Away at Last -
0700 hrs Thursday 23rd November 2017 saw us
finally cast off the docklines in Australia and set off across the Tasman.
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| Bye bye Coffs Harbour, Adieu Australia |
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| Sailing to NZ !! |
The first hour down the coast was filled with sending and
receiving farewell messages to and from family and friends. Even the dolphins
came along with us for a few miles to see us off.
Our route was more of a U shape due to the prevalence of the
Easterly winds which were going to make passage to New Zealand unpleasant were
we to try to go directly.
So, we initially went down the coast, although the
winds were not very strong we were making good speed, travelling along at an
average between 8 and 8.5 knots. We put a reef in the main for the night, just
as a security measure – we didn’t want to have too much sail up if the wind
increased during the night, so reducing the size of the sails in the daylight
is a good idea, but around 3am on Friday morning the wind had dropped away and
so the reef was shaken out, the jib furled away and the port engine started.
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| This was to be our view for the next few days |
We ticked along like this for the next four hours, only
managing about 5.5 knots boat speed, we only run one engine as the increase of
speed through running two in these conditions is minimal yet running two uses
more diesel, of course. The sky was clear blue with next to no cloud, the
sailing was pleasant if unexciting – a few more knots of wind would have been
superb. This continued all the next day, alternately motorsailing as the wind
dropped away then turning off the engine as the wind filled in.
We had the fishing lures out constantly, with no success –
until WOO HOO – FISH ON !!!! it was big, it fought, it leapt out of the water
just beside the boat showing us its beautiful blue colour and its marlinlike
bill – then with a final twist it broke away, taking our special new lure with
it. Sorry, Lilly, the swordfish you wanted us to catch got away.
We seem unable to break the 10-knot boat speed barrier and
with the wind no greater than 15 knots maximum we were wondering if we would
ever see the shores of New Zealand!!! No longer were we reefing before dark –
just in case – we would have welcomed the wind being stronger and necessitating
reefed sails.
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| Night watch, moon hiding behind cloud |
Saturday afternoon saw a change – the wind got up to 27
knots, we reefed the main, furled in some jib, then put a second reef in the
mainsail, furled the jib and pulled out the staysail – a smaller sail than the
jib. We were taking waves over the bows and the occasional one over the cabin
top – SOL was uttering the odd creak and groan of disapproval as water splashed
all over her.
Unfortunately, the hatch over the forward starboard cabin sprung
a leak – right as we were in the midst of sail changing – of course, which
meant that water was leaking down on the bed – the seal around the hatch had
split. We did an emergency repair which entailed tying a plastic bag over the
hatch on the outside, then squirting the gap full of mastic – and it worked!!
Luckily the amount of water ingress had not been great and a strategically
placed towel covered the damp patch. We had two reefs in the main and just half
the jib out for the next couple of days, each time we shook out a reef in the
main we ended up putting it back in an hour or two later.
But…on Wednesday evening around 8pm the wind had died away
yet again. Now as well, the current was against us – it was back to motoring.
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| Sunrise over a calm Tasman Sea |
The sea was flat calm, an absolutely azure blue colour, but
flat calm all the same. We were becalmed in the Tasman Sea. Unheard of. We were
all prepared for cold and wind – these sunny days and lack of even the
slightest breeze astounded us all.
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| Not even a ripple |
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| We didn't need the foul weather gear this trip!! |
We have been underway 7 days now and had the winds been in
our favour we would have been rounding the tip of New Zealand – instead we were
stuck in the Tasman – not complaining about the very temperate weather, just
some wind would have been nice. It was totally bizarre to be sunning ourselves
up on the trampoline with a book in hand in comparison to the last time Jamie
and I sailed across to New Zealand where we were in our foul weather gear from
day two!!
Admittedly though, these windless days made for some superb
photographs.
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| Still, we tried |
At 0800hrs (Australian time) Saturday we changed to New
Zealand time losing 2 hours in the process – surely this means we are 2 hours
closer to New Zealand!!! At 0730 we had raised the sails in the slight breeze
and we were sailing again with the screecher up and making way. A very large
pod of dolphins came alongside and all around us, cavorting in our wake like
there was something exciting about to happen….
And yes, at 1300hrs Saturday December 2nd 2017 came
the call – LAND HO!!!
New Zealand was in sight. Up on the starboard spreader went
the Yellow Flag – the international Q flag signifying “we are entering your
country’s waters from overseas and we need customs and immigration clearance
before we can make landfall”.
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| Nelson, the top of the South Island, New Zealand |
As we approached Farewell Spit the wind increased.
In the space
of just a few hours it went from around 8 knots to 30 and sails went up and
down more often than a whores drawers!! At one stage we were flying along at
boat speeds more than 16knots and the dolphins were having a ball, leaping and
laughing as they raced us to the New Zealand coast.
Heather (NZ Customs) and Stuart (NZ Immigration) were at the
quarantine dock to take our lines – what terrific service, totally unexpected
but welcome. The whole customs and immigration process went without a hitch and
an hour later we were free to enter a berth in Nelson Marina.
WHAT – NELSON???????
Yes, as we say when cruising…
Plans are written in the sand at low tide
Always open to change, and due to the conditions, added to
the fact that we would probably not sail down to this area, when we were
becalmed and it seemed the wind would not cooperate with a northerly passage,
we had decided to make landfall here, spend a few days cruising around the
beautiful Tasman Bay/Marlborough Sounds before going north.
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| Another amazing photo opportunity mid-Tasman |
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| Bruce and Jamie relaxing on the trampoline - many hours were spent thus |
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