nice thought I think I'll stick to a flannel wash and have a nice warm shower in Picton. I do feel for the Customs and MAF Biosecurity staff clearing in a yacht after all those days at sea, and before we have that shower.
posted by Elenya at 4:50 pm
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